Plamen Kostov – Sweet Science of Fighting https://sweetscienceoffighting.com For The Striking & Grappling Arts Sun, 27 Oct 2024 13:41:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.5 https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/SSOF-LOGO-round-onwhite-500x500-1.png Plamen Kostov – Sweet Science of Fighting https://sweetscienceoffighting.com 32 32 Why Do MMA Fighters Cut Weight? https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/why-do-mma-fighters-cut-weight/ Tue, 01 Oct 2024 19:20:43 +0000 https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/?p=6994 The weight cut is a much-dreaded part of a few sports with weight divisions. In combat sports and MMA in particular, it’s mandatory for any fighter who wishes to be competitive.

MMA fighters cut weight by losing water to weigh in below a weight class limit and then rehydrate and regain most of the weight to have a size advantage over the opponent.

The topic is long and, at times, controversial, so let’s not waste any more time and dive into the specifics of weight cutting for MMA.

Why Do MMA Fighters Cut Weight?

Fighters cut weight to fit inside the weight limit of their division. In MMA and most other combat sports, the two fighters have to be in the same weight class. Each weight class has a lower and an upper limit, and no fighter is allowed to weigh more than the upper limit.

This goal is to ensure fairness and competitiveness in the contest, which most of the time favors the larger man if the skill level is relatively equal.

However, said weigh-ins in professional MMA are done the day before the actual fights. The weigh-in is done on Friday morning if the fights are held on Saturday night in the UFC and many other organizations. This means fighters have more than 30 hours from the time they step on the scale to when they enter the cage.

Weight cutting is a process where fighters dehydrate themselves and lose water weight, which is then regained by the time they fight. This way, they are heavier than the official weight limit for the division on fight night.

This is done to gain strength and weight advantage over opponents. Still, it is more about not being at a disadvantage than gaining an advantage when everyone does it. A quick example would be a welterweight weighing in at 170 lbs. would weigh somewhere around 180-185 on fight night.

There is a debate about how much weight cutting hinders performance on fight night. Still, most of the data suggest that even in more significant weight cuts, if done correctly, the fighter’s performance is just slightly below his optimal level.

But for this slight decrease, he may very well weigh 10 lbs. more than his opponent, and this can be a game-changer at a high level.

How Do UFC Fighters Cut Weight So Fast?

How Do UFC Fighters Cut Weight So Fast

There are a few ways MMA fighters cut weight for a fight, and many times all are used together in a soul-crushing and weight-shedding recipe.

Mild Dehydration

The main processes of the weight cut are dehydration and rehydration. The only way to lose body weight in a few days without your performance suffering and then regain it in a day is by manipulating the water in your body.

The process usually begins around 5 days before weigh-in, when the fighter drinks a whopping 6 to 8 liters of water a day. This is halved each day with no water intake on or before the weigh-ins.

The initial large amounts of water cause the body to enter a flushing mode to process and take out the excess fluid. Then when the intake is lowered and stopped, the body is still in the same mode and continues flushing out the water.

The overall goal is to dehydrate the body to a point where somewhere between 3% (the reasonable amount not dangerous to the body) and 8% is lost just by water weight.

Excessive Sweating

To help the body excrete more water, excessive sweating must be forced. There are a lot of ways to do that. The best method is the sauna, and the last few pounds usually sink here, but not every venue has a sauna. For amateurs, especially, this is not a viable option.

Sauna suits are also used very often. Running or biking at a steady tempo with a sauna suit on for extended periods is one of the best ways to sweat like crazy.

Other methods, such as taking hot baths and then covering them with blankets and towels, or using Vaseline, make fighters’ lives miserable in their battle to lose the last few pounds.

Excessive Spitting

An old and not so commonly used method for dehydration is excessive spitting. Gums can be used to force the body to create more saliva and then spit it out. This method is less effective than others, but can still help, especially combined with the other methods. It can make a difference.

Reduced Calories

Of course, even sweating a river won’t be enough if the caloric intake is not optimized. The diet is critical throughout the entire fight camp, not just the weight cut week. A fighter’s weight must be within a reasonable level before the final week, or he will have to walk through hell to get the weight off.

Some will use supplements to aid the process. For example, these best fat burners for women may help suppress appetite and boost energy.

In the final week, most fighters will be on a heavy caloric deficit (depending on the amount of weight left to cut) and reduce carbohydrate intake. Especially foods that linger in the stomach like high fiber oats and potatoes.

Fighters eat foods high in protein and fat but still in smaller portions. Another cruel enemy of the weight cut is salt. Sodium ties up with water in the body and prevents its disposal from the body.

Why Do MMA Fighters Use Vaseline To Cut Weight?

Why Do MMA Fighters Use Vaseline To Cut Weight

Vaseline is widely used in MMA, but the typical application is on the face to make the skin more elastic and slippery to prevent cuts. But petroleum jelly can also aid in losing weight.

The procedure is straightforward. The body is covered in Vaseline, which holds heat inside the body. After a set period (up to an hour), the vaseline is removed. The body starts sweating to reduce the body temperature.

Using neoprene or other heat-holding clothing can drastically increase the effect. If no sauna is available, this method is a reasonable substitution. 

How Much Weight Do MMA Fighters Cut?

The literature shows that most professional MMA fighters lose between 5 and 8% of their bodyweight during the weight cut. While doctors agree that the safe number is 2 to 3.5%, even 5 should not cause long-term health issues. The danger comes when these numbers go up to 10% or more, which is more frequent than you think.

We are talking about percentages because it’s a much better way to calculate. Ten pounds is not a lot of weight for a light heavyweight but can be the whole weight cut for a flyweight. To give some examples on the more extreme side, former welterweight champion George St. Pierre lost 20-30 lbs. in the final week.

Another great champion, Khabibi Nurmagomedov, also had notoriously big and difficult weight cuts. There are rumors that he managed to drop 40 lbs. but this may be an exaggeration. Regardless of the exact number, his cuts were monstrous and made for uncomfortable viewing:

Once you see a fighter in his corner and getting announced, he is typically around 10 to 30 lbs. above the limit of his weight class (obviously, the lower numbers for the lower divisions).

How Long Does It Take To Cut Weight For MMA?

The process of shedding weight for a fight lasts the whole training camp. Dieting and training to build muscle and lose fat is a week-long process but the final weight cut to drop water for weigh-in and then regain it for the fight is 5–6 days.

MMA Weight Cut Death: Why You Need To Be Careful

Aside from the intense mental torture weight cutting inflicts, it can also be hazardous for physical health. Severe dehydration causes many long-term health issues, but unfortunately, there have been even cases of death.

Two MMA fighters, Leonardo Souza and then ONE FC fighter Yang Jian Bing died attempting to squeeze inside a weight limit in the last few years.

The sport of MMA is not isolated in this regard. Muay Thai fighters Jordan Coe and Jessica Lindsay also sacrificed their lives due to complications from a weight cut. There are indeed more cases, but these should be enough to raise a huge red flag and caution every aspiring fighter.

Weight cutting is dangerous and must be done gradually. If you plan on cutting more than 4% of your body weight, always do it under the strict supervision of specialists. 

Why Is Weight Cutting Allowed In MMA?

How Long Does It Take To Cut Weight For MMA

Weight cutting is still an inseparable part of most MMA. The practice originated in boxing and wrestling, but there are more weight classes in boxing, and fighters can usually fight closer to their natural weight class without giving their opponents a size advantage.

After the death of Yang Jian Bing, ONE FC took drastic measures to prevent this from ever happening again. They implemented a completely new system that measures fighters’ weights throughout the fight camp, fight week, and fight night. They must always remain within a set weight and hydration level. With this, they generally abolished extreme weight cutting.

It remains to be seen if more big organizations follow similar paths and help fighters protect their health in an already brutal sport.

Summary

MMA fighters cut weight in the final week before the fight to weigh in at the limit of their weight class. This is done by losing water weight, which is regained the following day. This way, a fighter enters the cage 10, 15, or even 20 lbs. heavier than he was the previous day. The process is arduous, grueling, and agonizing. Still, if done right, it can genuinely give you the edge in a fight, where every little detail matters.

The Ultimate Weight Cutting Course

If you’d love to cut weight painlessly, with half the suffering everyone else goes through (and without the risk of hospitalization… or death), then this will be the most life-changing message you’ll ever read! Click the button below to learn more!

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Best Boxing Gloves For Heavy Bag (2024): Coach’s Top Picks https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/best-boxing-gloves-for-heavy-bag/ Thu, 07 Mar 2024 12:48:12 +0000 https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/?p=10356

The heavy bag is the essential training tool every fighter has at their disposal. Despite all the new exercises and routines people come up with, if you are a fighter, you will spar and train on the heavy bag, and to do the latter safely, you need suitable heavy bag gloves.

People have different tastes and preferences regarding bag gloves. Still, this list has something to fit all needs, budgets, and whims. 

Header
Hit N Move All Day Boxing Gloves

Best Boxing Gloves For Heavy Bag

Revgear Leather Bag Gloves

Best Mitts For Heavy Bag

Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves

Best Heavy Bag Gloves For Wrist Support

Model

Price

Best Boxing Gloves For Heavy Bag

Hit N Move All Day Pro Agility Boxing Gloves

Hit N Move All Day Boxing Gloves

If you've seen any of my other boxing glove roundups here on the Sweet Science of Fighting, you already know how much I love the Hit N Move gloves. They were produced with the deliberate intention of being the perfect glove for both sparring and heavy bag use, and they were successful.

To accomplish this, Hit N Move uses four layers of padding, unlike most other gloves with three. This padding provides excellent protection for the knuckles due to the DR-T technology, which reverses the punch impact. Despite that, there is also decent feedback, which is impressive, especially for the 16-ounce gloves I use.

Material-wise, the Hit N Move All Day Balance gloves are made from very high-grade, grained cowhide leather that will last for ages, even with the heaviest puncher's abuse. Lining, stitching, looks—everything in these gloves is premium quality.

You always want excellent wrist support for the heavy bag, and the All Day gloves provide it. There are two bars of padding on the underside and a thick piece on the top of the wrist, forming a brace guaranteeing you are always safe.

Coming at a hefty price, the Hit N Move All Day Pro Agility gloves can be the best investment you’ve made, at least regarding boxing equipment. Which is why they are rated overall best boxing gloves because of their manufacturing quality and unrivaled feel.

You can read my full in-depth breakdown of the Hit N Move All Day Boxing Gloves review with more videos and pictures.

Pros

  • Superior knuckle protection thanks to innovative padding

  • The padding creates a brace for the wrist and provides great wrist support

  • Very high-quality materials and flawless craftsmanship

  • Amazingly good boxing gloves for heavy bag use and everything else

Cons

  • Premium gloves come at a premium price

Use code SSOF for a 10% discount

Hit N Move All Day Boxing Gloves

Hit N Move All Day Pro Agility Boxing Gloves

Code "SSOF" for 10% OFF

Best Heavy Bag Mitts

Revgear Leather Bag Gloves

Revgear Leather Bag Gloves

Heavy bag mitts may not be modern, but they are always in fashion. Most people don't like them, but I am one of those who do find great benefit in them. This is why I was delighted by the Revgear leather bag gloves.

The mitts are best used for the speed bag and double-end bag, but I also like using them on the heavy bag because they keep you honest and precise by forcing you to punch with proper alignment. Unlike some old-school mitts, the Revgear model protects the knuckles, so don't worry about bruising.

The Revgear mitts also overtake basic mitts because they have a nice long cuff with a proper Velcro strap, ensuring tight wrist protection. This is a very nice feature compared to the elastic band on many mitts, which is not good enough.

You also get a grip bar, a breathable palm, and an open thumb. The material is high-quality leather stitched together professionally, ensuring long years of service. Bag mitts are made to be used without hand wraps, so measure your hand before choosing a size and get the right one.

Considering the quality of materials, craftsmanship, and features, I find it easy to pick the Revgear leather bag gloves as the best heavy bag mitts.

Pros

  • Leather plus good stitching equals long years of durability

  • Long cuff and wrist strap provide excellent wrist support

  • Ideal for double-end bags, speed bags, and heavy bags

  • A good combination of protection and feel

Cons

  • If you are looking for true old-school mitts, the padding on this model will be too much for you.

