The fundamental basis of martial arts is sparring. That is where two participants face off and use unique techniques to engage in defensive combat. Depending on the martial art being practiced, these techniques will have different variations across the board and different skills. Also, blocks and moves will be judged accordingly. Basically, if you want to learn martial arts , you will also need to learn how to spar. But because of sparring’s distinct combative nature, you will need protective gear to make sure you don’t get injured. Here are some essential martial arts training protective equipment for sparring.
First of all, you will absolutely need gear to protect you head, eyes, nose and mouth. All of these parts of your head can become severely injured during a sparring match. For instance, noses can become broken, jaws can become dislodged, teeth can crack and you could even suffer from a concussion. This is why you need some kind of helmet that can protect your skull. In most cases, a martial arts training helmet is padded and fits around the head with a belt-like feature. It is also critical that you wear a mouth guard to protect your teeth and mouth.
Also, it is critical to protect your chest and torso. Next to your head, your chest and torso houses some of your most vital organs, like your lungs, heart, kidneys and more. So, you want to make sure that you have some kind of chest protector. Ideally, you want to have a padded shield that you can wear. During a sparring match, you may take a lot of blows to the chest. If you don’t have something protecting your chest, you could become seriously injured. So, don’t even attempt to get into the ring without a chest protector.
Next, you will need to protect your feet and hands. During a sparring match, protecting the hands and feet is critical for both participants. Having protection on the hands and feel will prevent the risk of scratching injuries and other injuries that can be a byproduct of a sparring match. Not only that, but having protection on your hands and feet will protect against torn ligaments, broken bones and other injuries that could potentially take you out of the ring for multiple months. For instance, a broken Achilles tendon could force you to take up to six months off training – if you practice professionally, this could be a big blow.
Lastly, if you are going to be practicing martial arts, you will certainly need protective gear. If you are practicing martial arts with a focus in sparring, having protective gear will be imperative. Most people underestimate the power of a kick or a jab. Not only can you break bones, but you can also injure vital organs, which could prove to be fatal if you don’t get help on time. So, make sure to visit a martial arts supply shop, like Swordsaxe, for all of your equipment needs. In the end, if you aren’t protected, you aren’t ready to spar.