Protective Equipment for Boxers
If you are thinking about making a career of boxing you will need to possess many attributes. You’ll need to be strong, agile, alert, lots of stamina and be able to throw excellent punches.
It has often been said that a bad tradesman will blame his tools for bad workmanship. His tools are there to help him achieve a good job if he is qualified to do it and the same applies to boxers. Having the right equipment together with the necessary attributes can make the difference between a good boxer and a great boxer.
The nature of boxing is to inflict damage on your opponent and vice versa so protective kit is more important in this sport than in many others. When training, protective boxing equipment is not essential but you should wear it anyway to become accustomed to the added weight that you will have when you get into the boxing ring for a fight. Here are some basic things that you will need to protect yourself when boxing.
Gloves and Hand Wraps
For working out daily 12oz boxing gloves are perfect. You will change them later when you enter competitions or become involved in sparring but to start, these gloves will serve you well. There are lots of brands available on the market including Revgear, Demon, Sandee and Londsdale to name just a few and what you buy will very much depend on your budget, but generally you will find that all of these brands have the quality that is suitable for beginners. Purchasing them online will invariably save you money as online businesses usually have fewer overheads than conventional sports stores, allowing them to pass discounts on to their customers.
Hand wraps are just as important as the boxing gloves because you will need to wrap your hands before putting the gloves on. The smaller bones in your hands and knuckles will be protected by the hand wraps but when first using them find someone who has experience to wrap your hands for you because if the wraps are too tight, it may affect your circulation; when correctly utilised hand wraps will also offer support and protection for your wrists.
Mouth Guards and Gum Shields
Essentially Mouth Guards are the same as gum shields, they just differ in design. MMA mouth guards tend to be the most popular and MMA equipment is highly respected in all aspects of the sport. Mouth guards are worn obviously to protect your teeth from being broken or loosened but they also serve to prevent your jaw from being broken by immobilizing it. Mouth guards also assist in the prevention of cuts inside your mouth. The best types of mouth guards to buy are those that can be softened in boiling water to facilitate self mould.
Groin Guards
Groin guards and cups are an imperative safety measure in boxing for accidental or not so “accidental” below the belt punches. Among the best brands for these under garment essentials are MTG, Sandee and Shock Doctor. Groin guards will not only protect the groin area but will also protect your hips. For ladies a chest protector is recommended.
Boxing Boots
Always purchase boxing shoes or boots that are specifically manufactured for the sport. Made from materials that are lightweight, you will find it easier to move around the ring when wearing them and they are slip proof. Most boxers would agree that Lonsdale is possibly the best brand on the market for boxing footwear. Naturally budget plays a large part in what you buy when starting out but purchasing inferior equipment at cheap prices is false economy. Cheap gear will need to be replaced regularly and often so it is best to save up and buy quality protective boxing equipment from the beginning, which will last for several years.