Use code "SWEETSCIENCE" for a 10% discount

Revgear Leather Bag Gloves

Revgear Leather Bag Gloves

Code "SWEETSCIENCE" for 10% OFF

Best Minimal Heavy Bag Mitts

Cleto Reyes Bag Gloves

Cleto Reyes Bag Gloves

Adding a bit of modernity to old-school bag gloves makes the Cleto Reyes Bag Gloves great. Most people don't like using bag mitts, and that's perfectly ok. 

Very few models are actually bag mitts, not boxing gloves with a free thumb, and the Cleto Reyes Bag Gloves fit this description.

The coolest thing about the Cleto Reyes is they combine the old-school feel and benefits of bag mitts but also adds a few modern upgrades. They are the mesh palm for extra breathability, the grip bar, and the hook and loop system, giving you much more wrist support.

There is ultra-thin EVA padding, which provides enough protection on the knuckles to go with power on the bag. There is also a grip bar, further making the formation of a fist more natural. The Cleto Reyes is made from premium leather and is built with precision. I am confident these will last you a very long time.

The Cleto Reyes Bag Gloves are not for everyone. This is the last model you would buy if you were looking for optimal protection. But if you want the bare-knuckle feeling that will improve your punching accuracy and condition your hands, or if you are an MMA fighter, the Cleto Reyes Bag Gloves is my recommendation.

Pros

  • Old school bag mitt giving you full feedback and feel

  • Velcro strap and grip bar are a nice upgrade over classic mitts

  • Real leather and excellent build

  • Very cool looking

Cons

  • Very little protection

Cleto Reyes Bag Gloves

Cleto Reyes Bag Gloves

Best Heavy Bag Gloves For Wrist Support

Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves

Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves

The Hayabusa T3 model has become the go-to boxing glove for professionals and amateurs in the few years it has been on the market. Hayabusa likes to push the boundaries and develop innovations that break the mold. The T3 design (also called Tokushu) has been their trademark for years.

The highlight is the recognizable separate pieces of padding on the back of the hand called Fusion Splinting, which serves not only to protect the hand when blocking but to provide locked-in stabilization for the hand when punching. This works in tandem with the famous Dual X closure system, which is why I chose this model for the best wrist support.

The two interlocking straps and the thick padding on both sides of the wrist provide unrivaled wrist support, which is what the T3 is most known for. Add to that the 5-layer padding on the knuckles, and you can see why so many people pick up these gloves and why they are an excellent choice for bag gloves.

The regular Hayabusa T3 comes in engineered leather. Still, the more expensive Kanpeki variation is in genuine leather, making it the ultimate glove for wrist protection. 

Pros

  • Dual X closure system and Fusion splinting provide unrivaled wrist protection

  • 5-layer padding for great knuckle protection

  • High-quality materials and craftsmanship

  • Great modern and instantly recognizable look with many color options

Cons

  • Non-genuine leather at a high price

Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves

Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves

Best Heavy Bag Gloves For Beginners

Ringside Apex Bag Gloves

Ringside Apex Bag Gloves

Beginners often choose the cheapest equipment, but this is a mistake. There needs to be a balance between budget and quality because very poor boxing gloves can have real consequences in the form of injuries. There are a lot of good budget-friendly beginner gloves, but for the heavy bag, the Ringside Apex is my choice.

These gloves have excellent protection due to the IMF foam, which, instead of using different layers of padding like most other gloves, injects gel into the foam, creating one big, solid piece of foam. And compared to the layered padding in this price range, the IMF is superior.

The Apex are modern-looking, with a very nice diamond pattern going over them and a ton of pretty colors to choose from. If you like something flashier and more modern, the Apex is surely up your alley.

And when it comes to the price, some colors cost around $35–40, which is dirt cheap for the quality and protection of the Ringside Apex, making them the best budget heavy bag gloves.

The Ringside Apex is a great stepping stone, both as first gloves or as a step to a more expensive model. But honestly, you can stick with these even after you've gone way past the beginner stages.

Pros

  • Great modern look with lots of colors to choose from

  • Some colors are cheap and are an excellent budget gloves option

  • IMF padding offers great protection

  • Synthetic material is straightforward to clean

Cons

  • Material is subpar to more expensive options

  • Tend to run small

Ringside Apex Bag Gloves

Ringside Apex Bag Gloves

Best Venum Boxing Gloves for Heavy Bag 

Venum Elite Boxing Gloves

Venum Elite Boxing Gloves

Venum is among the most prominent name brands in combat sports, covering a vast range of equipment. Their very cool designs and affordable prices make them a perfect choice for a wide array of practitioners, and the Elite model is the most popular for a good reason.

The Venum Elite is an excellent bag glove with triple-density foam of medium hardness, making it suitable for heavy bag use and sparring. What I like to use on the heavy bag are gloves that offer good protection but also give me some feedback so I can feel the punch, and the Elite fits the description.

The Skintex Leather is excellent for a mid-range glove. Unlike the lower-priced models, the Venum Elite is handmade in Thailand, which, in my experience with gloves, always guarantees superior craftsmanship. The stitching is reinforced and done very cleanly.

The abundance of colors and designs, along with the excellent price for the quality, make the Venum Elite an easy choice for heavy bag use and overall training. The only downside is that wrist protection is not optimal, and this is dangerous for beginners on the heavy bag.

Pros

  • Hand made in Thailand, which is a guarantee for great quality

  • Lots of color choices, all of which look very good

  • Provides good feedback on the heavy bag

  • Great not just for heavy bags but for overall training

Cons

  • Wrist support can be a lot better, especially for heavy bag use

Venum Elite Boxing Gloves

Venum Elite Boxing Gloves

How To Pick The Best Boxing Gloves For Heavy Bag

Type

The two types of boxing gloves you can use on the heavy bag are standard boxing gloves and old-school bag mitts. As much as I like mitts, they serve a specific purpose, and it’s unlikely you will use them exclusively on the bag.

Standard Boxing Gloves

All boxing gloves can be used on the heavy bag. But the padding's size, type, and density make some models better than others. Dedicated bag gloves have denser padding capable of withstanding power punches without compressing. Furthermore, most people like feeling some impact, and the hard, dense padding delivers it.

Soft padding is usually reserved for sparring gloves because they serve different purposes. The soft padding also gets destroyed quicker on the bag. This is why it's best to have dedicated bag gloves or buy a model designed to do everything.

A good pair of bag gloves have a firm, solid feel, allowing power transmission while protecting the hand simultaneously.

Heavy Bag Mitts

Heavy bag mitts may look outdated, but they still have a purpose in today's combat world, in my opinion. The point of mitts is they keep you accountable in a way that you must punch accurately or suffer an injury.

The very soft padding and overall minuscule protection mean you feel which knuckles connect, how your fist is aligned, and the full power of your punches.

This feels good and promotes better accuracy and precision and conditions the entire hand to withstand impact. The old timers used it for this purpose, and we should too.

For MMA fighters who don’t have the luxury of a boxing glove on their fists, punch alignment and hand conditioning are crucial. Hitting pads and the heavy bag with MMA gloves also work, but the open fingers often get scraped, and the bag mitt solves that problem easily.

Size And Weight

Best Boxing Gloves For Heavy Bag Beginner

The other thing is the size and weight of the glove, which is purely a personal choice. Most people, myself included, prefer 10- or 12-ounce gloves because they are lighter and provide more feedback and feel.

These are also the size all fighting styles using boxing gloves use in competition, so you get a more realistic feel than the 16-ounce pillows.

But there is nothing wrong with training with bigger gloves. The bigger the glove, the more padding it has and the more protection it offers. If you have problems with the knuckles, each ounce of protection is welcome.

There are also weighed gloves, coming in at around 24 ounces, used for arm conditioning and endurance. Like the bag mitts, they have a specific purpose and are unlikely to become your primary bag gloves.

Frequently Asked Questions About Boxing Heavy Bag Gloves

What Size Of Gloves To Use On The Heavy Bag

This is a choice made purely based on preference by the user. Most people prefer hitting the bag with 10- or 12-ounce gloves because they are lighter and provide more feel. People needing more protection will go for the 14 or 16 ounces, as they have more padding and protection.

Heavier gloves, like a few 24-ounce models, are also available to improve durability and muscle endurance.

Can I Use Sparring Gloves For The Heavy Bag?

Many boxing glove models, like Hit N Move Balance and Hayabusa T3, are equally suitable for sparring and bag work. They have different layers of padding for different needs, and even cheaper gloves can be used for everything, but you will need to stick to 14 or 16 ounces.

Many gloves, though, are not suitable for bag work. Especially dedicated sparring gloves have much softer padding, which is excellent for protecting training partners, but it also breaks down much faster when used on the bag or pads. So, unless you have gloves designed for everything, I advise having separate pairs for the heavy bag and sparring. 

Should I Wrap My Hands For Heavy Bag Training?

You should wrap your hands for long heavy bag routines and full power punching. The hand wraps provide extra stability and firmness to the fist and wrist. If you use bag mitts, there is no need for hand wraps. Some high-quality gloves also allow safe use without hand wraps.

Summary

Bag gloves come in many shapes and specifications. Still, if you invest in a single high-quality pair of gloves, I strongly recommend the Hit N Move All Day Balance gloves for their quality, protection, and feel.

For those with problematic wrists, the Hayabusa T3 is also a sound choice, and beginners and those on a budget can pick the Ringside Apex Bag Gloves.

Hit N Move All Day Boxing Gloves

Hit N Move All Day Pro Agility Boxing Gloves

Code "SSOF" for 10% OFF

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Best MMA Gloves (2024): Coach’s Top Picks https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/best-mma-gloves/ Thu, 07 Mar 2024 03:09:22 +0000 https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/clone-of-best-boxing-gloves-2022-coachs-top-picks/

MMA gloves were invented to provide protection similar to boxing gloves but allow effective grappling simultaneously, hence the open-finger design.

The small size of MMA gloves is good for competition but not enough for the gym, which means you need a slightly different model to spar with and a different model for other types of training.

Choosing the best MMA gloves for your needs may become daunting, given the abundance of choices on the market. But luckily for you, I have spent a lot of time testing gloves in my training and reading customer reviews to provide you with all the necessary information.

Header
Hayabusa T3 MMA Gloves

Best MMA Gloves

Fairtex FGV18 MMA Gloves

Best MMA Gloves For Sparring

XMartial MMA Gloves

Best MMA Gloves For Beginners

Model

Material

Faux Leather

Genuine Leather

PU Leather

Price

Hayabusa T3 MMA Gloves

Unsurprisingly, Hayabusa sits at the top of an MMA gear list. The T3 MMA model ticks all the right boxes- quality, comfort, and protection. The T3 is made from a durable microfiber leather shell, which feels as smooth as genuine leather and provides excellent durability.

Hayabusa boasts the best closure system with a dual X strap, stabilizing the wrist in any position. This is great for protection and in reducing hand fatigue.

Additional outstanding features are the pre-curved design, which further decreases hand fatigue. The Y-palm design guarantees the glove will stay in place during striking and grappling exchanges.

Hayabusa always produces top-notch equipment in every aspect, so we've chosen the T3 model as the best MMA gloves. While Hayabusa claims they are also suitable for sparring, I strongly recommend using larger sparring gloves instead.

I don't feel comfortable sparring with or against 4 oz gloves like these, and your training partners will not appreciate it either.

The Hayabusa T3 should meet the demands of even high-level athletes for competition or training gloves. If you want to pay a few bucks more, Hayabusa offers the same model but made from high-quality genuine cowhide leather for enjoyers of genuine materials.

Pros

  • Exceptional wrist support

  • Pre curved design

  • High quality durable materials

  • Y palm design delivers superior stability

  • Premium look

Cons

  • Quite expensive in comparison with the competition

Hayabusa T3 MMA Gloves

Hayabusa T3 Pro Style MMA Gloves

Best MMA Gloves for Training

Revgear MS1 MMA Training Gloves

Revgear Pro Series MS1 MMA Gloves

Standard MMA gloves are usually only good for competition, so you just need a good hybrid/sparing glove for MMA sparring and many other training purposes. The MS1 MMA training and sparring gloves from Revgear are an excellent solution for an all-around glove.

