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General gear and personal equipment needed to practice different martial arts.

• Most Martial Arts
• Aikido
• Airsoft
• Full contact boxing, kick boxing, muay thai, MMA, etc.
• Filipino Martial Arts (FMA)
• Grappling wrestling, judo, jujutsu, etc.
• Karate taekwondo, kung fu, etc.
• Japanese Swordsmanship
• Olympic Style Fencing (OSF)
• Western Martial Arts (WMA)

Most Martial Arts

• Gym bag or duffle bag
• Groin protection (athletic cups)
• MA shoes.
  • Shoes with relatively lower-traction soles to facilitate footwork, especially rotations.
  • The soles are also usually fairly thin to increase sensitivity and fine control.
  • MA shoes should also have minimal lacing, straps, etc. in order to avoid entanglements.
  • Note that bare feet meets these requirements!
  • Note also for actual combat: Whatever is on your feet goes.
    • Thick tough soles are not only good for causing damage but for long marches and rough terrain.
    • Armor is nice, but modern steel-toe protection is nice too.
    • Boots can also provide more ankle support over rough terrain.
    • Water-proofing and warmth are other issues.
• Any equipment for conditioning.
• Athletic tape.
• Water bottle.

Aikido

• A aikidogi.
• A hakama. Usually reserved for advanced ranks.
• Bo, Jo, Jigenryu Bokken, Shoto Bokken and Tanto.

Airsoft

• An Airsoft gun.
• Airsoft pellets, lots. 6 mm most common: 12 g smallest size, 20 g for most weapons, 30 g common for sniper guns. Might as well get biodegradable.
• Spare magazines.
• Face mask.
• Battle Dress Uniform (BDU).
• Gun case.

Full contact

Boxing, kickboxing, muay thai, MMA, etc.

• Shorts
• Headgear. Does not prevent concussions.
• Mouth piece
• Hand wraps
  • Supports the hand so its bones won't break as easily.
  • The length will vary with size of hands and wrapping styles. 108" and180" are common sizes.
  • There are many ways to wrap but the key points are:
    • Have it tight but not too tight.
    • Support the thumb from multiple directions.
• Heavy bag mitts
• Heavy bag. Here's what I wrote about heavy bags in a forum on 2007-07-09:

  Learning how to hit is just part of learning to fight. The best way to learn to fight is to fight, but hitting and other things are also part of the training. You can be shown proper form but your body will also teach it to you just by hitting things.

  As far as practicing full contact unarmed blows: A training partner is the best way to go. A pair of focus mitts are nice but get a pair of Thai pads and you can stronger punches as well as kicks. Squeeze the receiver's neck and shove that knee up. Hold the thai pad against the thigh for low roundhouse kicks. Don't forget that the person holding the mitts can also pop the mitt forward a bit for a stronger blow. Sometimes have the receiver set the pace so the attacker as to respond. Sometimes have the receiver "attack" so the attacker has to void or receive a blow. Move around while you do this: Don't fight statically. Do combos 3 minutes, rest 1 minute, and repeat. Start with simple combos of jabs, crosses, hooks, and uppercuts for punches and front/rear leg front kicks and roundhouse kicks with knee or shin. For example: For 3 minutes the receiver says "1" and the attacker jabs; then the receiver says "2" and the attacker does a jab, cross; "3": jab, cross, hook; "4" jab, cross, hook, upper cut. Rest one minute. For 3 minutes: 1 jab, knee; 2 jab, cross, knee; 3 jab, cross, hook, knee; 4 jab, cross, hook, cross, knee. Try various combos with other techniques but those basic blows are always good to practice.

  But of course a training partner isn't always convenient, so bags and other things will have to do. 3 minute rounds also works for target striking. Start with the heavy bag and don't worry about the other bags. If you have access to them give them a try. Speed bags keep your hands up and work on timing. 2-ended bags work on timing and accuracy. Tear shape bags are good for upper cuts and knee strikes. With banana bags you can work on targets from ankle to head. Of course in karate we had makiwara which are wooden posts with a pad and just enough give. I've never tried the Chinese Muk Yan Jongs (wooden dummies) long enough make a judgment call. The modern Western dummies that look like a peach person aren't too bad [aka "BOB" = Body Opponent Bag]. There are modern systems which have flapper targets that you can set at different heights and angles. In general, I don't like equipment that's too fancy or gimmicky. I like a basic heavy bag that doesn't swing around too much. I suppose a heavier banana bag anchored top and bottom might be ideal but it's not common.

