When engaging in combat-centric sports such as boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts (MMA), it is essential to use the right tools to avoid injury. This is because these games are centered around disabling or influencing your opponent, so the risks associated with this game are higher than non-combat games, especially if you do not have reliable equipment.
Persistent injuries are also the last thing you want to deal with as an athlete, as they can stifle your progress in a given sport and thus cause mental exhaustion as well as physical exhaustion. It is always difficult to take a break from training due to injury, only to come back after recovery that your hard-earned progress has been lost.
Below we describe in detail some of the notable tools needed to get involved in combat sports such as boxing, kickboxing, and MMA training.
Wrap hands
When buying boxing equipment online at Sting Sports, hand wrappers may be one of the easiest accessories to buy, as you don’t have to consider the size at all. Hand wrappers are long, flexible material strands that you wrap around your hands before you put on your gloves. These wraps are a necessary step to support the movement of tendons, muscles and wrists when punching. Hand wraps not only help reduce the risk of injury to this area, but the support they provide allows you to generate more energy behind your fist.
There are also a variety of hand wrappers to choose from, influenced by sports and personal preferences. Inner gloves are thinner, more flexible gloves people wear under their thick boxing or MMA gloves. Another option is ‘Quick Wrap’, a new addition to the sport, which provides a quick alternative to wrapping tape and material. They are supported by a number of pro boxers for the benefits they offer, but it is wise to find a solid pair that will expand over time.
MMA or boxing gloves
MMA gloves are one of the most important part of training equipment. Finding gloves is important when searching for boxing equipment online because they protect both your hands and your partner from injury. MMA athletes, unlike boxers, wear thinner light-weight gloves that provide less protection but allow them to be used for grip. Due to the open palm and fingerless design, the right places are covered without feeling uncomfortable. While they may not provide much protection compared to an empty fist, there is a considerable amount of work going on in their design and production to ensure that fighters are actually consistently protected both inside and outside the ring.
It is important to understand that there are different types of MMA gloves. Some are designed to strike and have more padding to protect both your partner and yourself, while others are designed to shake and have a slightly streamlined shape like competition gloves, but are not suitable for tough fights.
Boxing gloves on the other hand provide more support and cushions inside the gloves due to the boxing nature of the game. With that in mind, making sure you buy the right gloves for the right game is undoubtedly important.
Mouth Guards
When the body is injured, it can repair itself, but teeth are one of the few things that cannot, so they must be protected. Mouthguards are designed for this purpose, cushioning the impact and protecting teeth during training and competition. However, don’t be fooled into thinking that wearing a mouth guard will prevent you from becoming unconscious – they won’t.
Most professional fighters get custom-fitting mouthguards, which can be rather expensive. This led to the development and widespread availability of boil-and-bite mouthguards, which could still provide adequate protection. Find a brand of boil-and-bite gum shield that is the hardest part to fit smoothly and comfortably, but once you do, there will be a mouthguard uniquely fitted to protect your teeth and gums.
The compact, sturdy mouthguard is a particularly favorite type of mouthguard among professional fighters, as it is basically a custom-fitting mouthguard that you can fit yourself. No matter which style of mouthguard you choose, however, you should always remember to keep it clean to mitigate the development of bad odors.
Shin guard
A good pair of shin protection is essential when it comes to fighting. However, the type of shin guard you will need will be determined by the game. If your training session includes separate stand-up sparring and grappling, you may want to purchase some striking-style shin protection. These are the most common MMA shin guards, based on Thai-made designs for Muay Thai – a prominent style of kickboxing that is often employed in MMA. General boxing does not require shin guards because kicking is not included in the rules of the game, meaning these guards are only required for kickboxing and MMA training.
If your sparring is quite mixed, or you regularly move between your legs and stay on the floor, a ‘grappling’ or ‘hybrid’ shin guard would be a more appropriate fit. Although these shin guards are losing their appeal due to lack of protection, the design significantly reduces the chances of them getting in their way. If you are not sure which style is most suitable for you, it is recommended that you try different styles of shin guards and choose the one that is most suitable for your fighting or training style.
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Sports equipment is a necessary step in optimizing your abilities while at the same time reducing your risk of injury in general. Especially for the sport of war, sourcing and using the right equipment is simply non-negotiable. It is important for all instructor fighters to acquire the tools correctly, and especially the novices, should feel encouraged to try a few different tool styles to get a feel for the most suitable for you.
If you do not do your due diligence here, you increase the chances of surviving an injury that will ultimately slow down your progress in the sport in the long run.