Protective Sparring Equipment

Depending on your martial arts style different pieces of protective equipment may be needed, be it Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu or Universal Self Defence. Different options for various levels of protection are offered such as gloves, mitts, body armour, arm and leg protectors, head and mouth guards, as well as dipped foam protectors. Whether you are engaging in contact sparring or training a group of people the basics of self defence, you can find the training equipment that you need at Universal Self Defence. Just think of all that sparring without getting injured because you are wearing the right protective gear!

Head & Mouth Guards
In order to prevent serious brain damage it may be a good idea to invest in some type of head and mouth guard protection. For maximum protection, always ensure that the head guard is adjusted so you have a good field of vision and it is not too tight or loose. Choosing the style of head guard gear often depends on the type of sparring and how much protection you require. Head guards can be open face, full face and may also have an added mask. Generally speaking, there is always a compromise in that the more protection you have the less vision and the bigger target your head is. For this reason experienced fighters tend not to like the headgear with the added face mask, where as fighters who are just starting out like all the protection they can get. Another key part of protecting the head are mouth guard protectors which not only protect the teeth but they also reduce the risk of concussions from the lower jaw slamming into the TJM, base of the brain and skull. The better mouth guards like Brain-Pad have shock a absorbing gel insert and protect both the top and bottom of the teeth and have breathing channels so you can breath with your teeth clenched which prevents getting hit with the mouth being open and loose.

Hand Protectors & Sparring Gloves
There are many different kinds of hand protectors that can be used for martial arts. There is everything from lightly padded hand protectors to dipped foam sparring gloves to boxing gloves. Hand protectors & sparring gloves are generally worn to decrease hand injuries during a bout and also reduce the likelihood of superficial head injuries although they do not fully protect against brain damage.

Chest & Breast Guards
Usually these types of guards are used to prevent injury of the body, chest and breast area during sparring practise or in competition.

Leg, Shin & Foot Guards
In many instances practising martial arts calls for leg, shin & foot protection particularly when practising sparring or in competitions. It is most effect when both partners are wearing protection as the effect of collisions are much more reduced.

Dipped Foam Protectors
Dipped foam equipment is a favourite of trainers and coaches in many martial arts schools because it is durable and economical. Dipped foam head guards, sparring boots, shin guards, hand guard gloves and forearm protectors are light, easy to clean and ideal for all of the martial arts. They are designed for best ventilation and protection using the thickest dipped foam available. Dipped foam equipment comes in plain colours making it easy to customise with team colours.