Mixed Martial Arts is among the toughest contact sports, which is why its athletes should take every precaution to protect themselves from injury. The use of padded gloves and shin guards is the first line of defense in training safely. When sparring, it’s best to wear gloves that are more heavily padded than competition gloves and shinpads that will guard against leg kicks. A shin guard should wrap three-quarters of the way around an athlete’s leg to protect against front, inside, and outside kicks. Some kicks are utilized to create distance, others for power, and then there are those meant to inflict damage. The legs are a key target in offensive strategy, so you must keep them injury free with good shin guards. Most shinpads gear is specifically designed for various disciplines. MMA shinpads, typically, feature less padding than shin guards used in Muay Thai, but both have their benefits. Lower profile, thinner shin guards aren’t as protective, but also aren’t as bulky. They also don’t give you a false sense of security, as more heavily padded shin guards do. Selecting the right shin guards for you boils down to your specific fighting style, emphasis, and desired level of safety in training. Some athletes even chose to use shin guards when grappling. These styles of shin pads gear are usually constructed of neoprene and are slipped on. The purpose of using elastic material for grappling shin guards is the added mobility and flexibility it gives you. The lightweight design allows the grappler to transition from striking to groundwork more quickly and easily than other styles of shinpads. Ultimately, bumps, bruises, and blood are a part of any combat sport, but if you can reduce that in training with well-padded sparring gloves and the appropriate shin guards for you, it all adds to your career longevity. The right gloves and shinpads can keep you in the gym, training to your best, so when it comes to fight time, you are operating at the highest capacity you can.
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