Originally, karate fighters sparred without protective gear of any kind. Later, they wore small cotton gloves with light padding over their knuckles. As the martial arts industry grew into an activity for children, more effective sparring gear began to become available. As of the early 2010s, the variety of sparring gear available can be confusing. Which is "best" depends on the needs of the person buying and wearing the gear.
Foam-Dipped Gear
The most commonly available, and least expensive, kind of sparring gear consists of foam pads dipped in vinyl. They are shaped into protection for head, feet, hands, chest and shins and fastened on with Velcro straps. This sort of gear is ideal for standard point sparring -- it's inexpensive, but offers enough protection to prevent most injuries in that environment. Foam-dipped gear comes in a variety of prices, but the more expensive gear doesn't offer significantly better protection than the lower-cost options.
Boxing Equipment
For full-contact sparring, a karate player needs to wear heavier protection. This usually means a boxing helmet and full boxing gloves. Foot protection can be foam-dipped or a soft shin guard that slides on like a sock. This equipment is more expensive than foam-dipped gear but offers significantly more protection for both fighters. Higher prices within this tier often indicate higher quality materials, such as leather vs. vinyl. This rarely offers better protection, but the materials will last longer the more you pay.
Kevlar Web
Kevlar web sparring gear is a newer addition to the sparring market. They go on like foam-dipped gear, but the protection is a semi-rigid piece of Kevlar over a thinner foam pad. This equipment provides better protection for the fighter wearing it, and usually comes in a modernistic, trendy style. However, the extra protection is not enough to justify the higher price. Also, the rigidity of the Kevlar means that this kind of protection can actually be more dangerous for the opponent. Not all tournaments permit fighters to participate wearing the Kevlar gear.
Mouth Guards
Mouth guards are essential during sparring because they protect against broken teeth and mitigate brain damage by absorbing much of the shock of a head shot. Mouth guards come in two grades. The low grade costs a couple of dollars and provides reasonable protection for either point or full-contact sparring. High-end mouthpieces can cost up to $50. They offer a degree more protection from actual injury. However, most also come with a dental insurance policy.
References
- Dave Coffman; Martial Arts Instructor; Hillsboro, OR
- Ben Cohn; Tae Kwon Do Instructor; Beaverton, Oregon
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