Best Martial Arts Equipment to Promote Your Children’s Safety

When you imagine the sort of people who practice martial arts, the first thing that usually comes to mind are muscular yet lean men or women decked out in training outfits. You may have passed by a gym and seen them trying out techniques with your own eyes. Because the media is filled with images and videos of adults using martial arts professionally, it is sometimes easy to forget that martial arts are not exclusive to just them. Children may also want to try their hands at martial arts as well.

Much like with Little League Baseball, kids can enjoy learning a safer yet still satisfying take on the martial arts. They learn the basics while getting a taste of what adults get to do on the mats. Typically, the learning environment for kids involves them practicing forms, stances, and moves without ever engaging in full contact sparring. 

Of course, not all kids will be satisfied with just playing it safe. Some may want to make a name for themselves by getting involved with sports as they grow older. Others may want to experience the exhilaration of a real fight. If they feel ready to proceed to the next level in their training, there are clothes and gear particular to their martial art of interest. 

If you are reading this, you are most likely a parent or guardian who has children with an avid love for martial arts or who want to try out a martial art for the first time. Martial arts would be a good form of exercise and will help with their physical health. You may have concerns because there is risk of bodily harm as in any sport. This article will describe equipment in several prominent martial arts that may help your kids get the most out of their training and mitigate possibilities of injury.                  

Boxing relies on your kids using only their fists for punches and blocks. They are only allowed to attack the upper body so that means the best targets are the chest, abs, and head. Aside from raising their arms for defense, emphasis is placed on footwork to maneuver and dodge around an opponent.  

Boxing gloves have heavy padding lined inside that will encompass the entirety of your children’s hands. Not only is the padding soft enough so that their hands will be comfortable, but they are also durable enough to withstand punishment. Whether used against punching bags or an opponent, there is enough of a cushion that prevents their knuckles, fingers, and the rest of their hands from breaking against something. When on the receiving end of the gloves, the padding will soften the blows so your children do not receive the full brunt of their opponent’s punches.

Boxing rash guards protect your children from getting rashes due to sweating or chafing against their skin. Because the outfit is a tight fit, it follows your children’s movements instead of riding up against them uncomfortably. The materials draw sweat away from the body so your children are not sweltering while exercising.

Boxing shorts allow your children to have full mobility of their legs while maneuvering thanks to the hems being cut right at the knees. The materials are light, soft, and tough which allow for a combination of comfort, durability, and ease of movement. 

Boxing spat pants are form-fitting long legged pants that allow your children to have full mobility of their legs when maneuvering. Despite the tight look, they do not constrict their legs and cut off blood flow. They aid in circulation and movement of your muscles and joints.   

BJJ or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu combines wrestling and grappling techniques. Using an array of takedowns, locks, and submission techniques, your children will have to position themselves on top of their opponent regardless if they are standing or lying on the mat. BJJ is a good introduction for kids who weigh on the lighter side as the core concept of this sport is to use your opponent’s weight against him or her. 

A BJJ gi is able to best protect your children from attempted grapples if it is close to their regular clothes size. This way, any fabric along the length of the gi will be close to the body and therefore harder for an opponent to find purchase. Since being able to grab the gi is the determining factor in a bout, the materials are tailored to prevent tearing.     

BJJ rash guards or NOGI rash guards are made of materials that prevent sweat and bacteria from accumulating so as to prevent rashes from breaking out on your children’s skin. They also provide protection from mat burns as the materials prevent friction as your children move while lying on the mat.   

BJJ belts are tied around your children’s waists to keep their BJJ gis secure. If the robe is hanging out or if there is any loose clothing, those are extra places an opponent can use to throw your children onto the mat. The belt ensures that the length of the BJJ gis stay close to the body. 

BJJ pants are made of materials that prevent bacteria and fungus from accumulating so as to prevent your children contracting an infection. The fabric is also resilient so as to prevent tearing and can handle being dragged along a mat.  

BJJ shorts allow your children to have full mobility of their legs while maneuvering, grappling, or wrestling thanks to the hems being cut right at the knees. The materials are light, soft, and tough which allow for a combination of comfort, durability, and ease of movement. The fabric is also resilient so as to prevent tearing and can handle being dragged along a mat. 

BJJ spat pants or NOGO spat pants are form-fitting long pants made of materials that prevent sweat and bacteria from accumulating so as to prevent rashes from breaking out on your children’s skin. They also provide protection from mat burns as the materials prevent friction as your children move while lying on the mat. If worn with BJJ rash guards, they can also help keep your children from getting infections. 

MMA or Mixed Martial Arts incorporates elements of nearly every other form of fighting. This style is highly adjustable because you can choose which punches, kicks, strikes, grapples, throws, blocks, and wrestling moves you want to excel at. As it is the culmination of all martial arts, full contact is allowed.      

