Kick pads are used in martial arts to give practitioners a target to kick without hurting their partner or leg. In muay Thai, the infamous kickboxing art called the "science of eight limbs," kick pads are a vital part of your training equipment. What kind is the "best" depends on your goals at that point in your training.
Forearm Pads
Forearm shields are long leather gloves that run the length of the forearm. One side of these gloves is covered with padding several inches thick. One partner wears them and sets them at different angles for the other to practice kicks against. They are best for drilling many different kinds of kick in a session, or for drills where you want to work on your mobility. One disadvantage of forearm shields is that they take awhile to put on or take off; it's difficult to trade roles during training.
Kick Shield
Kick shields are one of the most recognizable pieces of martial arts paraphernalia. They're used in karate and kung fu schools as often as they are for kickboxing. A kick shield is a square of padded foam, often 4 to 6 inches thick, with straps to hold. One partner holds it while the other kicks it according to instruction. Kick shields are good for training sessions that focus on a single kind of kick. The extra padding helps the target holder handle the repeated impact. They're also good for circuit training and other workouts where participants switch roles. One disadvantage is that they aren't as flexible as other kick pads. There's a limit to the number of positions in which you can safely hold them.
Focus Mitts
Like a catcher's mitt without the texturing, focus mitts are used by boxers and kickboxers. One partner slides them on his hands and holds them for the other to kick. These split the difference between kick shields and forearm pads. They offer flexible positioning as well as thicker padding for repeated kicks. However, they're not as good for either role as the more specialized equipment. They are best for schools with a limited budget. If you can buy only one kind of pad, buy these. They're also good for workouts in which you want to work many aspects of training into one session.
No Pads
For some aspects of muay Thai training, no pad at all is the best practice for your needs. Kicking against the unpadded torso of your opponent helps him condition against impact while teaching you control. The idea is to kick just enough for him to feel it but not enough to cause damage, or even bruising. The other situation in which no padding is the best padding is shin conditioning. Muay Thai practitioners strike their shins against progressively harder objects to strengthen them for upcoming fights. Traditional practices include kicking trees, bamboo posts and sacks filled with hard beans or rocks.
References
- Bill Packer; Kickboxing Trainer; Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Muay Thai Stuff: Muay Thai Products
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