The MS1 gloves come at the standard 7 ounces for sparring gloves. They are made from high-quality Softech leather, which has an excellent feel and guarantees durability. The overall production quality is excellent. The stitching is good, and everything feels put well put together.

The main benefit of this model comes from the palm and finger loop design. Making a fist feels effortless, and there is no hand fatigue whatsoever.

The gloves are very compact for 7 ounces due to the multi-layered padding, which is soft but not bulky. This feature makes the MS1 perfect for MMA sparring for those who favor grappling over striking.

These Revgear gloves can be your go-to training glove for all purposes. The affordable price makes them even easier to recommend especially when you can save 10% using code "SWEETSCIENCE."

There are more good things to be said about these gloves. You can read my full guide with more pictures and video in my Revgear Pro Series MS1 MMA Gloves review.

Pros

  • High quality synthetic leather

  • Great production quality so they last

  • Very compact for a 7-ounce hybrid glove

  • Very comfortable design allowing unrestricted hand movement for all grips and holds

Cons

  • Padding leaves the second knuckle open, which can be a problem for heavy bag work or sparring

Revgear Pro Series MS1 MMA Gloves

Revgear MS1 MMA Training Gloves

Code "sweetscience" for 10% OFF

Best MMA Gloves For Heavy Bag

Everlast Heavy Bag Gloves

Everlast Heavy Bag Gloves

MMA gloves are not well suited for heavy bag training, but some people prefer to do it to get used to the feeling. Everlast offers a suitable model explicitly designed for heavy bag use.

The features making these gloves suitable for the job are the padding distribution protecting the knuckles and fingers, the padding on the thumb, and the gripping bar on the palm.

The larger padding swells the gloves to 9 ounces, almost as much as a boxing glove. The palm bar lets you rip haymakers on the bag without worrying about hand soreness.

The downside of these features is that you can't grapple well with them, but as the title says, they are made specifically for heavy bag use.

Pros

  • 9 oz padding for better protection

  • Gripping bar, perfect for heavy punching on the bag

  • Padding on the thumb

  • Full wrist strap

Cons

  • Not suitable for grappling

  • Some users complain of quality issues

Everlast Heavy Bag Gloves

Everlast Heavy Bag Gloves

Best MMA Gloves For Beginners

XMartial MMA Gloves

XMartial MMA Gloves

Usually, the beginner and budget categories of MMA gear overlap. If you are starting, you want to buy quality gear and be cheap enough so you won't stress about it if you decide the sport is not for you.

The XMartial MMA gloves are perfect in this category. They have the same design as the Venum Challenger but for a bit less money. The gloves feel well made and are excellent for levels way above beginner. The high-quality PU leather will last a long time in the gym without needing new gloves.

You can use them for drills, pads, grappling, and even sparring, although they are too thin for sparring. As is usually the case with this design, these gloves are not great for heavy bag work.

Pros

  • Great value

  • Excellent build quality

  • Proven design

Cons

  • Not suitable for heavy bag use

XMartial MMA Gloves

XMartial MMA Gloves

Code "sweetscience" for 10% OFF

Best MMA Gloves For Sparring

Fairtex FGV18 Super Sparring MMA Gloves

Fairtex FGV18 MMA Gloves

Unlike fighting, where damage to the opponent is the primary goal, sparring must be done as safely as possible, which is why MMA sparring gloves are different than competition gloves and have much more padding.

Fairtex are masters at building great boxing and Thai gloves, but they also use their craftsmanship to produce the ultimate MMA sparring glove - the FGV18.

The most important feature of this model is the knuckle padding, which is comparable to that of a sparring boxing glove.

I haven't used other MMA gloves with even remotely comparable levels of protection. The downside is these are not very comfortable for grappling due to overall size.

The quality, as usual with Faritex, is excellent. The FGV18 model is hand-made in Thailand from high-quality synthetic leather.

You can read my in-depth breakdown with more pictures and videos in my Fairtex FGV18 MMA Gloves review.

Pros

  • Great design

  • Padding on the wrist for blocking

  • High quality leather

  • Designed to protect even the middle joints

Cons

  • A bit oversized according to users

Fairtex FGV18 MMA Gloves

Fairtex FGV18 Super Sparring MMA Gloves

Best Venum MMA Gloves

Venum Challenger MMA Gloves

Venum Challenger MMA Gloves

Venum is the most popular MMA gear brand, and their Challenger MMA gloves are our top Venum choice. These Venums are designed in Thailand and made from PU leather, which has proven to be quite durable.

The foam padding is layered for better shock absorption, and the adjustable strap engulfs the wrist and bottom of the palm for good stability. All in all, a great glove that you can use in almost every training scenario.

Pros

  • Great design

  • Good padding and thumb protection

  • Excellent wrist protection strap

  • Versatile enough to be your only pair of MMA gloves

Cons

  • Powerful punching on the heavy bag will likely leave your fingers and knuckles bruised

Venum Challenger MMA Gloves

Venum Challenger MMA gloves

Best MMA Gloves For Grappling

Everlast MMA Grappling Gloves

Everlast MMA Grappling Gloves

Grappling MMA gloves offer very little in terms of protection. Their purpose is to allow fighters to grapple with gloves and have as little obstruction as possible, and Everlast's grappling glove model does precisely that.

There is precious little padding, so hitting with force is not advised unless you are working on conditioning your hands. Still, the thin padding is precisely what allows for unobstructed grappling, along with the open palm design.

These gloves have excellent and stable wrist support, and the antimicrobial treatment is a nice feature. They are also cheap, but remember that the materials are not the most durable. In my opinion, grappling is the only thing you should be using them for.

Pros

  • Designed for MMA grappling

  • Good wrist strap

  • Open palm design

  • Anti odor treatment

Cons

  • Minimal padding makes them unusable for sparring

Everlast MMA Grappling Gloves

Everlast MMA Grappling Gloves

Best MMA Gloves On Amazon

Liberlupus MMA Gloves

Liberlupus MMA Gloves

The most popular MMA gloves on Amazon are Liberlupus. Liberlupus has taken the proven design of the Venum Challenger and has made almost the same glove, only a bit cheaper.

You get good quality PU leather, reinforced impact padding, thumb protection, full open palm, and a well-designed wrist strap for a solid MMA glove at a reasonable price.

With more than 6 thousand positive reviews on Amazon, you can be confident every detail was thoroughly tested, and you can find answers to every question in the customer reviews section.

Naturally, these have some issues, but many are inherent for all MMA gloves due to the design rather than specific problems with this brand and model.

Pros

  • Great value

  • Proven design

  • Reinforced padding

Cons

  • You will want better gloves as you progress

Liberlupus MMA Gloves

Liberlupus MMA Gloves

Best Budget MMA Gloves

Sanabul Essential 7 oz MMA Gloves

Sanabul Essential MMA Gloves

Sanabul makes products in different price segments but is most well known for their budget offerings, and the Sanabul Essential 7 oz MMA gloves are an excellent choice for everyone not wanting to break the bank.

I believe sparring MMA gloves are much more important than normal 4 oz gloves, and for most people, hybrid/sparring gloves are all they will need in the gym. This is why if you are on a budget and want to buy only one pair of gloves, this Sanabul model is the perfect fit.

The padding is enough for sparring, while the design ensures the gloves are flexible enough for grappling. The materials and build are solid, the finger loops are not as irritating as in other budget models, and for this price, I can generally find no flaws.

Pros

  • Suitable for sparring and training

  • Well built so they last

  • Great value for the price

Cons

  • Inferior in materials and comfort to the other 7 oz models on the list

Sanabul Essential MMA Gloves

Sanabul Essential 7 oz MMA Gloves

Sanabul Battle Forged MMA Gloves

The hybrid MMA gloves should make the transition between striking and grappling in an MMA training session seamless. Aside from their entry-level stuff, Sanabul also makes higher-quality gloves, and the Battle Forged hybrid model is excellent.

These 7 oz gloves are designed with the shape of the hand and cover the middle finger joints, making them suitable for bag use and sparring. The bulk is still not too much, and most of the palm is open, so they are still ideal for grappling.

Unlike in their cheaper models, the synthetic leather is of outstanding quality and will keep even advanced athletes happy. The point of this glove is to be the only glove you need for any type of MMA training.

Pros

  • Very versatile for striking and grappling

  • Soft padding is good for sparring

  • The strapping system allows gloves to be used even with wraps

Cons

  • Tend to run small

  • Users report some durability issues

Sanabul Battle Forged MMA Gloves

Sanabul Battle-Forged MMA Hybrid Gloves

Best Yokkao MMA Gloves

Yokkao MMA Pro Gloves

Yokkao Ground MMA Gloves

If you get to choose your competition gloves, few options are as good as the Yokkao Pro Gloves. As the name suggests, these are pro-style gloves primarily designed for competitions. As such, you get an open palm design and 4 oz padding.

Unlike some other competition gloves, the thumb here is covered. The materials used are high-quality microfiber leather on the outside and smooth mesh on the inside. Like other Yokkao products, these gloves are handmade in Thailand, guaranteeing excellent quality.

Pros

  • High-quality microfiber leather

  • Great for competitions

  • Solid thumb protection

  • Handmade in Thailand

Cons

  • Not suitable for sparring

Yokkao Ground MMA Gloves

Yokkao MMA Pro Gloves

Code "SSOF2410" for 10% OFF

How To Choose The Best MMA Gloves For You

Size & Fit

Size and fit are critical with MMA gloves. They provide much less protection, and the wrong size means you have injured hands. With MMA gloves, the size is determined by the circumference of the hand.

Each brand has a size chart you should follow and choose the right size. MMA gloves should be tight but not to the point where they prevent blood flow or stop the fingers from flexing.

Protection

MMA gloves are less protective than boxing gloves, but some models offer more than others. Pro-style MMA gloves have an open palm and nothing on the thumb. They are 4 oz and provide the least protection to the hand and the opponent.

Most training gloves are around 4 oz but also have some protection on the thumb. Sparring and hybrid MMA gloves are thicker and weigh 7 oz or more. With them, you get additional protection for the knuckles, the top of the hand, and the wrist.

Top MMA Gloves

Wrist Support

There are no lace-up MMA gloves, only Velcro straps. MMA gloves' smaller weight and size means they are easier to strap, and almost every brand on this list offers adequate wrist stabilization.

Material

Like boxing gloves, genuine leather is always the best option, thanks to its durability, look, and feel. Synthetic leather substitutes are also good and offer almost the same qualities as the real thing.

Most brands do not offer real leather options, only premium ones. MMA gloves generally get less punishment in the gym, and a good quality synthetic leather glove will last a while.

Purpose

MMA gloves allow both to be done effectively as a sport with both striking and grappling, but some models perform better in one department. The bigger the glove is, the more striking protection it provides, and worse it is for grappling and vice versa.

The Fairtex FGV18 and the Everlast MMA grappling gloves are two examples on both ends of the spectrum. The Fairtex has outstanding striking protection but poor grappling protection, while the opposite is true for the Everlast model.

Price

MMA gloves are much cheaper than boxing gloves because they use fewer materials. Higher-priced gloves usually last longer and feel better, but mid-tier models are also excellent and good enough for most people. Don't go for the cheapest ones if you respect your hand and your training partners.

Frequently Asked MMA Glove Questions

best 4oz mma gloves

What Is The Best Brand Of MMA Gloves?

Famous brands are usually renowned for a reason. While with boxing gloves, legacy brands have been operating for many decades, MMA is a young sport, and Hayabusa has made the most significant impact with their equipment thus far.

What Gloves Do MMA Fighters Train With?

MMA fighters spar with sparring gloves and do drills with either sparring/hybrid or training gloves. Some prefer pro-style gloves (without any protection on the thumb), while others choose the more protective models.

Do MMA Gloves Hurt More Than Boxing Gloves?

MMA gloves hurt more than boxing gloves. Even the 7 oz sparring MMA glove is thinner than competition boxing gloves, which are 10 oz.

