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