Take your time! Its a matter of preference (Martial Arts - Equipment)

Member Name: freespirit1402

Product:	Martial Arts - Equipment
Date:	02/07/02 (288 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A mine of online information

Disadvantages: Need to weigh up cost and quality

Having studied kickboxing for two years now and hoping madly to end up teaching I have amassed a fairly impressive array of equipment with most pieces being bought from seperate suppliers rather than all from one place. The advice I have (such as it is) is on Sparring gear.

Sparring Gear

If your dojo is worth its salt it will not rush you into buying this immediately. First and foremost decide if sparring is for you, most good places have some onsite equipment you can use whilst trying it out (I love to spar but then I am a bit of a scrapper!). If you decide you enjoy sparring you will need to begin buying your own. Most importantly take your time and dont let anyone rush you into buying the equipment. Most instructors have links to specific suppliers and can provide you equipment at a slightly discounted price but it is worth buying a martial arts magazines and phoning around for some brochures. If you have internet access ( and I assume you since you are reading this opinion) then even better since the magazine can point you to a variety of websites to search through. Remember that not everyone will like the same sort of equipment and take personal preference into account alongside cost and quality. At the end of the day it is you that has to wear it so if it doesnt feel right dont use it. Weigh up the cost against the quality - you dont have to pay a fortune to obtain good quality goods.
Basic equipment consists of gloves (10 ounces), a headguard, a gumshield, foot guards and shin guards.

Gloves : 10 ounces are the generally recognised and used weight although it is worth checking with your club before buying but personally I also own 16 ounce gloves for bag work on the basis that if I can hit fast with them I can be that much faster in tens. Again this is personal preference. Foam, PU or leather available - I prefer leather for its hard wearing qualities but PU could be more cost effective for some and foam may be for pe
ople doing other arts where open hands are needed.

Gumshield : Whilst you can do no better than a dentist made one this is not always cost possible. A basic £2 boil and bite will do but its your teeth and I would search a bit further afield. I currently have two - a shock doctor which disperses impact along the jaw and a WIPSS jaw joint protector which is the best boil and bite available at the moment but tends to make me gag.

Headguard : Absolutely imperative unless you like seeing double. Decide if you want the extras of a chin guards and cheek guards although I found them constrictive and made little differnce to protection given. Make sure you have good hearing and range of vision or you wont see those fists coming and make sure it fits well or you spend all match readjusting it. Again they come in foam, leather or PU and I chose mine in leather. I personally dislike the dipped foam as its single velcro fastener means it slips about and after a good shot tends to try to fly backwards off the top of my head.

Foot protectors : Very much of a muchness with open soles and figure of eight fastening. Just make sure they are secure so you dont end up on your bum before the match begins.

Shins : Available in cloth or leather/PU. I have cloth ones which are great for slipping on and off quickly without chafing but need rather regular washing! I also have leather ones which are hard wearing and solid so I wont bruise but took a while to break in and do leave strap marks on my legs.

Extras you may want to invest in are hand wraps,a groin/abdo guard some basic medical supplies such as freeze spray or gel, a sturdy bag and a large water bottle. You may also wish to invest in some form of cleaner for your equipment - I have seen spray deodorisers. This will end up being a neccessity as I have opened equipment bags belonging to people where if the kick doesnt get you the smell will. In the meantime I suggest that at the
end of every session you use a towel to wipe your equipment dry. Good luck in what ever you decide. Just allow yourself time to pick whats going to be best for you. Most of all just enjoy studying your art!

Happy hunting

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