And on the competition 4 oz MMA glove, the padding is only on the knuckles, which leaves the rest of the hand open to make contact with the head. The overall punch force of both gloves is similar, but superficial damage like cuts and bruises from MMA gloves is significantly greater.

Can You Spar With MMA Gloves?

Yes, MMA sparring is done with special MMA sparring gloves, which are different from competition gloves. Training and pro-style gloves are not suitable for sparring unless both participants are experienced and can dial down the power, while sparring gloves with their 7-ounce offer adequate protection for striking.

Why Are MMA Gloves Fingerless?

Grappling is a massive part of MMA, and MMA gloves were invented to help minimize the damage from strikes and allow for meaningful grappling. This is the reason MMA gloves have no fingers and open palms.

Should MMA Gloves Be Tight?

MMA gloves should be tight enough so the hand won't move inside during a punch and while grappling, but it mustn't be so tight that it obstructs blood flow. If the gloves are too small and tight, they can prevent the flexing of the fingers, which will decrease grip efficiency.

Can You Use MMA Gloves On A Heavy Bag?

You can use MMA gloves on a heavy bag, but most MMA gloves are ill-suited for the job. The open-finger design leaves the second finger joints open, usually scraping on the bag's surface. The overall level of protection is also not enough for most people.

However, there are MMA gloves with features designed for heavy bag use, and they are much better for the purpose than other gloves.

Can You Use MMA Gloves For Boxing?

No, you can't use MMA gloves for boxing. MMA gloves are too thin and small in size to be used in boxing sparring. You can use them for heavy bag work or pads, but if you are only training boxing, there is little benefit in using MMA gloves.

Summary

MMA gloves can have different purposes, but our choice of the best gloves falls to the Hayabusa T3 model. They have a great look and feel and provide excellent wrist support and unrivaled stability in the hand. For sparring, you need thicker gloves, and Fairtex FGV18 is the best choice in my personal experience.

Hayabusa T3 MMA Gloves

Hayabusa T3 Pro Style MMA Gloves

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Best Weighted Boxing Gloves (2024): Coach’s Top 24 Oz Picks https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/best-weighted-boxing-gloves/ Mon, 05 Feb 2024 20:10:56 +0000 https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/?p=12105

Weighted boxing gloves have been around for ages but have never become mainstream. Their main benefit is the stamina and muscle endurance gains you get courtesy of the extra weight, but many people find it pointless to buy a separate pair of gloves just for this.

However, some weighted gloves are versatile and can be used for all types of training, including sparring, and the models I have handpicked for this list all fit this description.

Header
Hit N Move 24 Oz Boxing Gloves

Best Weighted Boxing Gloves

Ring to Cage Deluxe MiM-Foam Sparring Gloves

Best Budget Weighted Boxing Gloves

Ringside Apex Flash

Best Weighted Boxing Gloves For Women

Model

Weight

24oz

16-24oz

14-18oz

Material

Genuine leather

Leather

Vinyl

Price

Best Weighted Boxing Gloves

Hit N Move All Day 24oz

Hit N Move 24 Oz Boxing Gloves

Although Hit N Move does not offer many products, each one—including their 24-ounce All Day gloves—represents a significant advancement in the market. We all know the drawbacks of weighted gloves- they are too bulky, specific, and uncomfortable. None of these points are valid for the 24-ounce All Day gloves.

Somehow, Hit N Move have managed to squeeze 1.5 lbs. or 24 ounces of padding in the dimensions of a 14-ounce glove.

When you place the 24-ounce glove next to a 16-ounce one, the only difference is that the 24-ounce one is slightly taller, but this doesn't change how they feel.

So let me explain what you get in clear language. These gloves have the size and feel of a standard boxing glove but weigh 1.5 lbs., which means you can reap all the benefits of weighted gloves without any sacrifices. It doesn't get better than that.

Regarding materials and construction, like always with Hit N Move, everything is of premium quality. 100% high-quality genuine leather, moisture-wicking lining, exceptional padding technology, and flawless construction and craftsmanship.

With the same padding technology, shape, and feel of their extraordinary regular gloves, the Hit N Move 24-ounce All Day gloves can be used for sparring, bag work, pads, partner drills, and everything else you want in the gym.

Pros

  • Have the same shape and feel as 16-ounce gloves, making them the most versatile weighted gloves

  • At 1.5 lbs., you will build speed and shoulder endurance

  • Top-quality materials and craftsmanship

  • Super comfortable

Cons

  • Quite expensive, but the price is justified for what you are getting

Use code SSOF for a 10% discount

Hit N Move 24 Oz Boxing Gloves

Hit N Move All Day 24oz

Code "SSOF" for 10% OFF

Best Budget Weighted Boxing Gloves

Ring to Cage Deluxe MiM-Foam Sparring Gloves

Ring to Cage Deluxe MiM-Foam Sparring Gloves

If you want heavy 24-ounce gloves you can use for sparring and not only for heavy bags but don't want to spend a fortune for Hit N Move, you can get Ring to Cage. These have been on the market for nearly a decade and are a solid choice for sparring gloves.

Like Hit N Move, these gloves do not use additional weights but distribute the weight in the padding, making them versatile and usable in many situations.

The Ring to Cage gloves are made from genuine leather and are among the most protective gloves you can wear.

They are a lot bigger than Hit N Move, but this is to be expected from a glove with this weight. A key feature of this model is the double strap wrist support system, which provides excellent stability, but at the same time, many people are finding it difficult to put on the gloves without help.

So, if you want budget 24-ounce gloves you can use for endurance work, or if you are a heavy dude needing all the protection you can get, the Ring to Cage MiM gloves are a suitable choice.

This model is also available in 18, 20, and 22 Oz, so you can choose the most suitable weight.

Pros

  • Weight is evenly distributed across the glove

  • Available in 24, 22, 20, 18 and 16 ounces

  • Competitive price for genuine leather gloves

Cons

  • A bit bulky

  • The strap system makes putting the gloves on your own hard

Ring to Cage Deluxe MiM-Foam Sparring Gloves

Ring to Cage Deluxe MiM-Foam Sparring Gloves

Best Weighted Boxing Gloves For Women

Ringside Apex Flash

Ringside Apex Flash

Female fighters usually don’t need the same weight men do. While I believe 16 ounces is more than enough for most ladies, 18 ounces can easily be considered weighted for them.

Of course, both the Hit N Move 24-ounce gloves and the Ring to Cage are unisex and can be used by both sexes, but the Ringside Apex is offered in 18 ounces and a few exciting color options, more suitable for women.

The Ringside Apex gloves are well-reviewed on Amazon for a good reason. For a very modest price, you get decent quality gloves that are durable, comfortable, and have a sleek and interesting design. They are suitable for both bag work and sparring.

A solid feature everyone can appreciate, especially women, is that these are compact on the inside and outside, making them ideal for everyone with smaller hands.

The fact they are offered in 18 ounces makes them a perfect choice for women who want something heavier than usual but without having to wear two sets of hand wraps or look like a cartoon character with hands as big as their bodies.

Pros

  • 18 ounces should be considered weighted gloves for most women

  • Great value for the price

  • Snug hand compartment and compact shape

  • A lot of color options, some of which are specifically targeted to women

Cons

  • Not the most durable gloves out there, but this is to be expected for the price

Ringside Apex Flash

Ringside Apex Flash

How To Pick The Best Weighted Gloves

Type

The most important aspect of weighted gloves is how the extra weight is added and what you can use them for. Of course, the materials and construction are always important, but with weighted gloves, the type comes first.

Classic weighted gloves use removable weights around the wrist. Title boxing have a few different models using this technology.

This solution has the advantage of being able to adjust the weight depending on your needs and current shape, but at the same time, having metal bars on your wrists means the gloves can be used only for bag work.

This design is also not overly gentle to the wrist. Furthermore, the feel of the weight concentrated on your wrists differs from when the weight is distributed around the entire glove.

The benefit is that you can add more weight to this type of glove. For example, Title Boxing models weigh 14-16 ounces without the extra weights, and you can load them with 1.5-2 lbs. metal bars.

The other type of weighted gloves, which is infinitely superior in my opinion, are gloves that have the extra weight distributed evenly in the padding of the glove.

This makes punching feel natural, and the extra padding provides additional knuckle protection for the puncher and their training partners.

This is the second significant benefit. Unlike gloves with metal parts, heavier padding gloves can be used for all purposes any regular pair of gloves can.

You can spar, do partner drills, and still do heavy bag work with your weighted gloves and reap all the benefits.

The problem with most gloves that add weight to the padding is they are gigantic. A typical sparring glove weighs 16 ounces, while weighted gloves come at 20 to 24 ounces, and all the extra weight means extra volume.

The unnatural size inevitably makes the gloves less realistic, as you will have to spar with two giant pillows on your hands.

This is not the case with the Hit N Move 24 Oz gloves, which are the size of a regular 14-ounce glove but weigh 1.5 lbs. worth of high-quality padding. This is why I've chosen them as the best weighted gloves on the market.

Benefits Of Weighted Gloves

Hit N Move Weighted Boxing Gloves

Increased Resistance

The main goal of weighted gloves is to increase resistance. The extra weight from the gloves aims to improve your muscle endurance.

Holding your hands up, punching, and generally moving with more weight strapped to your hands puts more load on the shoulders and arms.

This is true for all types of weighted gloves (with added additional weights and heavier padding).

Increased Speed

It's not entirely clear if weighted gloves increase the speed of your punches, but when you are used to punching with heavier gloves, your strikes will be faster when you move to a lighter pair.

More Protection

When the additional weight is integrated into the padding, heavier gloves provide more protection for the puncher and their training partners.

Like 16-ounce gloves are more protective than 10 ounces, 24 gloves have more padding than regular sparring gloves.

For people north of 230 lbs., having heavier gloves with more cushioning becomes necessary rather than a training modality to improve muscle endurance.

Drawbacks Of Weighted Boxing Gloves

Increased Risk Of Injury

The extra weight loads the muscles and makes them work harder, but also places more strain on joints and ligaments. You may injure an elbow or shoulder if you shadowbox with weights and extend the punches fully.

Limited Use

Most people use weighted gloves only occasionally when they want to work on endurance. This means you need to have one pair of gloves in addition to what you typically use.

In the case of Hit N Move, they are every bit as practical as 14- or 16-ounce gloves, but the fact that they weigh 24 ounces remains. If you are preparing for a competition, the difference between the weighted gloves and the competition pair may be too significant and throw you off.

Larger Size

The extra padding means weighted gloves are bulkier on the outside. Some people don’t mind this much, but I find it awful.

Gigantic pillows drastically change how you box because they are harder to land around the guard while at the same time making defense easy and can create some bad habits.

If you only use them on a heavy bag, this is not an issue, but if you spar, the extra bulk is something I would avoid at all costs.

Frequently Asked Weighted Boxing Gloves Questions

Are Weighted Gloves Good?

Weighted boxing gloves are good if you know what to use them for. They are not for beginners and serve a specific purpose- to increase the boxer’s stamina.

If you need to work on that area, weighted gloves are an excellent way to condition your body while working on specific techniques or tactics.

What Are The Benefits Of Weighted Gloves?

Weighted gloves increase stamina, muscle endurance, and the speed of your punches. Gloves with more padding instead of outside weights are also more protective.

Can You Spar With Weighted Boxing Gloves?

If the gloves are weighted by adding more or different types of padding, you can safely spar with them. If you get a model using metal bars to increase the weight, they can only be used on the heavy bag.

Summary

The Hit N Move 24-ounce All Day gloves are the ultimate weighted gloves because they can be used as any other pair of all-around gloves while reaping the benefits of the extra weight.

If buying this premium product is outside your budget or you want weighted gloves only for heavy bag use, you can get the Ring to Cage 24-ounce gloves or even something from Title Boxing with metal bars on the wrists.

Hit N Move 24 Oz Boxing Gloves

Hit N Move All Day 24oz

Code "SSOF" for 10% OFF

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Best Boxing Mitts (2024): Coach’s Top Picks https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/best-boxing-mitts/ Tue, 23 Jan 2024 16:18:05 +0000 https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/?p=11945

Pad work is crucial to boxing and striking combat sports for all levels. Those who do boxing for fitness hit pads, weakened warriors hit pads, amateur boxers hit pads, and world champions hit pads daily.

