equipment

[Cain]

what kind of equipment do you people use in fights? gloves, theeth-protection and a cup? or anything else?

what do you use when you train? how heavy gloves?

[Guest]

Teeth, finger nails and steel toe capped boots. And any blunt or sharp instrument that may be near enough to pick up.

I'm being serious.........

[Cain]

hmm

i was thinking about thai-boxing matches, but anyways I always have steel-toecapped boots when I'm bouncing, kicking people in their shin is so much more fun then.

[Khun Kao]

Depends on what level of training you are at. I would recommend a groin protector (cup), mouthpiece, jumprope, light bag gloves, handwraps, and maybe light shinpads.

As you get more advanced, and begin to do heavier contact drills and sparring, you should consider getting your own heavy sparring gloves (14-18oz), heavy shinpads, and headgear.

Also, you can get your own Thai pads, belly shield, and focus mitts for training with someone or on your own outside of class. For instance, I like to place a Thai pad against a post, then cinch the belly protector around it REAL tight as an impromptu kicking target. Just make sure you don't miss the pad! LOL

Khun Kao

[skilzkid]

I would also include:

- Ankle supports - sometimes you might twist your ankle a little or land on it funny - when you do, putting ankle supports on while training is a life-saver
- Linament - for days that you kick the bag hard, have a bad shin to shin collision, or hit the tree instead of the belly pad

[Khun Kao]

LOL @ Skilzkid!!!

Yeah, liniment really is a MUST HAVE!!!!

I have mixed feelings about the ankle supports. You want your ankles to get strong, and ankle supports can detract from this as they do part of the work for you. You can become dependent on them.

What I recommend is wearing the ankle support during warmups and the initial stages of your workout. But I'd say within the first 1/2 hour, the ankle supports should come off.

Khun Kao

[skilzkid]

I agree with you on the ankle supports. A number of times sparring I have either landed on my foot funny or just had a bad collision where my ankle would hurt for a few days, but not so much that it warranted stopping training. Those are the days that I use the ankle supports (which has been about 3 days in the last 6 months), and it really helped. Well worth 10 or 15 bucks.