  Most people don't have the room for all this equipment. I would find a gym, dojo, etc. with some of this stuff. I'm fortunate enough that the Chicago Fitness Center is such a gym. It happened to be nearest MMA school near my kids school, plus it's also a workout gym, which is why I couldn't resist signing up there myself. However, if you're not part of such a gym, then try the public parks like the Chicago Park District. This page http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/parks.results/fac_id/5675B716-93F3-4730-A306-75267D4E3722*Boxing.cfm lists the parks with boxing facilities. I'm surprised that Welles Park isn't on the list because the boxing program there was pretty big when I was a kid. Ahh the smell of sweaty leather! And the memory of having to fight Mexican kids that were way too muscular and scrappy for their age. Actually the CPD has weight lifting at very cheap rates too. Geez, this is a great city!

  Also you can practice blows to some degree isometrically. Place your fist or elbow or whatever against an immobile object while in a supportive stance, then tense your whole body into the blow. Try it, for example, with a long punch, a shorter punch, and a close punch. It works for blocks and grips too. You may see me doing this at a bus stop some time. Some karate folks skip the immobile object and try strongly tensing the body either as an isometric exercise or a slow isotonic exercise, partially simulating impact or receiving blows. Some folks like to do that tension to practice receiving blows too. Or perhaps the sensei just likes to thump his students for fun! Ha ha ha, those lovable sadistic bastards! We also exchanged thumps to practice receiving blows but that's not this thread. Also throwing a fast blow and the pulling it "hard" (instead of "soft") works on control but also does some blow simulation.

  O also, don't forget to wrap your hands and wear bag mitts. MMA gloves actually evolved from padded bag mitts. In general get the180" wraps instead of the 108" wraps. Learn how to wrap yourself. I find it a nice ritual. I've hit a lot of things with my bare hands but I don't do that anymore. I'm thankful I don't have hand arthritis and I hope it doesn't show up later.

  O and don't worry about starting easy. Build up. Everyone's a baby in a zillion different fields. A journey of ten thousand punches begins with ten punches.

• Jump rope
• Boxing gloves
• Thai pads, i.e. dense pads roughly a thigh in diameter and length.
• If kicking, then also shin pads that extend to the instep
• If savate, then also savate shoes
• If Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), then also the following:
  • Light weight, leather, fingerless gloves.
  • Optional rash guards.

Filipino Martial Arts (FMA)

• At least two of a variety of rattan sticks:
  • 70 cm = 28"
  • 50 cm = 20"
  • 30 cm = 12"
  • 15 cm = 6"
  • Staffs and other longer sticks
• Metal blunt versions of various blades.
• Thai pads, i.e. dense pads roughly a thigh in diameter and length.
• Focus mitts
• Fencing mask. 1600 N best.
• Kendo like mask.
• Gambeson, thick quilted jacket.
• Kendo like gloves.

See places like http://www.gungfu.com/cart-htm/apparel_other_uniforms_gear_filipino.htm for the mask and gambeson.

Grappling

Grappling, wrestling, sambo, judo, jujutsu, BJJ, etc. If Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), see Full contact.

• With judogi:
  • A thick judogi.
  • Women can wear rash guards, sports bra, or a T-shirt underneath the gi.
• Without a gi:
  • Shorts, preferably with a drawstring.
  • Optional T-shirt.
  • Optional rash guards.
• With striking:
  • Light weight, leather, fingerless gloves
• Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling
  • Very specific requirements for headgear, uniforms, and shoes.
  • A red handkerchief.

Karate

Karate, taekwondo, kung fu, etc.

• An karategi or uniform.
• Mouth piece
• Traditional karate: White cloth fist guards.
• American karate:
  • Forearm and shin guards.
  • Headguard, frequently made of vinyl-covered foam.
  • Hand and foot coverings, frequently made of vinyl-covered foam.
• Taekwondo:
  • Forearm and shin guards.
  • Headguard, frequently made of vinyl-covered foam.
  • Chestguard. Hogu in Korean.
• Sometimes various very specific weapons.

