There are millions of people who practice kickboxing all over the world and with a wide variety of kickboxing styles to choose from, it’s quickly become one of the most popular forms of martial arts. However, regardless of the kind of martial art you choose to train in, you will almost certainly need some essential equipment. Read on to learn the equipment you need for kickboxing.
1. Gloves
Gloves are a requirement in all kickboxing classes, helping to protect your knuckles, fingers, wrists and hand bones. They’re usually made of a thick material and feature ties that wrap around the wrist to secure them. Kickboxing gloves connect the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger, with the thumb having its own compartment.
2. Hand Wraps
A hand wrap is applied very similarly to a medical bandage, and it even has a similar appearance. This piece of equipment is wrapped over your hand and the bottom half of your forearm to provide support and protection for your wrist. Strong punches can force your wrists to twist, which can lead to significant injuries if they’re not well supported.
To make matters even worse, continuous twisting can cause the smaller bones in your hand to break, which can be a painful and long recovery. So, it’s vital that you don’t put your gloves on without first bandaging your hands.
3. Chest Protection
Since a woman’s chest area is more sensitive than a man’s, it is important for female kickboxers to wear chest protection at all times. Most women choose to wear a chest cover with hard-shell cups that are detachable.
4. Groin Protection
Although groin strikes are prohibited in kickboxing, you can still be unintentionally hit in the groin thanks to low and middle kicks, which are very painful.
There are several different types of groin protection available on the market for men to choose from. This ranges from a simple built-in cup to boxer briefs that come equipped with a specialized groin protector.
5. Shin Pads
No kickboxing student should ever spar without wearing shin pads. This is particularly important for newcomers to kickboxing, who are not used to taking hits to that part of the body. Due to this, they are at a higher risk of suffering from shin bone fractures. Shin pads are also required for amateur kickboxing competitions, but they are usually not used in professional bouts.
6. Mouthguards
Even in sparring contests that don’t include full contact, mouthguards are almost always worn by participants in martial arts sports. Even though karate, for example, is a point-based, low-contact discipline, practitioners are nonetheless required to wear mouthguards during competition.
While for a long time it was hard to find well-fitting mouthguards, boil-and-bite mouthguards, which can be molded to the shape of your teeth, have eradicated this problem. All you need to do is place the mouthguard in hot water, and after it reaches the desired temperature, bite into it. Use your fingers to shape the plastic around your teeth – this creates an exact impression and ensures your mouthguard will fit your mouth perfectly.