MMA rash guards protect your children from getting rashes due to sweating or chafing against their skin. Because the outfit is a tight fit, it follows your children’s movements instead of riding up against them uncomfortably. The materials draw sweat away from the body so your children are not sweltering while exercising.

MMA shorts allow your children to have full mobility of their legs while maneuvering, grappling, blocking, or kicking thanks to the hems being cut right at the knees. The materials are light, soft, and tough which allow for a combination of comfort, durability, and ease of movement.

MMA spat pants are form-fitting long legged pants that allow your children to have full mobility of their legs when maneuvering, grappling, blocking, or kicking. Despite the tight look, they do not constrict their legs and cut off blood flow. They aid in circulation and movement of your muscles and joints.   

Muay Thai is a full contact sport that makes use of both your arms and legs. You are allowed to make attacks with your fists, elbows, knees, and feet. This sport also incorporates grappling techniques. 

Muay Thai gloves share many of the same protections boxing gloves offer. While the padding throughout the glove is distributed unevenly, it still helps make the interior of the gloves comfortable for your children’s hands. They also aid in cushioning blows so as to prevent harming your children's knuckles, fingers, and the rest of their hands when initiating punches or grapples. Unlike its counterpart, Muay Thai gloves have enough space to allow your children to close their fists so they can securely hold their opponent when attempting to grapple. 

Muay Thai rash guards protect your children from getting rashes due to sweating or chafing against their skin. Because the outfit is a tight fit, it follows your children’s movements instead of riding up against them uncomfortably. The materials draw sweat away from the body so your children are not sweltering while exercising.

Muay Thai shorts allow your children to have full mobility of their legs while maneuvering, grappling, blocking, or kicking thanks to the hems being cut right at the knees. The materials are light, soft, and tough which allow for a combination of comfort, durability, and ease of movement. 

Muay Thai spat pants are form-fitting long legged pants that allow your children to have full mobility of their legs when maneuvering, grappling, blocking, or kicking. Despite the tight look, they do not constrict their legs and cut off blood flow. They aid in circulation and movement of your muscles and joints.

Wrestling is about using your weight to overpower your opponent with the intent of pinning him or her to the mat. Making use of throws, locks, or takedown moves, wrestlers take a more head-to-head approach when it comes to overcoming an opponent. 

Wrestling singlets are made of materials that prevent bacteria and fungus from accumulating so as to prevent your children contracting an infection. The fabric is also resilient so as to prevent tearing and can handle being dragged along a mat. Your children are protected from mat burns as the materials prevent friction as they move while lying on the mat. Since there is good breathability, this allows sweat and body heat to escape easier which helps prevent overheating.

Wrestling rash guards protect your children from getting rashes due to sweating or chafing against their skin. Because the outfit is a tight fit, it follows your children’s movements instead of riding up against them uncomfortably. The materials draw sweat away from the body so your children are not sweltering while exercising.

Wrestling shorts allow your children to have full mobility of their legs while maneuvering, grappling, or pinning thanks to the hems being cut right at the knees. The materials are light, soft, and tough which allow for a combination of comfort, durability, and ease of movement.

Wrestling spat pants are form-fitting long legged pants that allow your children to have full mobility of their legs when maneuvering, grappling, or pinning. Despite the tight look, they do not constrict their legs and cut off blood flow. They aid in circulation and movement of your muscles and joints.

Judo was one of the original martial arts that influenced the creation of BJJ as it followed the same principle of using your opponent’s weight to your advantage. Employing the use of holds, throws, and grapple techniques, this sport prioritizes being able to quickly switch between offense and defense.  

A Judo gi has longer and wider sleeves compared to the BJJ gi as this sport is about constantly trying to maintain dominance even when your children and an opponent are already locked in each other’s grasps. The materials are light and soft to not only promote comfort while moving but also help make it easier for your children to maintain their grip on their opponent. 

Judo rash guards protect your children from getting rashes due to sweating or chafing against their skin. Because the outfit is a tight fit, it follows your children’s movements instead of riding up against them uncomfortably. The materials draw sweat away from the body so your children are not sweltering while exercising.

Judo spat pants are form-fitting long legged pants that allow your children to have full mobility of their legs when maneuvering or grappling. Despite the tight look, they do not constrict their legs and cut off blood flow. They aid in circulation and movement of your muscles and joints.

Because you are acting as an observer, you may feel burdened by a sense of danger regarding your children's safety. It is natural for parents to want to protect their loved ones from harm. Especially when it seems within your power to help your children avoid injuring themselves unnecessarily. While providing the necessary equipment will lessen the dangers as your children learn their favorite martial art, they still run the risk of hurting themselves. But giving your children the opportunity to pursue a sport that they enjoy may give them the opportunity to grow. If they decide to persevere, they may emerge stronger not just in body, but in mind as well. If they decide to make a long-time commitment to mastering the fundamentals of a martial art, how long and far they will go depends on their resolve. As parents, you can equip your children with what they need so they can at least experience what it is like to do martial arts for themselves.