Japanese Swordsmanship

• Bogu set
  • Kote (hand and wrist armor)
  • Men (head armor)
  • Do (chest armor)
  • Tare (loins armor)
• Bogu bag
• Keikogi (fold over jacket)
• Obi (belt)
• Hakama (billowy pants)
• Tabi (shoes)
• Shinai bukuro (shinai bag)
• Weapons
  • Shinai (bamboo sword)
  • Bokken or bokuto (wooden sword)
  • Suburito (weighted wooden sword)
  • Daisho (a pair of long and short swords)
    • Daito (long sword). Over 2 shaku (1 shaku = 12 inches = 30 cm). Either a tachi (usually hung with the edge down) or a katana (worn in the obi with edge up).
    • Shoto or wakizashi. 1-2 shaku long.
  • Tanto. Less than 1 shaku long.
  • Kogatana. Utility knives less than 1 shaku long.
  • Iaito. Unsharpened weapon.
  • Shinsakuto. Sharpened weapon.

Olympic Style Fencing (OSF)

For official FIE competition requirements, see FIE.ch (or BritishFencing.com for the FIE rules in English). Note also that the masks, lames, and gloves vary depending upon whether the event is foil, epee, or saber.

• Fencing mask. FIE Grade A: CEN 2, 1600 N bib.
• Fencing jacket. FIE Grade A: CEN 2, 800 N.
• Fencing pants/breeches. FIE Grade A: CEN 2, 800 N.
• Fencing gloves
• Fencing shoes
• Knee high socks
• A medium length bag for equipment
• A sword
  • Foil
  • Epee
  • Saber
• Plastron (quilted chest pad). FIE Grade A: CEN 2, 800 N.
• If you are participating in electronic scoring then equipment such as lame is required.

Western Martial Arts (WMA)

• Fencing mask. 1600 N best.
• Gorget, preferably with some collarbone coverage. A gorget will need padding if undergear does not have a high collar.
• Gambeson jacket (padded clothing).
• Large bag for equipment. Usually a rolling case for a golf bag.
• Fencing gloves
• Buckler (advanced)
• Dagger specific:
  • Safety goggles
  • Wooden or plastic daggers (wasters).
    • 0 edge (roundel)
    • 1 edge, various lengths
    • 2 edge, various lengths
  • Sticks of various knife lengths.
  • Boffers of various knife lengths. A boffer is usually PVC tubing encased in foam and wrapped in duct tape.
  • Metal blunt knives of various kinds.
• Rapier specific:
  • Practice rapier sword. Preferably a Del Tin bated rapier blade, but a Hanweii practical, or a Schlager may do. DarkwoodArmory.com is highly recommended.
  • Sharp rapier sword. Hardly a need to practice with this since the practice rapier is so close to a sharp rapier.
  • More advanced:
    • Dagger with flexible tips. EG: Darkwood practice dagger, TCA dagger, Scottie dagger, Safeflex dagger.
    • Cloak
• Specific to all other swung weapons
  • Padded gloves. EG: Hockey gloves.
  • Gauntlets (advanced)
  • Rigid elbow, forearm, knee protection
• Arming Sword specific:
  • Wooden waster arming sword
  • Aluminum practice arming sword. If choosing between wooden or aluminum, then go with the latter.
  • 100 cm = 39" rattan stick with hand encasing basket (if without then you'll need hand protection) for sparring.
  • Sharp arming sword
• Longsword specific:
  • Padded helmet. EG: Hockey helmet.
  • Metal helmet  (advanced)
  • Wooden waster long sword
  • Aluminum practice long sword. If choosing between wooden or aluminum, then go with the latter.
  • Steel practice long sword (more expensive)
  • A modified bamboo shinai for sparring.
  • Sharp long sword
• Singlestick specific:
  • 100 cm = 39" rattan stick with hand encasing basket (if without then you'll need hand protection) for sparring.
• Pole weapons specific:
  • Padded helmet. EG: Hockey helmet.
  • Metal helmet (advanced)
  • Poles of appropriate lengths in heavier woods such as ash or hickory.
  • Poles of appropriate lengths in rattan for sparring.
  • Hard rubber attachments such as spear and poll axe tips.

ScholaSaintGeorge.org/equipment.html is a good page on equipment needed for WMA.

2007-11-13 21:43:32Z