Many martial arts encourage sparring as a way to develop coordination, stamina, confidence and mental toughness. Sparring is also your best chance, short of getting into a real fight, to see how well the techniques you've learned will work. Sparring is usually conducted as free-flowing, continuing contact limited only by a set of pre-arranged rules and a time limit or scoring system. Although not every martial-arts style uses sparring gear -- for example, jiu-jitsu players may "roll" with no special equipment, or with only a mouthpiece -- most encourage proper protective gear as a way of protecting both participants.
Mouthpiece
One of the most universal pieces of sparring equipment, a molded mouthpiece helps protect your teeth from blows. The mouthpiece also prevents you from accidentally catching your tongue or inner cheeks between your teeth. Many sparring styles discourage direct blows to the head, or at least discourage blows to the head with force. But accidents happen. If you find breathing with a mouthpiece difficult, check to make sure the mouthpiece fits properly. You can also purchase vented mouthpieces that offer better airflow.
Chest Protector
Chest protectors are required equipment in some martial arts styles, such as Taekwondo, and optional in others, like Karate. Grappling styles like judo and jiu-jitsu do not use chest protectors. A chest protector wraps around your chest and sides and fastens or ties shut in back, offering some protection against blows to the chest and side. A good chest protector will fit snugly enough that it doesn't restrict your movement.
Gloves
Most martial-arts styles involve at least some form of hand contact. Gloves offer some protection to your opponent, but, most importantly for you, they also protect your hands from the force of the punches you deal out. You might choose to wear wrist or hand wraps beneath the gloves for extra support, especially if you're boxing. Gloves range from full-coverage "mitt-like" boxing gloves to fingerless models that cover your knuckles but still leave you enough dexterity for joint locks and grappling.
Foot Protectors
Like gloves for your feet, foot protectors cushion your toes and the top and sides of your feet from the impact of giving and taking blows. Some foot protectors are completely open on the bottom, and others have a piece of elastic that passes under the arch of your foot to help hold the protector in place. Having well-fitted foot protectors is essential for sparring safely; poorly fitted foot protectors can literally trip you up.
Shin and Forearm Protectors
Much like soccer shin protectors, sparring shin protectors strap directly to your calves. The protectors should fit beneath your uniform pants legs. Some shin protectors are available as a one-piece unit attached directly to foot protectors. Like shin protectors, forearm protectors strap directly to your forearms beneath the sleeves of your uniform and offer some protection when you block blows.
Helmet
Most martial-arts sparring helmets are made of relatively soft foam and vinyl; hard-shelled impact helmets could injure your sparring partner. As with mouthpieces, helmets are an essential component of safety gear because even though full-force blows to the head are discouraged -- and in some arts even light blows aren't allowed -- accidents and "not-so-accidental" mistakes do happen. Hopefully you'll never need the helmet, but on the one occasion you do need it you'll be glad to have been wearing it.
Groin Protector
Groin protectors or hard athletic cups are often required equipment for men. Women may be allowed the choice of an optional groin protector, which is much like a padded male protector without the cup.
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