| Mom, can I take karate lessons? | | | | footwear is often decided by the individual dojo or |
| It's a question that's bound to come up if you're raising | | | | instructor. For many, bare feet is the only acceptable |
| boys - and increasingly girls. Martial arts training has | | | | footwear in class. Others require students to wear |
| become as popular with girls as dance and gymnastics | | | | shoes with flexible, soft, gripping soles. Major sports |
| used to be. The media attention to such martial sports | | | | shoe manufacturers like Adidas make shoes designed |
| and fighting arts as kickboxing, muay thai, karate, | | | | especially for wearing in martial arts training and |
| jiu-jitsu, tae kwon do and other forms of martial arts | | | | competition. |
| have fueled their popularity among youth and adults. | | | | Protective Martial arts equipment |
| One of the least discussed aspects of martial arts | | | | In addition to the uniforms, you may also be required to |
| training among non-initiates is the equipment and gear | | | | purchase protective gear for training and sparring. At |
| that you'll need. If you or your child(ren) are considering | | | | the very least, most schools and instructors require |
| signing up for martial arts classes, here's a brief | | | | that students wear mouth guards when sparring, and |
| overview of the types of equipment that you may | | | | may require that students wear head protectors, chest |
| need to purchase for training. | | | | guards, shin guards, athletic protectors and wrist/hand |
| Uniforms | | | | guards. The uniforms in some forms of martial arts are |
| Martial arts uniforms may all look alike to the uninitiated, | | | | designed to offer protection, but it's not a standard rule. |
| but each style of the martial arts has specific styles of | | | | As with uniforms, check with the school or instructor to |
| uniforms that have evolved or been designed | | | | find out what sort of protective martial arts equipment |
| specifically to fit that style of fighting and competition. | | | | you'll need. |
| Many schools sell the uniform that they expect you to | | | | Training Equipment for Martial Arts |
| wear for class and competition, but if they don't check | | | | More advanced students may be looking for training |
| with the instructor to find out exactly what you should | | | | equipment to continue their training at home. Among |
| be wearing. Some special considerations for the | | | | the most popular and useful pieces of martial arts |
| various forms are the following: | | | | equipment for training are stretch bands and |
| Tae kwon do | | | | stretchers. These training aids offer resistance training |
| The tae kwon do uniform generally has a v-neck | | | | and conditioning that are necessary to prevent injury in |
| pullover top and more close-fitting pants than a | | | | martial arts training and competition. Other martial arts |
| standard karate uniform. Students are generally | | | | equipment that students will encounter at the dojo |
| required to wear white uniform pants and shirts, while | | | | include training dummies, wave trainers, body bags, |
| masters and instructors may wear black uniform tops. | | | | breaking boards, kick shields and targets. |
| The belt is long and designed to double-wrap and tie in | | | | Martial arts weapons |
| the front, and its color designates the training level of | | | | For many students, the use of exotic Eastern |
| the wearer. | | | | weapons is one of the most fascinating parts of |
| Judo | | | | martial arts. In most martial arts forms, training with |
| Judo focuses more on grappling and throwing | | | | weapons is an advanced subject, not attempted until |
| techniques than on kicks and jabs. The uniform has | | | | students have mastered using their own bodies and |
| evolved to reflect this, featuring a tighter fit and more | | | | have been trained to focus their strength and power. |
| reinforcing and padding than the uniforms worn for | | | | There are, however, some forms of martial arts |
| most other martial arts. Look for a uniform that has | | | | where empty hand and weapons training take place |
| reinforced stitching at stress points, and quilted padding | | | | concurrently. The most popular martial arts weapons |
| to enhance gripping ability and protection. The judo gi | | | | are the following: |
| consists of two parts - the top or joi, and the shitibaki, | | | | Nunchaku are lengths of wood connected by a cord. In |
| loose drawstring waist pants. Student uniforms are | | | | trained hands, they make an extremely effective and |
| typically white or black - though black is not officially | | | | very flashy weapon. Possession of nunchaku is illegal |
| endorsed - and competition uniforms are white or blue. | | | | in many countries. In the U.S., legality is regulated at the |
| In addition to practice uniforms, there may be team | | | | state level. |
| uniforms and competition uniforms, so be sure to | | | | Escrima are staffs or sticks used for fighting and |
| check with the school or instructor to find out what | | | | blocking. |
| kind of uniform you'll need for various events. | | | | Shuriken are also known as throwing stars. They are |
| Martial arts equipment - shoes and footwear | | | | small bladed stars used for throwing. |
| As with most other aspects of martial arts training, | | | | |