In buying the right karate sparring gear, students and parents alike often try to find the right look and feel. The person who will be using it will try it on for size, do a little bit of shadow boxing here and there, or maybe do a few kicks to see if the gear fits them well and they feel agile while wearing it.
Trying on karate sparring gear before buying it is, of course, a good method to use because it allows you to actually see the material, the make, and how it feels when you wear it. You can see how well you maneuver with that kind of protective gear on, and you can choose from a variety of options.
However, we don’t always have the opportunity to go to the store nearest us in order to try the gear on. Or maybe even go upstate or drive for miles just to shop for sparring gear. Welcome to the e-commerce world, where everything is just a click away!
So when shopping for the right karate sparring gear, you might want to consider these two factors.
Durability and Quality
These two elements, of course, go hand in hand with any product type, but it is especially true in karate protective gear. Since karate is a contact sport, there is a lot of movement and mobility required. The risk of injury is real. And wear and tear of the product is inevitable.
This is why it’s best to invest in sparring gear that is highly durable and made of quality material. You will be using it for a long time, so try not to be too price sensitive. Instead, focus on the quality of the product.
And might I add, check the background of the supplier or seller. You will know which ones are legitimate and which are bogus based on their product claims. Legitimate sellers will be transparent about all the product details and are very careful about making absurd claims about their product.
A good set of karate sparring gear will last for years, depending on the frequency it is used, the intensity of the sparring matches, and how well you take care of it. Proper care for your protective gear is necessary in order to preserve its quality, and it makes good sense as well in terms of hygiene.
Flexibility and Protection
One major reason why some martial artists don’t want to practice with sparring gear is that they feel burdened by it. The extra weight tires them more, and they feel like they are not able to really have a good feel of the match and the opponent when they have protective gear on.
This may have been true ten years ago, but nowadays the sparring gear that is being developed and sold is made of lightweight material, allowing for more flexibility during training. There is also proper airflow so your head, hands, and feet won’t get super sweaty while you have it on.
Be sure to also buy protective gear that is strongly padded in the right places. Being too padded does add extra weight, but nowadays the paddings are placed in the strategic parts of the gear so as not to make them feel and look bulky.
Having the best karate sparring gear will help you improve your skills and enhance your training, leaving you more fulfilled and accomplished with what you have attained as a martial artist.
Main Image Credit: Photo by Jyotirmoy Gupta on Unsplash