Martial Arts & Combat Sports

Boxing gloves

Depending on your training program, you may find yourself in need of boxing gloves, which are divided into several types. If you are training with a punching bag, use specialised bag gloves with a thinner protective layer. Sparring gloves are suitable for training with a punching bag and with a live opponent. Another type are MMA gloves — also known as grappling gloves — which are used in professional fights. If you need gym gloves, then choose fingerless gloves to ensure better grip.

Boxing bags

For training, use punching bags and speed balls, which are essentially smaller, pear-shaped boxing bags. Punching bags used to be made of typical synthetic leather, but recently they are being increasingly manufactured from Nevatear, a type of synthetic leather that looks very much like real leather. There are also free standing punching bags that work as a punching dummy. Speed balls are suitable for speed training and honing your hand and eye coordination or practicing quick hits and finishers. Speed balls are generally made of synthetic or genuine leather.

Guards and tapes

When training with a live opponent or actually fighting one, guards of various types are indispensable. The two basic types are head guards and mouthguards. Mouthguards are available both for the upper and lower jaw. Another essential accessory is a jockstrap, and if you are practicing Thai boxing, kickboxing, or taekwondo, make sure to buy a pair of shin guards. Tapes are used to strap down the hand and wrist and ensure protection for the more fragile joints. Sports tapes come in different colours and are pretty much universal, so you can use them for boxing as well.