For those who take a weekly Jiu-Jitsu class or perhaps a kickboxing class, no special gear is needed. Your regular gym clothes will be fine. However, if you are focused on becoming a professional MMA fighter or want to engage in hard core mixed martial arts training, then you do need to invest in some special MMA gear. This doesn’t mean that you need expensive designer clothes and designer gear; you don’t have to break the bank to get started with some basic MMA equipment.
When it comes to money, the greatest investment you will make is probably going to be your choice of gyms. Choose a fitness center that specializes in serious MMA training with professional instructors who are experts in their style of fighting. Some gyms charge a flat fee and then you have to pay for extra classes, but a good MMA gym will charge a monthly due that includes all of your training, from strength training to Muay Thai.
Proper clothing is important, and you need items that are both comfortable and durable. Fight shorts and a rash guard are both important items. Fights shorts are a better choice than just wearing ordinary clothing because they tie up properly and most MMA shorts have slits up the side to increase your ability to kick and move. A t-shirt can be used in place of a rash guard, but as a t-shirt can be soaked with sweat or easily torn, a rash guard is more durable and you might find it to be a bit more comfortable.
There are many different types of gloves on the market and you can easily get away with purchasing one pair of MMA gloves and one set of boxing gloves. The MMA gloves should be comfortable and not too stiff. Additionally some people prefer a thumb-less glove as it makes grappling easier. Boxing gloves will be use both for bag work as well as for sparring, and it is essential to find comfortable gloves with some type of injected foam molding.
Unless you enjoy being injured, you will need to invest in some type of shin guards. MMA guards are probably fine, and these types of shin coverings definitely allow for more freedom of movement. However, if Muay Thai is really your thing, you would be wise to purchase specially designed Muay Thai guards which protect the shin, as well as the kneecap, the ankle and the instep.
While some fighters dislike headgear, it really does prevent injury and why risk damage when you are training. Obviously you won’t be wearing it in the arena, but you don’t want to suffer an injury before you even start your first bout. Mouth gear also is important, and while there are pieces out there that cover the top and bottom teeth, a single mouthpiece is probably fine and should be fairly inexpensive to purchase.
Another piece of equipment that you will need is a gym bag. Just choose a durable bag that can hold your clothes, pads, head gear and other important items. It should be roomy enough to carry everything, but this definitely doesn’t have to be overly expensive.
Nolan Barias enjoys writing about mixed martial arts advantages. For additional info about mixed martial arts lessons in San Diego or to find a San Diego boxing gym click here to go to The Arena MMA website now.