Sparring equipment.

[syn]

Not sure if this goes here or training but anyways.


Basically I'm planning on buying some sparring equipment with some money I hopefully receive this christmas. I was wondering, since you guys have a combined intellect with squishes mine, which sparring equipment do you enjoy most? Which kind is most compatible with Kung Fu (Boxing gloves aren't very much so)?

I'm kinda sorta looking for durability, padding but not pillows, and the most important thing would be that it allows kung fu to sort of keep it's edge by allowing movement of the fingers and so on and so forth. Also maybe some leg padding even though I haven't seen many of those would be good as well.

I'm off anways to search on google right now, but I would take your opinions over google.

[MasterKiller]

gloves:
http://www.combatsports.com/detail_tuf.aspx?ID=22292

shin pads:
http://www.combatsports.com/detail.aspx?ID=22561

headgear:
http://www.combatsports.com/detail.aspx?ID=22621

[SanHeChuan]

Agreed

Stay away from foam, go with a vinyl or leather products.

If your not doing full contact, or close to, you don't need shin pads.

[lunghushan]

You should probably find out what they use at your school, and buy that.

Otherwise there could be some incompatibilities.

[SanHeChuan]

If your school only wants you to buy a certain kind of gear, it's because they want your $$$. No matter what they say or how reasonable it sounds, it's about $$$.

I use my own gear and I get funny looks and off hand remarks, but whatever.

They like to pull that you have to use our gear at tournaments, and then they promptly point you to the vendor table.

[lunghushan]

It's not all about money, it's also about level of contact and type of gear.

For example, if everybody spars with closed faced gloves, you probably want to buy closed faced gloves, etc.

If nobody wears sparring shoes, you probably don't want to either, etc. But it's your personal preference if you want to fit in or be a whacko.

[lkfmdc]

If your school only wants you to buy a certain kind of gear, it's because they want your $$$. No matter what they say or how reasonable it sounds, it's about $$$.

I use my own gear and I get funny looks and off hand remarks, but whatever.

They like to pull that you have to use our gear at tournaments, and then they promptly point you to the vendor table.

OR

1) people are f-in cheap and will find some piece of crap that will be unsafe both for themselves and those they are working with

and

2) people are lazy and won't go out immediately to buy their gear, so they'll show up at class without the gear they need, want to borrow stuff and will be a pain in the arse

So any smart instructor sells the gear they need and sells it to them when they join.....

[lunghushan]

It just seems like you should buy the gear that your school uses in most cases.

Unless of course they don't use good stuff, in which case then why are you going there anyway?

If it's a good school that doesn't overcharge on stuff, then by buying the gear there you're supporting the school. Schools that don't overcharge are usually just breaking even anyway, so some support wouldn't hurt.

And if you don't like your school or they overcharge or they use crappy gear then you probably shouldn't be training there anyway.

[David Jamieson]

www.canbox.ca

nice gear. I like the Boes stuff myself, but there's plenty of comparable stuff out there.

[syn]

My sifu is a very traditional since he grew up training under Lee Yat Ming, so he has some old padding but generally our sparring isn't full contact, and we won't use pads because he likes to emphasis having enough control to touch the sking but apply no force. But the other day I was doing full contactish sparring with a buddy of mine who does wrestling, and we both beat eachother up pretty bad, so I think it might help having some padding.

Also I suggest most CMA guys to spar with grapplers because it really helps your imrovisation alot being that it's a whole new element. I still get my but kicked in grappling but I've improved and my friend went to state last year so I don't expect to do to well to him.

[syn]

So I don't mean to sound cheap, but think you have any of those gloves with a similar design but not so pricey? I'm not sure I can afford all of that x2 really. I'll probably have to even then end up buying only head gear and gloves. That's the essentials though so that should be good.

[SanHeChuan]

I sorry were you typing something? because all I read was $$$ $$$$$$ $$ J/k

If you are doing San Shou style fighting or some other serious contact fighting then sure gear would be an issue.

If your doing the kind of lightish rappy tappy sparring that most of the places that i've seen do. For Point sparring or even light continuous sparring, then gear is a non-issue.

My personal belief is that the gear used for that only creates the illusion of safty, when all it really protects you from is some minor bruses. Anyone could still seriously injure you if they were trying to. I prefere to start with out any gear at all, so instead of newbs throwing sloppy crap trying to get the "point/hit", they learn to use control and good technique because they don't have the illusion that they can just let fly.

I broke this guys nose a couple of weeks ago, because he charged me and literally ran into my "fist". Technically it was my forearm/elbow, I was soft and barely felt the contact, it was is own momentum that broke is nose. A face cage could have saved him, so would some caution, which is something you can learn faster without gear on.

Syn,

You can find boxing style head gear at walmart maybe or a sport store for around $30.

what city are you in anyway?

[MasterKiller]

Spend the $ on good gear now and save $ on medical bills later, imo...

[syn]

I'm in Dallas. I don't go to Austin much, but it seems like the cooler town of Texas really.

I would take it your implying san shou as in full contact with intent? (A guess)

Anyways yeah sparring without gear I'd be fine with but some of my TKD friends (we're friend through school not MA ) don't like sparring without gear because they're used to having the gear at their school.

*EDIT: Also I'll probably head to Academy and see what they have.

[lunghushan]

Well, since this is the KF mag boards, there is of course www.martialartsmart.com (check out the link at the top of the page). They have some cheap stuff.

BTW if Gene ever reads this, my friend's son is in TKD, and they all use Tiger Claw gear, including uniforms. (With shorts). LOL

You don't have to get top of the line. You can search around and find some lower priced stuff.

But bottom line is sparring gear doesn't provide 100% protection (depending upon the strength of your partner, a lot less, like 20% or something) and you still have to be careful.