| The first thing you will want before you attempt | | | | that protects the jaw or useable for jaw injuries |
| to master full contact sparring is to get the right | | | | and issues like TMJ) |
| sparring gear for the job. It is important that you | | | | 02 Head gear (tight fitting with good visual sight) |
| and your partner have the same quality of | | | | 03 Chest guard (one that you can wear and still |
| protection too. Remember, your opponent is | | | | move properly - otherwise you will not use it) |
| punching and kicking you - if you want to soften | | | | 04 Sparring Gloves (start with the highest ounce |
| the blow then they too should have on quality | | | | boxing glove and a solid padded glove for |
| padding. Lightweight foam protection may not be | | | | grappling or when you need you hands) |
| enough if you are planning to do full contact | | | | 05 Cup protection (yes, you should wear a cup in |
| fighting. Get some gear that has professional | | | | every sparring session and you can consider |
| grade padding and avoid the karate style sparring | | | | wearing the outside padding too if you are really |
| gear usually designed for point or very light | | | | going crazy). |
| contact sparring. | | | | 06 Thigh padding (yes, you can buy padding and |
| Would you rather be hit by a aluminum bat or a | | | | protection for the thighs, this isn't always used but |
| foam bat? | | | | now becoming more important with the low kick |
| Consider the difference between being hit by a | | | | training requirements). |
| person with a no gloves as opposed to one with | | | | 07 Shin guards (avoid soccer style plastic guards |
| gloves. The same goes for other attacks, like | | | | unless there is a top layer of padding. These are |
| kicks and knees too. If you want to build up your | | | | important if you want to kick to your partners |
| toughness and defense against low kicks (Muay | | | | legs repeatedly without injury). |
| Thai style kicks that target the thigh area of your | | | | 08 Feet (these are often combined with shin |
| leg focused on damaging the sciatic nerve), then it | | | | guards to cover the instep and the top of the |
| will help if your partner is wearing padded shin | | | | foot. There are not a lot options when it comes |
| pads. | | | | to foot padding as compared to hand protection). |
| With the right combination of protective sparring | | | | If you are wearing shoes be sure that there isn't |
| gear, you can double your safety (this is especially | | | | anything on the top of the shoe (like laces) that |
| important if your are practicing full contact | | | | can injure your partner. |
| sparring). | | | | Naturally, you will want to adjust your gear |
| Consider the highest ounce boxing glove matched | | | | according to your skill level and training strategy. |
| with a good headgear. You will get the padding | | | | If you are a beginner working towards a cage |
| protection from the glove and the padding | | | | fight - you will want to progressively decrease |
| protection from the headgear. In theory, you will | | | | your padding as you train. If you are working on |
| double your protection (one plus one equals two). | | | | body conditioning, then you will want to maintain a |
| If 100% of your protection is only from the gear | | | | high level of protection to decrease the chance of |
| you are wearing, then you are increasing your | | | | injury and be able to train more often. |
| chance of injury. Get a 100% upgrade by ensuring | | | | Perhaps you are a bodyguard and desire to learn |
| that both you and your partner are wearing the | | | | to move with restrictive clothing or gear. Either |
| most padding possible. | | | | way, when you are just starting out, try to |
| Though it is rarely used, consider adding chest | | | | match your gear so that you can get highest |
| protection to your sparring set up. This will | | | | level of protection. If you are serious about your |
| encourage more knee attacks from your partner | | | | sparring consider purchasing two full sets of a |
| without fear of injury. If you don't already have a | | | | particular type of gear so that you will be able |
| set in mind, consider the following: | | | | invite friends to spar. |
| 01 Mouthpiece (double by a reputable company | | | | When in doubt, knock em out! |