Having the correct Muay Thai gear will prevent you from getting hurt, so you can spend more time improving your skills. Once you have your protective clothing covered you can focus on your training.
Therefore, this article will give you a breakdown of the best Muay Thai protective gear, so you can stock your gym bag with the essentials before your first lesson.
What Is Muay Thai?
Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand but now it’s practised all over the world. The basic principle of the sport is close combat where you use your whole body as a weapon.
There are normally techniques used to hit different parts of the opposition and to gain the upper hand during a match. Here are the main moves in Muay Thai:
- Punch
- Elbow
- Kick
- Knee
- Teep
- Clinch
Although, the best way to learn these moves is through classes with a professional. Thankfully, you can go to these in person or you can participate in them online.
But, first, you’ll need to get the correct Muay Thai clothing.
The Essential Muay Thai Gear
Every sport requires a different type of clothing and equipment. For example, weightlifters need a set of heavy dumbbells and runners need the right trainers.
1. Muay Thai Gloves
As you’ll primarily be using your hands for defence and attack it’s important that you are protected at all times. Getting a good pair of gloves is the first thing you should buy when you’re getting started with Muay Thai.
Even though you can start with regular boxing gloves when you begin Muay Thai, it’s important to eventually buy a pair specifically designed for this sport.
This will give you a better impact and you’ll feel more confident while training.
2. Hand Wraps
Next on the list of essentials is hand wraps. Now, these aren’t necessary for training, but if you’re a beginner they will help you train safely when you first start out.
If you’re not used to hitting the punches that are involved in Muay Thai, it can result in fractured bones or sore muscles, so wearing a pair of hand wraps is a good safety precaution.
3. Shorts
When it comes to your choice of clothing the only thing you’ll need to buy yourself is a pair of shorts. This type of clothing will give you the flexibility needed to land those killer kicks and punches.
You’ll also work up a sweat when exercising so they’ll keep you cool and fresh for your workout.
4. Shin Guards
For sparring, there are a few extras that you might need to invest in when you begin Muay Thai. For instance, you don’t only have to think about your hands, but your shins will be vulnerable to injury as well.
That’s why buying a shin guard might be a good idea until you’re used to the sport and have more practice.
5. Mouthguards
Besides getting a guard for your shins, you should also invest in a mouthguard. If you think a shin injury will hurt, then you have no idea how painful a blow to your teeth is!
Although most people want to avoid a concussion or a knockout, a mouthguard can come in useful for shielding your teeth from the shock of a punch.
Ideally, you want to get a personalised mouthguard but you can always buy one in store. That way, you can make sure you have one for every session. You can buy a couple so you have one as a backup.
6. Groin Guard
Finally, you might want to protect, of course, your groin. This Muay Thai gear applies mainly to men who want to add some extra protection while training or competing.
Luckily, there are many options available so you can choose between different styles of groin guards.
Other Items to Add to Your Gym Bag
Now that we’ve covered the most essential Muay Thai gear that you need to train, here are some other items you might want to include in your gym bag for your next session:
- Ankle support socks
- Compression briefs
- Knee pads
- Headgear
- Rashguard
As long as you have several protective guards and the right clothing you can’t go wrong. Plus, it will be worth the effort of finding all of these items when you’re gaining strength and winning matches.
Muay Thai is great for losing weight and becoming stronger. Each lesson lasts between 1-2 hours and starts with a warm-up, shadow boxing, drilling techniques, heavy bag work, pad work, and cool down.
Overall, you’ll get lots of fantastic health benefits from doing this type of exercise and you’ll also gain more confidence in yourself.
There are some incredible stories about people who have transformed their lives through Muay Thai. Once you start this sport, you won’t be able to stop!
To help you get prepared you can check out our range of Muay Thai gear to get you inspired for your first lesson. Or, if you’ve been training for a while, then treat yourself to some new equipment.
Get Prepared for All Aspects of Muay Thai
Ultimately, you won’t get very far with this sport without the proper Muay Thai gear. Therefore, if you’re serious about committing to your training and improving your technique, then you better get prepared.
No matter if you’re looking for pads, head protection, or shin guards you can find everything you need in our online store.
So, treat yourself to some new clothing and get ready to take on your next opponent at the gym. There’s something for everyone in our range. Take a look at our products to see for yourself!