Focus mitts are used for the best punching experience, and if you are a coach or need mitts to use with a training partner, there are a few things you must consider when choosing the right pair.

I have tried some of the best boxing mitts on the market and have compiled a list that will cater to people with different needs and budgets. 

Header
Hit n Move Turtle Mitts

Best Boxing Mitts

Fairtex FMV9 Focus Mitts

Best Runner Up Boxing Mitts

RDX Curved Punching Mitts

Best Budget Boxing Mitts

Model

Material

Highest Quality Genuine Grained Leather

Genuine Leather

Leather

Discount

Code "SSOF" For 10% OFF

Code "SWEETSCIENCE" For 10% OFF

Code "SWEETSCIENCE" For 10% OFF

Price

Key Takeaways

  • Hit N Move Turtle Mitts are the best boxing mitts with a unique patented double sided padded design.

  • If budget is a concern, RDX and Revgear are your best options.

Best Boxing Mitts

Hit N Move Turtle Mitts

Best Focus Mitts

The Hit N Move Turtle mitts offer a combination of unique designs not used by any other brand and supreme quality, which is why I have chosen them as the best boxing mitts.

The unique thing about these mitts is the feature they are named after, and it's the turtle back side of the mitts.

This design solves a big use with all mitts, which are body shots. With all other models, the coach must either twist their hands in awkward angles or present the unprotected back of their hand for body shots.

With the Tuttle mitts, this is solved by having a uniquely patterned padding so you can take shots on both sides of the mitts equally.

Hit N Move Turtle Boxing Mitts

The mitts have a depressed pocket at the center, giving you a nice pop when you hit it and substituting a curve.

Material-wise, the Turtle mitts, like all other Hit n Move products, are of premium quality. The leather is high-grade, genuine leather with smell, feel, and durability to match.

There aren't any wrist straps, but the pads fit nicely on the hands, and you have full control over them. A small piece of padding on the wrist further helps with stability.

The overall size is relatively small, and the mitts are light and comfortable. Their best use is for technical and precise punching, and the design makes them perfect for fluid combinations and counterattack work.

They take a punch quite well, but if you need something to take full-power punches from big guys, there are better solutions than the Turtle.

Pros

  • Unique Turtle designs allow the trainer to receive body shots on the back of the mitts

  • Premium materials and construction

  • Super light and comfortable

Cons

  • Very expensive but you buy nice, don't buy twice.

Use code "SSOF" for a 10% discount

Hit n Move Turtle Mitts

Hit N Move Turtle Mitts

Code "SSOF" For 10% OFF

Best Runner-Up Boxing Mitts

Fairtex FMV9 Focus Mitts

Fairtex FMV9 Focus Mitts For Muay Thai

I love the traditional curved pear-shaped boxing mitts design, and the Fairtex FMV9 is one the best versions on the market.

The Fairtex Ultimate contoured mitts are super light and comfortable for the wearer. They look relatively thin but have a surprising amount of shock absorption, which is my favorite feature.

The padding is quite hard, but it disperses the impact significantly. On the puncher's side, these are among the best feeling mitts I've hit.

The Fairtex FMV9 are made from genuine leather and constructed masterfully, which means they will last through countless pad-holding rounds. The visuals are also outstanding.

If you need high-quality curved boxing mitts, a few options are as good as the Fairtex FM9. They are light, precise, comfortable, and cost around $100, an excellent price for genuine leather mitts.

Pros

  • Light and comfortable

  • Surprising amount of shock absorption for the weight and size

  • Handmade in Thailand from genuine leather

Cons

  • The hand compartment is too snug

Fairtex FMV9 Focus Mitts

Fairtex FMV9 Focus Mitts

Best Budget Boxing Mitts

RDX Curved Boxing Mitts

RDX Curved Boxing Mitts

Both previous models on the list are great but also quite pricey, and if you are someone who wants to hold pads with a friend at the park once or twice a month, the investment may not be worth it. This is where products like the RDX boxing mitts come in.

For 30 bucks, you get real boxing pads, so there isn't much to complain about. The RDX boxing mitts are made from leather and have a wrist strap and finger protection.

They are light and comfortable thanks to the ultra-light foam they use, but the trade-off for this is that the impact absorption is inferior to many other models.

These pads are not for the full-time coach, but if you need a cheap pair of mitts that will do an excellent job for the occasional session, the RDX boxing mitts are the best option.

Pros

  • Immense value for the price

  • The design is good and is the same as much more expensive mitts

Cons

  • The materials are inferior, and the mitts won't last nearly as long as other models.

  • Not enough shock absorption for heavy punchers

RDX Curved Punching Mitts

RDX Curved Boxing Mitts

Best Air Mitts

Revgear Air Mitts

Revgear Air Mitts

I've put the Revgear Air Mitts as the best in the category of air mitts, which is not entirely true. The all-time greatest air mitts must be the Winning CM-50, which many elite boxing and MMA coaches use, but they go around for around $400.

At the same time, the Revgear product offers comparable performance for a fraction of the price, and the immense investment for the WInning is likely not worth it for most people who will be reading this roundup.

The most significant benefit of air mitts is shock absorption, and if you are a coach who holds for some heavy hitters, this may be the most protective choice you can make.

The Revgear Air Mitts have a snug hand compartment and are very comfortable, further enhanced by the firm wrist grip provided by the strap.

This model reduces hand, elbow, and shoulder strain, and the large air pocket and absorption foam do a great job. The mitts are relatively lightweight for air pads and are excellently constructed.

All in all, if you are in the market for air mitts to use with heavy punchers, the Revgear Air Mitts offer excellent value for your money and tick all the right boxes.

Use code "SWEETSCIENCE" for a 10% discount

Pros

  • High level of shock absorption

  • Great value for the price

  • Comfortable and snug fit

  • Solid construction and materials

Cons

  • The air pocket diminishes in effectiveness some use

Revgear Air Boxing Mitts

Revgear Air Mitts

Code "SWEETSCIENCE" For 10% OFF

Best Micro Focus Mitts

Ringside Micro Focus Mitts

Ringside Micro Mitts

The smallest boxing mitts are called micro mitts, the lightest and most portable. A great micro mitts model is made from Ringside.

The Ringside Micro Mitts are made from genuine leather and suede and have an excellent construction. Despite their small size, the gel padding dampens the impact quite a bit, and if you are a good pad holder, you should have no issues with injuries.

The pads have no straps or unnecessary features and are as sleek as possible. If you need to hold pads for fast boxers or want something you can easily carry around and quickly put on and off, the Ringside micro mitts may be just what you need.

Pros

  • Perfect for experienced pad holders

  • High-quality leather and construction

  • Super lightweight and portable

  • Easy to put on and off

Cons

  • A smaller target area is not suitable for inexperienced practitioners

Ringside Gel Micro Mitts

Ringside Micro Focus Mitts

How To Choose The Best Boxing Mitts

Focus Mitts vs. Thai Pads

This article only deals with boxing mitts, also called focus mitts, but it's good to know what options are available, and the other main type of hitting pads are Thai pads.

Focus mitts are designed for punching only and are either circular or pear-shaped and curved.

They are small, light, and easy to carry around. The curve allows for taking punches better and makes them safer both for the holder and the puncher. The size allows for quick punching combinations and technical work.

Thai pads, on the other hand, are significantly bigger and bulkier because they are designed to be kicked.

Of course, you also use them for punches, but it's usually single strikes rather than the fluid combinations done on focus mitts.

Other downsides of Thai pads include their large size, making them less portable and harder to put on and off.

But if you train in Muay Thai, kickboxing, MMA, or generally any combat sport with kicks, you will also need Thai pads, because boxing mitts are not good at taking kicks. 

Shape

There are two main shapes of focus mitts - circular or pear-shaped. They serve the same function, but the round ones require more focus from both the pad holder and the puncher.

The pear shape comes from adding more padding and material on the wrist portion on the top of the main hitting area.

This extra padding protects from barely missed punches and offers additional wrist protection.

The downside of this extra protection is that elongated mitts are a bit heavier and take up more space.

In contrast, the small circular ones like the Hit N Move Turtle and similar models are lighter, more comfortable, and easier to carry around.

Padding

Boxing Mitts Padding

The padding in focus mitts also varies, and you need to choose according to personal preferences and how hard you can and want to hit. Most mitts have a dense foam or gel padding, which absorbs impact.

Some mitts, however, also have an air pocket in the center of the pad, which acts as additional shock absorption.

In general, air mitts have a lot more cushioning for the coach but are also heavier, bulkier in size, and aren't curved, which is a downside for some people.

Materials and Price

As with all fight gear, genuine leather reigns supreme as the best possible material. It's the most durable, best-feeling material and is usually the most expensive because of its qualities.

Synthetic leather options are also good but last less than genuine leather boxing mitts.

Stitching and overall construction also matter a lot in how durable a pair of focus mitts will be, and more expensive products usually have a stronger construction and are generally better made.

With that said, after a certain price point, you no longer get better quality, only more premium features and feel.

More expensive does not always mean better quality, but you almost always get something extra for your money.

Wrist and Hand Support

Wrist and hand support is crucial for a coach. If you hold pads now and then with a friend and take turns, it's not a big deal, but dealing with hand and arm fatigue and injuries is crucial for someone who needs to take heavy punches daily.

It's hard to recommend a specific type because different people have particular preferences, so it's better to try a few pairs before choosing.

But in general, circular micro mitts offer less protection than pear-shaped mitts, which offer less absorption than air mitts.

Frequently Asked Boxing Mitt Questions

Boxing Mitts

Can You Use Boxing Mitts For Kicks?

Boxing or focus mitts are designed only for punching. You can do the occasional kick, but it must be with low power because it can easily hurt the hands of the pad holder and drastically shorten the life of the mitts.

What Is The Difference Between Curved and Flat Focus Mitts?

Curved boxing mitts allow the holder to catch punches more easily and feel better for them and the puncher. On the other hand, flat-focus mitts usually have a larger striking area, making them easier to use for inexperienced practitioners.

Air mitts, which have a pocket of air in the middle for more impact reduction, are also almost always flat.

How Do You Hold Focus Mitts For Body Shots?

With all focus mitts except the Hit N Move Turtle, you have to raise your elbow and rotate your forearm of the same side arm or hold the far side mitt by crossing your arms.

Both of these options put the arms of the holder in vulnerable positions. The third option is to take the punch on the backside of the hand.

With the Hit N Move Turtle, you will use the third option, but unlike with other mitts, the hand will be protected on both sides thanks to the innovative design of the Turtle.

Summary

Because of the combination of innovative and practical design and high-quality manufacturing, the Hit N Move Turtle mitts hold our first place as the best boxing mitts.

If you need something on a budget, the RDX curved boxing mitts are a perfect choice. It is easy on the wallet, and if you need to hold pads for heavy hitters, the Revgear Air Mitts will provide the most protection.

Hit n Move Turtle Mitts

Hit N Move Turtle Mitts

Code "SSOF" For 10% OFF

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I Tried The Hit N Move Turtle Mitts (My 2024 Review) https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/hit-n-move-turtle-mitts-review/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 20:34:15 +0000 https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/?p=12087

Punching mitts are invaluable for developing boxing techniques and improving speed, accuracy, and tactics. Nothing beats a great synergy between a fighter and coach.

Progress is instant when everything clicks in the same rhythm. But sometimes, equipment may disrupt that rhythm, and the Hit N Move Turtle mitts aim to correct this flaw.

Pros:

  • Unique turtle shell design

  • The shell allows effortless and painless holding for body strikes

  • Premium materials and construction feel amazing and guarantee durability

  • Provide excellent shock absorption, especially considering the overall dimensions

Cons:

  • Price may not be justified for hobbyists and part-time coaches.

