Choosing the right kickboxing gear is important for both safety and performance, whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out. This gear helps protect your body from injury and can enhance your training experience.
Picking out kickboxing gear, though, can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially with all of the choices out there. But, with a bit of guidance, finding the right gear can actually be a lot easier than you think.
Kickboxing, which often blends elements of martial arts like karate, Muay Thai, and boxing, requires specialized kickboxing gear designed for the specific demands of the sport. In this guide, you’ll learn about essential pieces of equipment that you’ll need for this dynamic martial art and how they can benefit you as you perfect your roundhouse kick and other powerful moves.
Key Takeaways:
- Essential Gear: Key kickboxing gear includes gloves, shin guards, hand wraps, and mouthguards for protection and support.
- Additional Gear: Headgear, specialized footwear, heavy bags, and focus mitts enhance training and safety.
- Training Benefits: Kickboxing improves offense, defense, speed, form, technique, and footwork.
- Safety and Performance: The right gear is crucial for safety and maximizing performance.
- Quality Investment: Investing in high-quality gear benefits both beginners and advanced practitioners.
Essential Kickboxing Gear
The following pieces of gear are generally considered non-negotiable for this activity:
Gloves
Kickboxing gloves, typically made from durable leather or synthetic materials, have sufficient padding to cushion your knuckles, hands, and wrists as you make contact.
Glove size and weight vary, ranging from 8 oz for lighter, speed-focused training to 16 oz for bag and pad work. Finding the right glove for you depends on your size, training methods, and intensity.
Shin Guards
Muay Thai shin guards are essential for sparring, partner drills, and heavy bag work. They protect your shins (and feet sometimes) from impact, as this body part frequently connects during kickboxing routines. Shin guards vary in size based on shin length and come with several closure mechanisms such as hook-and-loop, single-strap, and double-strap systems.
You want your guards to have a snug, secure fit to stay in place. Also, look for shin guards with extra padding around the ankle bone.
Hand Wraps
You should wear hand wraps under your gloves. Although often an overlooked component of training, wraps add a crucial layer of support, stabilizing wrist joints and knuckles on impact. They also absorb sweat, which can help minimize odor and extend the lifespan of your gloves.
Standard wraps typically measure 180 inches and are made of a cotton-blend material. Many folks favor wraps over gel quick wraps because traditional wraps give a tighter and more personalized fit to the individual.
Mouth Guard
You should always wear a mouthguard. Although many consider this more crucial for sparring sessions, a mouth guard helps to protect teeth and gums from injury during heavy bag training as well, particularly for beginners learning proper techniques and punch combinations.
Boil-and-bite mouthguards are affordable, but many athletes prefer the more durable (and custom-moldable) variety available through your dentist. Regardless, a mouthguard is an investment worth making, whether you’re training for competition or just starting your fitness journey.
Additional Gear to Consider
As you progress in your training, the following gear might also be a good investment:
Headgear
While often essential for sparring, headgear offers a crucial layer of protection. They protect against cuts, bruises, and more serious injuries during heavy contact, although even a helmet cannot protect you completely.
As you shop for headgear, look for models with good padding, particularly at the cheeks and chin, which tend to take the most impact. A good head guard has a sturdy chin strap, breathable ear openings, and a wide field of vision for a safe and productive training session.
Footwear
While it is true that many gyms and training facilities allow students to wear a good pair of sneakers, boxing shoes enhance agility and provide better ankle support during lateral movement than typical athletic shoes. Some brands, like Nike and Adidas, also offer specific models made for kickboxing or mixed martial arts.
If you are prone to rolling your ankles, proper footwear might be worth the cost, even if you train at home with just a few basic pieces of equipment. In general, kickboxing footwear, with its slim, flexible, and lightweight profile, gives a feel distinct from training shoes made for activities like cross-training and running. It should offer good support for kicking motions while ensuring flexibility in other multidirectional training protocols.
Heavy Bags
There are multiple heavy bags you can train on. Everlast has been producing kickboxing and other training equipment since 1910. Everlast, whose slogan is “Greatness is Within”, produces several types of training equipment for multiple martial arts and boxing training.
One model, the Quiet Punch Doorway Punching Bag even hangs inside a doorframe for those training at home, so finding a place to install your bag should not be an issue. But if you have more room, you might want a standard heavy bag hanging from a beam in your basement or a sturdy freestanding bag that requires no installation.
Focus Mitts
Focus mitts help trainers track students’ progress. When held by a trainer or sparring partner, focus mitts, a common site in boxing gyms, can elevate your kickboxing workout, particularly if you’re looking to improve strike accuracy, hand-eye coordination, timing, and punch combinations. This gear is generally an essential component of any training facility or home gym.
Training with Kickboxing Gear
Shadowboxing offers a good, full-body cardiovascular workout that is accessible even to those who aren’t seasoned practitioners. As an article from Health.com shares, kickboxing can help burn calories and tone your body, so it’s a solid choice for those who like more dynamic exercise routines. And you do not even need a gym membership, or much in the way of kickboxing gear.
Kickboxing improves your:
- Offense
- Defense
- Speed
- Form
- Technique
- Footwork
- Movement
- And visualization
Of course, you do not even need equipment, just your body weight, making this type of kickboxing training easy to work into your routine.
Shadowboxing is a foundational training protocol, but hitting the heavy bag or focus mitts helps to strengthen punching power and overall striking technique. Training at a gym like X3 Sports in Atlanta (with more locations in and around the Atlanta area) X3 Sports regularly is crucial to maximize strength and conditioning and make the most of your workouts. But remember, a crucial aspect of any fitness or training protocol is having the appropriate equipment.
Final Thoughts
Investing in high-quality kickboxing gear, a cornerstone of success for beginners and advanced practitioners can benefit your journey regardless of your fitness level or goals. With a range of gloves, wraps, guards, and equipment designed to protect your body while supporting powerful training regimens, choosing the right gear will protect you while also helping you elevate your techniques for a solid kickboxing experience.
For more information or to start your kickboxing training, visit X3 Sports in the Atlanta, GA area today!
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