Martial Arts and Sparing Equipment

Martial arts and sparing equipment go hand in hand when it comes to injury free sparring. Although some may resent wearing martial arts sparring equipment because it feels uncomfortable, keep in mind that the injuries that can occur will feel a lot more uncomfortable than simply wearing sparring gear.

A common excuse for not wanting to wear sparring equipment is…

“We’re only sparring lightly”

Sparring is sparring, and even if you perform your techniques with little power, accidents do happen. Consider throwing a reverse punch “lightly” at your partner during a sparring session without wearing the proper martial arts protective equipment. Instead of hitting his chest, you somehow hit his mouth. If your sparring partner is moving forward at the time, the force that will hit his teeth will be a combination of your punch and his movement towards you. This can result in missing teeth. A mouth guard could prevent this.

This type of accident is not limited to the mouth, but to the head, hands, feet, shins and body. Wearing martial arts sparring gear is not only a safe way to train, but it also shows respect towards yourself, your sparring partner and to your school.