Hit n Move Turtle Mitts

Hit N Move Turtle Mitts Rating

Fairtex FMV9 live up to their name as The Ultimate Contoured Focus Mitts. The curved design and two bumps make life easy for pad holders and drastically decrease the fatigue and pain typical for long sessions.

overall 

4.8/5

Quality

Protection

Price

100%
Punching

0%
Kicking

Hit N Move Turtle Mitts

Hit N Move Turtle Mitts Key Features

The Hit N Move Turtle mitts are a unique offering on the market of boxing mitts and fall into the category of micro focus mitts. I can crown them the division king even before we get deeper into the review. But let's first see the official key features.

  • Groundbreaking design inspired by an actual turtle

  • Top quality genuine leather

  • Allow to be hit on both sides

  • Unrivaled protection for the coach’s hands

Hit N Move Turtle Mitts Review

Design  

Hit N Move Turtle Focus Mitts

These mitts' main feature is the back side, designed like a turtle shell. The idea was to create a solution allowing coaches to hold mitts for body shots without sacrificing their wrists, elbows, and shoulders. Instead of using weird angles, you can hold your hand naturally, and the fighter hits the back of the mitt, which is padded almost as much as the front.

The Hit N Move Turtle are double-sided pads. While other models on the market have tried to make both sides equally hittable, all of them are bulky and uncomfortable.

The turtle shell is made from multiple pieces varying in thickness, creating a round design close to the real-life prototype. The padding on the back is very firm and protective.

Using The Hit N Move Turtle Mitts

The idea behind the design hit the Hit n Move owner Ozhan Akcakaya while he was on a run and helped a turtle cross the road. As he was holding the turtle in his hand, he realized the potential of nature's creation to be used in a boxing mitt.

The overall size of the Turtle Mitts is relatively small. As I said, these ideally fit in the micro pad category as they are smaller than air mitts and smaller than pear-shaped curved pads, which are the most popular type used around gyms.

But at the same time, they don't feel like micro mitts when you hold them; they feel much more solid and dependable.

So, while the hitting area is sized as in micro mitts, the overall padding and hand compartment are average in size while the weight remains as light as possible.

All Hit N Move products have a clean and classy design. Here, you have everything in deep and saturated black, with a small yellow logo in the center of the turtle shell and a logo and the model's name on the hitting area. Black and yellow is a classic color combination that looks fantastic in high-quality leather.

Materials and Construction

Hit N Move Turtle Mitts Material

Speaking of materials, the Hit N Move Turtle mitts are made from high-quality genuine leather, which looks, feels, and smells every part of it. The texture is smooth, and you can see the grain of the leather, which I love.

As far as production quality goes, everything is stitched together perfectly, and the construction is as solid as it can be.

On the inside, you get a synthetic mesh material, which does a great job of guiding the moisture away and doesn't get overly slippery. The other part of the mitts with another material type is the wrist part, where you will find a small mesh.

Using The Ultimate Contoured Focus Mitts

Hit N Move Turtle Mitts Price

I will start this section by saying that these mitts are aimed at professionals. The design and the price make them a tool for people who know how to use them and will appreciate them wholly.

The overall size of the mitts is small, and they are focus mitts in every sense of the word. The Hit N Move Turtle mitts are for fast, accurate punches and blistering combinations.

If the puncher is accurate and the holder knows what he is doing, these pads are perfect for creating magical sequences people love to watch on social media.

Hitting the mitts right in the middle is satisfying, and the pop is audible. The padding is firm and shock-absorbing, especially considering the overall dimensions. You can confidently take strong punches and not worry about your hands.

But there is always a limit. Regardless of how well the Turtle Mitts are made, they remain micro mitts in size and are not made for full power strikes from heavy hitters.

Turtle Mitts Hit N Move

They do not have the same level of shock absorption as air mitts, nor are they intended to. And obviously, the Turtleback is not made to protect you from a full-power heavyweight body punch.

The key feature of these mitts is the Turtleback, which works perfectly for what it was designed to do. You can hold the mitts for solar plexus strikes, liver shots, and all other body strikes effortlessly without having to come up with weird angles.

This makes level-changing combinations a breeze both for the pad holder and for the puncher, who doesn't have to worry about injuring their coach or disrupting the punching rhythm by having to wait for the holder to place the pad in place. There is no denying the design is genius.

Even though these are designed mainly for boxing combination work, I have found that the size and recessed padding in the middle work great for MMA gloves.

The smaller size of the gloves makes them a perfect fit for the mitts. You can also throw in the occasional kick or knee, but they must be done with care and without force.

Let’s talk a bit about comfort.

The Turtle mitts are super comfortable to hold. The hand compartment is average in size and will accommodate most hands.

There is a pronounced palm ball inside, which is a must, in my opinion, and helps you hold the mitts firmly, with conviction, and with the ability to withstand solid punches.

A nice feature all coaches will appreciate is the additional wrist pad, which is soft, comfortable, and helps alleviate pressure on the wrist.

Price

All of the superlatives I've poured on the Turtle mitts come at a price of almost $300. This will be way out of their limit for most people, and part-time coaches and hobbyists, this is understandable.

But for professional coaches who have to hold pads for hours at a time, the Turtles are well worth it.

The cost of a pair of Winning pads is around $500, and other pro-level mitts are also around the price tag of the Turtle. But none of them have this innovative design and will allow you to hold for body shots, so if you are on the market for premium-level mitts, the Turtle mitts are worth every cent.

Summary

The Hit N Move Turtle mitts offer a unique design that is not only innovative for the sake of it but works perfectly for what's intended.

These are the best double-sided mitts and allow effortless transition into body strikes while retaining the weight and feel of micro mitts. The Turtle mitts are perfect for professional coaches and people who want the best products and can justify the high price tag.

Hit N Move Turtle Mitts

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Best Muay Thai Shin Guards (2024) https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/best-muay-thai-shin-guards/ Thu, 04 Jan 2024 15:58:26 +0000 https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/?p=8945

The best way to learn how to fight is to simulate fighting in the gym, or sparring, as this type of training is known. But sparring hard and without gear is a way to drastically reduce the chance of doing enough rounds to improve. This is where protective equipment comes in.

We've already covered you on the best choices for a few types of gear, and now it's time to look at a crucial piece in every Muay Thai sparring session, the shin guards. They protect both partners and are as vital as boxing gloves in Thai boxing, where kicks are often the primary weapon used in a fight.

Still, different models cater to different preferences. We will review the most popular variations before giving you precious advice on buying the shin guards you need.

Header
Yokkao Muay Thai Shin Guards

Best Muay Thai Shin Guards

XMartial Muay Thai Shin Guards

Best Beginner Muay Thai Shin Guards

RDX Shin Guards

Best Budget Muay Thai Shin Guards

Model

Price

Best Muay Thai Shin Guards

Yokkao Muay Thai Shin Guards

Yokkao Muay Thai Shin Guards

Yokkao has dominated the Muay Thai equipment market since its inception in 2012, with a distinct blend of tradition and innovation. The Yokkao Muay Thai shin guards are our best choice because they cover all the essential details with secured stability, lightweight mobility, premium comfort, and optimal impact absorption.

Yokkao Muay Thai shin guards are handmade in Thailand from genuine cowhide leather and also boast stress-resistance straps and a non-slip interior. Yokkao has perfected the classic Thai-style shin guards through small design changes over the years. They have just the right length on the shin and the instep.

Designs range from the all-business single-color black to a few more exciting and flashy visuals for those who want to gather attention in the gym. There are also microfiber models for vegans out there. This is the best Muay Thai shin guard you can buy, and the only thing that may stop you is the price. 

Pros

  • Perfected design

  • Real leather for the best durability

  • A lot of color options

  • Lightweight yet highly protective

Cons

  • Quite expensive

Yokkao Muay Thai Shin Guards

Yokkao Muay Thai Shin Guards

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Best Muay Thai Shin Guards For Beginners

XMartial Muay Thai Shin Guards

XMartial Muay Thai Shin Guards

XMartial may be a newcomer on the fight gear market, but they are aggressively attacking many segments at once. Their Muay Thai shin guards model is an excellent choice for all gym beginners who don't want to break the bank or sacrifice quality.

XMartial has taken the tried-and-true Thai shin guard formula and given it their own spin. With extra padding where needed and less bulk to avoid unnecessary bulk, these shin guards keep the weight low without sacrificing protection.

They are not suitable just for beginners, though. Advanced fighters will also like these and feel great in the ring with the XMartial shin guards.

Pros

  • Outstanding protection level at low weight

  • High-quality synthetic leather

  • Durable and comfortable

Cons

  • Only two color options

XMartial Muay Thai Shin Guards

XMartial Muay Thai Shin Guards

code "Sweetscience" For 10% Off

Best Budget Muay Thai Shin Guards

RDX Muay Thai Shin Guards

RDX Shin Guards

RDX comes to the rescue of those low on funds but high on expectations. Their RDX premium Maya hide leather shin guards are incredibly well-reviewed on Amazon. They are the best budget option for a price less than half of the other models on this list.

These shin guards provide adequate protection and are well-designed. While they don't cover the knee as most Thai-style shin guards do, the instep is the perfect elongated length. Some users complain that the straps are too small for big-calved guys, but while this is a problem, it also means they are great for skinny legs.

Luckily, these days, low-cost options are also very usable and allow everyone to train with adequate protection without spending too much. RDX, in particular, is very good at that.

Pros

  • Great value

  • Sleek design

  • A lot of innovative materials

  • Great for skinny legs

Cons

  • Too thin for hard sparring

RDX Shin Guards

RDX Muay Thai Shin Guards

Best Fairtex Muay Thai Shin Guards For Big Calves

Fairtex Competition Muay Thai Guards

Fairtex SP5 Shin Guards

The battle between Fairtex and Yokkao for the best Muay Thai shin guards (and gloves, for that matter) is very close. Both deserve to be at the top and are worth every penny, but the genuine leather in the Yokkao takes first place.

The Fairtex Competition Muay Thai shin guards have a sleek design with no bumps but still, provide excellent shock absorption. The shin length covers the knee, and the instep is long enough to cover the fingers, which have the nasty habit of getting into the eyes from high kicks. Fairtex shin guards are handmade in Thailand, a sign of premium quality.

The wide design of this Fairtrex model, known as SP5, is also suitable for those fortunate enough to have big calves, which can be a problem with some other models on the list.

With 50 years of experience for Fairtex and over 1300 Amazon reviews for this model, you can rest assured these pads have been thoroughly tested in the real world. You can see my in-depth breakdown with more pictures and video in my Fairtex SP5 Shin Guards review.

Pros

  • Very comfortable

  • Handmade in Thailand

  • Straps keep them in place perfectly

  • Great value

  • Suitable for big calves

Cons

  • The instep is a bit too wide

Fairtex Competition Muay Thai Guards

Best Top King Muay Thai Shin Guards

Top King Pro Leather Shin Guards

Top King Muay Thai Shin Guards

Top King is another well-respected Thai brand. By buying their products, you can be confident that you will receive top-quality Muay Thai equipment. The Top King Muay Thai shin guards are your best bet if you are looking for maximum protection. 

They are thicker than the rest of the models on this list, making them ideal for heavy kickers. They are made in Thailand from genuine leather and will last you through many hard sessions. The shin and foot pieces are elongated in classic Thai shin guard fashion.

Despite the bulk, the weight is nice and low. A common problem reported with the Top King shin guards is that their sizing is a bit off, and people often take a size that is too small. Otherwise, these are excellent premium Thai-made shin guards for the serious Nak Muay.

Pros

  • Genuine leather

  • Handmade in Thailand

  • Amazing protection

Cons

  • The sizing is off, and it can be tricky to pick the right one

Top King Muay Thai Shin Guards

Top King Pro Leather Shin Guards

Best Hayabusa Muay Thai Shin Guards

Hayabusa T3 Striking Shin Guards

Hayabusa T3 Striking Shin Guards

The Hayabusa T3 shin guards are more popular in MMA than Muay Thai, but they are some of the best shin guards in any sport. The microfiber leather Hayabusa uses is a close competitor to genuine leather and provides premium durability and feel.

The T3s have a distinct pre-curved design. A key feature is a design outside the knee that protects against low kicks. Hundreds of silicone beads and two customized straps ensure that the shin guards don't move.

If you are looking for something a bit different but equally good as the best Thai brands, the Hayabusa T3 should be your first choice.

