Helmet Help?!?!

[Burnett]

Hello. I had posted before regarding training knives and got almost instant and very good help, so here it goes again. My school has been training with kali sticks and knives for quitesome time and we are adding the two divisions into our next tournament. Since we will likely be going live stick i would like to get some helmets that will cover the head face and have neck pads. I have seen people use fencing masks, i would like to avoid that but if its the best or only way ill do it. Also if their is an official one used in most FMA tournamnets i would like to know which.

Thank You,
Cody Burnett

[William]

You can go with the WEKAF style helmets if you're looking for more padding.



We pretty much just use fencing masks and some hockey style helmets. You can also read here about some early options I came up with if you're so inclined.

Mongrel Combative Arts-Head Gear


Best of luck


William

... My school has been training with kali sticks and knives for quitesome time and we are adding the two divisions into our next tournament. Since we will likely be going live stick i would like to get some helmets that will cover the head face and have neck pads. I have seen people use fencing masks, i would like to avoid that but if its the best or only way ill do it. Also if their is an official one used in most FMA tournamnets i would like to know which.

Thank You,
Cody Burnett

[FMAFIGHTER]

helmets

I used both hockey and fencing helmets. Pros and cons with hockey helmets vs fencing.

Hockey helmets:
pros: cheaper, periphrial vision is better, back of the head is protected.

cons:
1) leaves a ringing to your ear.
2)face protection is limited
example: unable to sinkete to the face. You may stab the eyes. (been there)


Fencing pro:
1) able to sinkete. LOL.
2) periprial site is better.

cons:
1) back of your head has limited protection.
2) Black face mask is harder to see trough. (my opinion)

Btw - William's post has more info. Just my 2 cents about the helmets. I spent lots of money before I found out what best suits me.

Hope this helps!

Errol

[William]

1) leaves a ringing to your ear.
2)face protection is limited
example: unable to sinkete to the face. You may stab the eyes. (been there)

I should have said "we use fencing masks and modified hockey helmets". We add steel mesh to the face mask so that stick and knife trusts don't get through to the face. I look at the reverberation of a good shot to the helmet as a plus. It protects your head from blunt trauma, but you know for sure when you've taken a nasty shot. That's your feedback. Heavily padded helmets tend to block out that feedback.

But I know you know this.


Best regards,
William

[FMAFIGHTER]

William-

What kind of metal mesh do you use for the hockey helmet? I am curious. I think I may have to try it.

Thanks,

Errol

[William]

Errol,

You can find rolls of it at Home Depot in the fencing supplies section. Roughly 3' x 6' roll of 1/4" (1/4" squares) steel mesh. I don't remember the exact product name but I'll be heading over there again in the next few days so I can run by and look again.

The instructions for applying it are at the link I posted above. Also be aware that for the hockey helmet with the goalie attachment, the rubber coated mask hides/covers the rough edges very well. For a standard hockey mask with the cage exposed on the sides and bottom, there will be a few sharp edges. We got around that by using basically leather shoe laces wrapped around the edge from one side to the other. Worked very well. Also I've been experimenting with Tool Dip to rubberize the grid to eliminate the cheese grater effect you sometimes get on the bare steel.

Let me know if you have any other questions.


William