subject: Martial Arts Equipment For All Styles [print this page] In the "old days," it was not unusual for jugs of water, bags of rice, and buckets filled up with sand to be incorporated into numerous different workout programs. These days, we're fortunate enough to have access to a terrific assortment of martial arts equipment. Because of the effective usage of such equipment, it becomes possible to obtain the most out of a structured class or private training.
Of course, this may raise questions regarding what type of martial arts equipment is necessary for the "average" workout. Again, there is enormous variety to pick from. Below is a brief introduction to the martial arts equipment you will commonly find. Most of it is a must for virtually any martial arts practitioner irrespective of style.
Without a doubt, the common punch bag is a clear must in any dojo or training hall. Punching bags don't just give a definitive target to direct your blows towards. Such bags boost the possibility to develop solid endurance and cardiovascular conditioning. There is certainly tremendous variety among the many different punching bags available and they include:
Standard Boxing Size: These would be traditional boxing bags that mimic the shape and size of the torso. They are really primarily designed for punching but mid-line and high line kicks can be effectively trained on these bags as well.
Banana Bags: These are generally thinner punching bags which are the size of the human body. The lower region of the punch bag provides the effective training of leg kicks, knees, and other strikes.
Light Bags: Light punching bags are low weight (about 1/3 the size and weight of a punching bag) so are designed mainly to offer resistance to jabbing style punches in addition to hook and uppercut line blows. Some even use a lightweight punch bag to train headbutts!
Punching bags might be hanging bags which are affixed to various "hooks" in the ceiling or they may be freestanding. Freestanding bags are, essentially durable base mounts. Such bags are considerably more expensive than many of the traditional hanging bags nonetheless they are much easier to move and store.
While striking the heavy bag is really a must for effective training, you really do need to hit it in as safe a manner as is possible. This will necessitate appropriate protective gloves required for hitting an impact target. This includes all manner of impact targets - heavy bags, focus mitts, shields, and Muay Thai pads. The knuckles inside the hand are small , fragile bones. For this reason reliable gloves - whether they are traditional 12oz, 14oz, or 16oz boxing gloves, boxing bag gloves, or mixed martial arts lightweight finger free gloves - must be worn when hitting a heavy punch bag. For people who enjoy sparring with "point karate" gloves, be aware of the fact that such gloves typically are not manufactured for hitting impact targets. They do not give the adequate protection you'll need for such training. Stay with using them for light contact sparring instead.
As most martial artists realize, the hands are not the only area that need protection which explains why a great deal of martial arts equipment will offer protection to the feet. Shin pads and point fighting footwear are two of the most common. Some may assume that such equipment is only used in sparring. In fact, wearing when hitting impact targets is advisable too since this can protect the lower extremities and nerve endings from damage. Really, the perennial running theme here is that a lot of martial arts equipment is intended to enhance safety. Obviously, you will also find some items which serve other purposes as well plus they are well worth a look at as well.
Stretching devices can be used to help extend the range of flexibility in the leg ligaments. This will definitely prove helpful for people who would like to enhance their kicking flexibility. Similarly, the "old school" Eagle Catcher is a perfect spring action handheld device designed to build up a great level of gripping stretch. The classic makiwara pad has long since been used to toughen the hands in traditional karate training. Similarly, the kung fu wall bag is a wonderful asset for developing strikes common in the Chinese martial arts. Such older and more traditional training aids definitely have their place in a modern world that is becoming increasingly known for its sportive approach to training. But, whether you are training for competition or traditional self-defense, you will need equipment that helps facilitate your goals.
Whatever the type of martial arts equipment you buy, you need to make sure it is from a reputable name brand manufacturer. Some will make the error of buying less expensive equipment from a "no frills" manufacturer. Rarely is such equipment worth much of anything. Not only will cheap equipment not deliver on expectations, it can put the user at an injury risk. Certainly, that would not be helpful in any way whatsoever. Stick with reliable name brands for your martial arts equipment needs. Such an approach will assuredly prove far more helpful in the long run.