Pros

  • Premium materials for excellent durability

  • Multi-layered foam for maximum protection

  • Great comfort

Cons

  • Quite pricey

Hayabusa T3 Striking Shin Guards

Hayabusa T3 Striking Shin Guards

Best Venum Muay Thai Shin Guards

Venum Elite Shin Guards

Venum Elite Shin Guards

A combat sports gear list can't go without Venum, and their Elite Shin Guards rightfully find their spot here. The Venum Elite shin guards are thick and offer supreme protection. The material is premium skintex leather, which is very close to genuine leather in quality. Unlike their lower-range stuff, the Elite is made in Thailand.

Venum always grabs attention with slick designs, and their Elite shin guards can be ordered in many colors, each of which looks very cool. They are also very lightweight for the level of protection offered.

One problem with this model is that the straps may be very good and secure, but the top one is placed a bit high and may rub against the back of the leg when you lift your knee to check.

Pros

  • High-grade synthetic leather

  • A lot of color options

  • Lightweight and comfortable

  • High protection everywhere

Cons

  • The top strap is placed too high

Venum Elite Shin Guards

Venum Elite Muay Thai Shin Guards

How To Choose The Perfect Muay Thai Shin Guards

Thai Shin Guards vs. MMA Shin Guards

Where MMA and Muay Thai differ the most is the inclusion of grappling in mixed martial arts. While MMA fighters also often do pure striking sparring, which you can do perfectly in Thai shin guards, the needs change once you hit the ground.

MMA shin guards have less padding, so they can provide better mobility in the legs, making them less protective than Muay Thai shin guards.

The key visual difference between the two types is the closure system. Muay Thai shin guards are usually held with straps, which are not good enough for ground scrambles. This is why many MMA shin guards are designed with a complete sock-like sleeve that is slipped on.

To sum up, Muay Thai shin guards offer the most protection. In contrast, MMA shin guards are thinner and less protective, but much better for intensive rolling on the ground. The slip-on system is much harder to untangle while grappling.

Another thing you may notice is Muay Thai shin guards usually have an elongated shin piece on the top that covers the knee and is used for checking kicks.

Materials

Genuine leather remains the best material for shin guards and many other types of equipment. Still, the price and availability limit it to premium offerings.

The good news is that synthetic materials like microfiber leather have generally caught up and are a suitable replacement for the real thing, both in feel and durability. Each brand's top models are very well made from genuine or synthetic leather.

Protection and mobility

Shin guards are there to offer maximum protection, but usually, the more protective they are, the less mobility you have. So, the wider and thicker the shin guards are, the more they soften kicks. This also means they are heavier and bulkier and will inevitably reduce your movements, at least to some degree.

As a sport that relies so much on full-power kicks, the better option is to go for better protection and sacrifice a bit of mobility.

Still, comfort is important and must not be neglected. The usual problem with shin guards is that the edges where the shin and foot piece come together may be too firm and hurt your foot in the first few sessions.

Another problem is that the top strap may be too high and interfere with the bending of the leg on the back side of the knee. If possible, it's good to try out the pair and check these things before buying.

Sizing and fit

All good Muay Thai shin guards have a few sizes available, ranging from small to extra-large. Shin guards must be the right fit, or they will get in the way during training. They will be highly uncomfortable if they are too small and leave too many unprotected spots. If shin guards are too big, the straps won't be able to hold them, and you will have to readjust all the time.

When consulting the sizing chart provided by the manufacturer, take your measurements. Both in the length of the legs and the thickness of your calves, and pick the correct size. Scanning through online user reviews is also an excellent idea and will help you if the sizing chart is off somehow.

Muay Thai Shin Guards

Frequently Asked Muay Thai Shin Guard Questions

Why Do Muay Thai Fighters Wear Shin Guards?

Muay Thai fighters wear shin guards during sparring and other types of training to protect their shins and feet when kicking. The shins are a primary weapon in Muay Thai, as opposed to the foot kicks of other traditional martial arts like karate and taekwondo.

But the shin bones and the muscles and ligaments in the lower leg are also very sensitive and easily prone to injuries. Shin guards minimize the pain and allow safer training.

Shin guards also protect the one receiving the kicks very well, regardless of whether they land or are blocked. Sparring will be almost as damaging without proper protection as a real fight.

Are Fairtex Shin Guards Good?

As one of the oldest active brands producing Muay Thai gear, Fairtex offers some of the best fight equipment on the market. Many fight promotions trust Fairtex with the production of all their fight night gloves and shin guards, so we say without any doubt that Fairtex shin guards are good.

What Size Shin Guards Should I Get For Muay Thai?

All brands have a sizing table with at least a couple of measurements. Take your own leg measurements, compare them with the table, and pick the correct size. Of course, this is only if you can't try them on in person, which is always the best option.

How Tight Should Muay Thai Shin Guards Be?

Not too tight or too loose. If the shin guards are not tight enough, they will displace all the time and become a nuisance. If strapped too tight, they will restrict the blood flow and mobility in the legs. Keep your shin guards strapped to a point where they don’t move around while still being comfortable enough.

Summary

Shin guards are mandatory in Muay Thai training, and investing in a quality pair is an excellent idea. If you have the money, Yokkao is your best choice and has no downsides besides the price. Other Thai brands also offer very high-quality Muay Thai shin guards. If you want something a bit different, you can always trust Hayabusa.

Yokkao Muay Thai Shin Guards

Yokkao Muay Thai Shin Guards

code "SSOF2410" For 10% Off

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Krav Maga vs. Taekwondo (What’s The Difference?) https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/krav-maga-vs-taekwondo/ Tue, 26 Dec 2023 16:29:15 +0000 https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/?p=12057 Martial arts often carry deep philosophies and are ways to express yourself, but they contain the martial element at their core. Some systems are better at real fighting than others, and many people choose more effective styles that can be used for self-defense, while others prefer the thrill of competition and go for a sports-oriented style. This is also the case when comparing Krav Maga1 and Taekwondo.

Krav Maga is a self-defense system entirely oriented toward teaching people how to deal with real-life situations and aggressively and quickly dispatch attackers if a fight is unavoidable. On the other hand, Taekwondo is a traditional martial art with a main focus on sports competitions.

The concepts, mindset, techniques, and goals of Taekwondo and Krav Maga seem alien to each other, but they still belong to the martial arts family and can and should be compared in some key categories.

What Is Krav Maga

Krav Maga is solely a self-defense system. It is intended to incapacitate or even kill the opponent quickly and efficiently. It is not a sport in any way, there are no competitions, and no rules.

It combines various martial arts techniques from boxing, judo, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and many others while also dealing with the use and defense against weapons.

It could be called the MMA of real-life combat because it aims to incorporate everything that works from other disciplines.

Krav Maga’s origins can be traced back to the streets of 1930s Bratislava, Slovakia, where Hungarian-Israeli Imi Lichtenfeld, who was an accomplished boxer, wrestler, and gymnast, used his extensive skills to fight antisemitic gangs before World War II.

After the formation of Israel, he moved to live there and started teaching martial arts to the military, which led to the creation of the system of Krav Maga.

Initially, solely for military use, the system began finding its way to civilians and was gradually changed to reflect the situations ordinary people can encounter.

Today, Krav Maga has schools worldwide and is one of the most popular self-defense systems.

What Is Taekwondo

Taekwondo is the national martial art of Korea and an Olympic sport. It is a striking martial art with a strong emphasis on kicks. Taekwondo is distinguished by its sports rules, which produce fast-paced kicking battles determined by speed, accuracy, and agility.

The origins of modern Taekwondo can be traced back to the ancient martial arts “Subak” and “Taekkyon,” which were important in different eras of Korean history.

The modern sport was developed in the twentieth century through the combined efforts of other traditional martial arts masters, whose efforts were formalized in 1959 with the establishment of the Korea Taekwondo Association.

Taekwondo is a very popular martial art, and Its structure, well-developed dojo system, and competitive scene make it a favorite among children.

Today, there are two versions of Taekwondo, the most popular of which is the WTF, also known as Olympic Taekwondo.

Taekwondo’s inclusion as a demonstration sport in the 1988 Olympics and added as a full event in 2000 greatly expanded its global reach and popularity.

Key Differences Between Krav Maga and Taekwondo

Taekwondo vs Krav Maga

Key Features and Differences

  • Krav Maga is only a self-defense system with no sports element. There aren’t any competitions (with minor exceptions), and so there aren’t any rules the techniques and training must comply to
  • Taekwondo is a sport, and the goal of training is mainly to teach you how to win under the sports ruleset.
  • Krav Maga encompasses all hand-to-hand fighting aspects, including striking, grappling, and defense against weapons.
  • Taekwondo is almost entirely centered around kicks, with limited punching and no grappling.
  • The philosophy of Krav Maga is maximum efficiency in an actual situation by any means necessary. At the same time, Taekwondo is a traditional martial art emphasizing full character development and personal growth through martial arts.

Techniques

TKD is well known for its powerful kicks and fast-paced action. It focuses on agility, flexibility, and speed. Practitioners practice strong and precise kicks and limited punches and blocks.

A key characteristic of Taekwondo is the spinning and jumping kicks, which make it a visually stunning martial art.

In the Olympic taekwondo ruleset, which is by far the most popular worldwide, punching to the head is forbidden, and punches to the body are poorly scored, so the game’s entire focus is on kicks. ITF taekwondo features head punching, but kicks remain the primary weapon.

Krav Maga uses many techniques, from striking to grappling martial arts. All kinds of punches, hand strikes, elbows, kicks, knees, joint locks, and takedowns are utilized.

Krav Maga does emphasize natural and instinctive movements, so the execution of specific technical details is not as strongly advocated.

In addition to techniques found in other martial arts, Krav Maga also includes a lot of dirty moves like eye gouging, groin strikes, throat strikes, and generally, everything proved effective for the end goal.

Philosophy

The philosophies and mindsets of KM and TKD are entirely different and should be heavily considered if you are hesitating about which one to train in.

Krav Maga intends to be strictly a real-life fighting system and foregoes everything not directly serving this purpose. The fundamental principles of Krav are using efficiency and aggression to ensure survival. The techniques are not so important; the result is all that matters.

The mental elements include developing awareness and instinctive reflexes to use in stressful and violent situations. Also important is learning how to de-escalate situations and prevent fighting in the first place.

On the other hand, Taekwondo is a traditional martial art with all the elements this term entails. The Korean style aims to instill ethical discipline, etiquette, justice, respect, and self-confidence in its students. It is an art touching on all physical, mental, and spiritual elements.

Also present are the ritualistic elements of traditional martial arts, represented in the uniform, hierarchy including a belt ranking system, training session structure, and many other elements. 

Training Methodology

Another key difference, and one of the most important, is training methodology.

Taekwondo is a well-developed style with two main organizations, training methods, and teaching structures. This means the training methodology is similar everywhere you go.

It includes warming up, stretching, many drills, and developing physical qualities and techniques, usually kicking pads. And the last crucial element of TKD training is frequent sparring.

There are many fake schools in the USA, but if a dojo is a part of the big organizations and is taking part in big competitions, it likely teaches Taekwondo correctly.

Krav Maga training, on the other hand, is a complicated topic. Krav has organizations, but many schools are not part of them, and everyone can teach whatever they like and have a Krav Maga sign over the front door.

The lack of competition and the fact that Krav is not characterized by techniques but only principles mean everyone can interpret them as they see fit, and there is no testing field to check their legitimacy.

This leads to dramatically different experiences in different academies. The biggest shortcoming of Krav Maga at large is the lack of pressure testing and sparring.

Most schools do shadowboxing, use pads and heavy bags, and drill techniques with training partners who don’t offer any resistance.

While the techniques are usually real and come from legitimate martial arts, this training methodology does not lead to being able to use the techniques on an aggressive person.

Some places are even worse and do aikido-style training, or whatever the instructor’s base style and expertise are, disguised as self-defense.

With that said, good Krav Maga schools are teaching in a practical way. Some places have instructors with a solid fighting background who teach fundamental skills and utilize sparring and realistic scenarios.

The best Krav Maga schools even use situational sparring and simulate different possible scenarios, like multiple attackers, being in tight spaces, multiple attackers, and many others.

A Krav Maga school’s training methodology is critical in determining if a school is legitimate or teaches what is commonly referred to today as “bullshido.”

Krav Maga vs Taekwondo For MMA

Krav Maga vs Taekwondo For MMA

Taekwondo is better in terms of skills crossover to mixed martial arts.

Krav Maga is not a sport, and the way of practicing is not conducive to effectiveness in MMA. The principles of going all out in aggressive and fast action in a fight rarely work well against a trained opponent, and many techniques taught in Krav Maga are banned in MMA.

But then again, Krav Maga’s training often looks like MMA training without the sparring and the physical conditioning.

Krav takes techniques from all combat sports like MMA, so some skills are transferable if training includes live sparring and grappling.

Taekwondo can and has been used with great effect in MMA. Speed, agility, distance management, and the power of kicks work wonderfully in mixed martial arts, but the style requires heavy modification when you include full striking and grappling.

Some elements of Taekwondo are great for MMA, but as a separate fighting style, TKD is not effective in a cage fight.

Krav Maga vs Taekwondo For Self-Defense

Self-defense is the primary goal of Krav Maga, so it should be effective and much better than Taekwondo, right? Not necessarily.

It all comes down to the training methodology. When you watch videos online, a lot of Krav Maga is complete and utter nonsense.

Training with partners who fill the role of a dummy and go limp the second you touch them is nothing like trying to control someone who is trying to smash you to pieces.

Sadly, most schools teach this way, and regardless of the endless debate on the topic, there is no way to learn how to fight without real pressure testing and some form of sparring.

Not only is training against organic dummies not effective, but it can be harmful because you can develop a false sense of security and make things worse.

Just look at a few demonstrations of knife and gun disarming if you want to learn how to get instantly killed.

I highly recommend people skeptical about my opinion to watch this episode and, in fact, the whole series titled The Ultimate Self-Defense Championship:

On the other hand, there are solid Krav Maga schools, and I’ve seen some excellent practices. The criticism of combat sports in real life is well-founded, and many of the habits and tactics used in competition do not work.

This is why good Krav schools utilize proven working techniques from combat sports, but pressure tests them in real-life scenarios and outside of the confines of any given sports ruleset.

But what about Taekwondo?

Taekwondo is not particularly good for self-defense, either. While TKD kicks are extremely powerful, quick, and accurate, and practitioners are athletic, kicking in a street fight is dangerous and highly situational.

Your entire kicking game may be ruined by tight spaces, slippery surfaces, fashionable and completely unpractical clothes, and many other factors.

The lack of effective punching and any form of grappling makes TKD too limited and situational for self-defense. There have been some real-life occurrences with flashy street knockouts worthy of an action movie.

However, relying on acrobatic kicks is too risky for something already posing a lethal threat.

Krav Maga vs Taekwondo Which Is Better?

There is no definitive answer to this question because, for some, TKD is the better choice, while Krav Maga is preferable for others. Let’s summarize what they both bring to the table to help you make a pick.

Taekwondo Pros

  • It has a well-developed competitive scene, and you can become a competitor. You can even participate in the Olympic games as a TKD athlete.
  • TKD has a deep philosophy and principles, making it a system for complete character development and not just fighting
  • It is fun, attractive to watch, and highly impressive
  • Develops incredible physical attributes
  • It has strong cultural and traditional elements

Taekwondo Cons

  • It depends on flexibility and agility, and if you haven’t developed them as a kid, it’s unlikely to do it as an adult. TKD is excellent for kids but not so much for beginner adults
  • Not realistic. Taekwondo is known for poor results against other styles and in self-defense because of the limiting ruleset. Most other combat sports are more practical and realistic.

Krav Maga Pros

  • The principles allow you to learn basic techniques and tactics quickly
  • The lack of traditional elements makes training straight to the point
  • It has no requirements for physical attributes
  • Teaches all aspects of fighting
  • If taught correctly, it is highly effective for self-defense

Krav Maga Cons

  • Finding a good school is a challenging task. Most teach unrealistic techniques in unrealistic ways, making them useless for self-defense. And since Krav Maga is only about self-defense, if this element is not good, there is no point in training in Krav Maga.
  • No competitions. For many, this is not a con, but for some, it is, and it takes away a significant factor in what makes combat sports effective.

Hopefully, this extensive look into both styles gives you a much better perspective and what value they may provide, or you have simply expanded on your martial arts knowledge.

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Wrestling vs. BJJ: Which Is Better? https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/wrestling-vs-bjj/ Tue, 26 Dec 2023 13:42:36 +0000 https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/?p=5584 Humans have been grappling since time immemorial and continue to do so. Although modern wrestling differs from its ancient origins, two of the most popular grappling styles today are Olympic wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I am sure you know both well, but do you understand the full scope of their differences and similarities?

Wrestling is a grappling sport where the goal is to briefly take the opponent to the ground and pin their shoulder to win the match. Wrestling is a fast-paced and highly athletic sport. BJJ is also a grappling sport, but the goal is to control an opponent on the ground through superior positioning before forcing them to surrender with a submission hold

The two sports have different goals, rules, and a different feel and flow. Ultimately, they both aim for dominance through grappling, and each has advantages over the other in certain areas. Do you know all of them?

What Is Wrestling?

Wrestling is one of the oldest combat sports that has been part of the Olympic Games since ancient times.

Wrestling focuses on taking the opponent down from a standing position using various takedown techniques.

Wrestlers apply pins and locks once the fight hits the ground to subdue the opponent and stay in a dominant position.

The earliest records of wrestling matches date back 15,000 years. There are a lot of cave drawings in ancient Egypt showing people grappling against each other, and different sources from across the world show wrestling scenes from the earliest recorded history.

But it’s fair to say that most people associate wrestling with Ancient Greece, where it served as an Olympic sport since day one.

Wrestling can be used for completely different styles, as almost all cultures have distinct wrestling versions.

Still, today, the word is usually used to describe the two styles contested in the Olympics: Greco-Roman and Freestyle.

What Is BJJ?

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a grappling art famous for its ground-fighting techniques. Its story began when the renowned judoka Mitsuyo Maeda came to Brazil from Japan to teach Judo in the 1920s.

His loyal students, Carlos and Helio Gracie, would later use Judo as a base to create their own martial art.

In short, they moved the emphasis of Judo from throws to advanced ground fighting. In some way, BJJ is a chess match on the ground where fighters battle for a dominant position to submit the opponent with chokes and joint locks.

BJJ was initially created and used in fights with no or very few rules, and it has always been an effective system for actual fighting. It was designed for self-defense, and its earlier techniques work in real life.

Jiu-jitsu blew up in popularity with the birth of modern MMA in the early 90s. MMA fighters were experts in a single fighting style back then, and the world saw many style vs. style matches.

Thanks to Royce Gracie, who won three UFC tournaments, BJJ emerged as an undeniably effective martial art.

Key Differences Between Wrestling and BJJ

BJJ vs. Wrestling

Emphasis And Strategies

  • Wrestling is about taking down an opponent and pinning them to the mat. Jiu-Jitsu is about securing a dominant position and then submitting your opponent.
  • Wrestling emphasizes takedowns, technique, and physical dominance to overpower the opponent. BJJ uses technique and leverage in addition to strength to secure ground dominance.
  • Having your back on the ground in wrestling means you lose, while being your back in BJJ in a guard position is not always bad, and many players use it as an offensive position.
  • Wrestling matches are faster-paced, more explosive, dynamic, and much shorter, while BJJ matches are longer and more methodical. 

Styles

Both wrestling and BJJ have a few distinct variations.

Wrestling has been an Olympic sport since the first modern games, and the two styles contested there are Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling. They remain the most popular and widely practiced styles worldwide, and all international competitions are contested under the two rulesets.

In the USA, the most popular style is folkstyle wrestling, also called collegiate wrestling, which is very similar to freestyle, but has some differences in the rules, which also change the flow of matches.

BJJ comes in three main variations:

  • Traditional gi
  • No-gi
  • Self-defense BJJ

The difference between the gi and no-gi is in the uniform, which also dramatically changes the flow of grappling because it can be grabbed and manipulated for offense and defense. Both styles have competitions and are grappling only.

Self-defense BJJ classes are what the original version of the martial art was. While remaining predominantly grappling, they deal with defense against strikes and use simple punches and kicks on the feet and the ground to accomplish the main goal- submitting the opponent.

Techniques

Wrestling uses fewer techniques than BJJ because of the more limited scope and ruleset. Wrestling is all about takedowns, and the main focus is on solid takedowns like the double and single leg, body lock takedowns, upper body throws, foot sweeps, and others.

Wrestlers use different techniques and tactics to pin the opponent’s back to the ground and defend and reverse positions.

Jiu-jitsu has a broader scope and also has standing grappling, which includes both wrestling and judo takedowns and throws, but they receive little focus during training.

On the ground, having good positional control is of utmost importance, and a lot of attention is placed on securing a position, advancing to a dominant one, and reversing and escaping bad positions.

Regarding submissions, BJJ has the widest variety of grappling sports, including all kinds of chokes, strangulations, and joint locks on all body parts. 

Rules

Greco-Roman wrestling:

  • Wrestlers can only attack their opponent’s upper body.
  • Grabbing the legs or using them for trips is banned.
  • A pin, where both of an opponent’s shoulder blades touch the mat for at least two seconds, results in an immediate victory.

Freestyle wrestling:

  • Athletes can attack both the upper and lower body of their opponent.
  • Techniques include takedowns, holds, and pinning moves.
  • A pin results in an immediate victory.

Scoring in both styles:

  • High-amplitude throw ending with the opponent on their back: 4-5 points.
  • Exposing the opponent’s back to the mat (near fall or danger position): 2-3 points.
  • Takedown ending with the opponent on their butt or belly: 2 points.
  • Reversal: 1 point.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

  • You can win the match instantly by submitting your opponent
  • Points are scored for takedowns or securing a dominant position, including knee on belly, mount, and back control, and for passing the guard
  • Specific submissions like heel hooks and neck cranks are banned at lower belt levels and legal at higher levels or depending on the organization’s ruleset.
  • Matches are 1 round between 5 and 10 minutes

Equipment

The competition wrestling uniform for all styles consists of:

  • A tight-fitting singlet
  • Wrestling shoes
  • Mouthguard

In training, wrestlers wear athletic clothes and wrestling shoes.

BJJ practitioner’s and competitors’ attire depends on the style. In traditional BJJ, you must wear a BJJ gi consisting of a heavy cotton jacket, drawstring pants, and a colored belt denoting the user’s rank.

In no-gi, the kimono is substituted by form-fitting BJJ rashguards and shorts. Jiu-jitsu is practiced barefoot, unlike wrestling.

Physical Requirements

If you’ve ever rolled with someone who has been wrestling for years, you can quickly notice how much harder they squeeze and how much more explosively they move.

After all, wrestling is all about forcing someone into a position against their will, while in BJJ, you ideally want to maneuver the opponent into a position against their will.

Not only is the ruleset of wrestling created for shorter and more dynamic matches, but the absence of the grips in the gi and without many threatening submission holds means you need to use more strength to keep someone down and more explosive movements to stand back up.

Because of this, the requirements for strength, agility, and explosive power are much higher in wrestling. This is not to say you don’t need solid physical attributes for jiu-jitsu competitions.

Still, wrestlers are among the best athletes across all sports, and strength and conditioning play a crucial role in wrestling training, while they’re not as important in jiu-jitsu.

Availability and Training Goals

Wrestling and BJJ also differ greatly in their availability for the general population and what types of people train.

Wrestling is solely focused on competition. The system in the USA and worldwide is organized around active competitors who are in school, in university, or a part of the national team.

Clubs are always part of the national federation and receive government funding; the only goal is to create competitors.

So, if you are not in school or university, chances are you won’t be accepted into a wrestling club, and there is basically no way to start wrestling in your 30s.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu, on the other hand, is entirely different. Academies are private, and the bulk of practitioners who keep the operation running by paying the gym fees are hobbyists.

It’s common to see people of all ages in a typical BJJ gym, and most never intend to compete. Others train for self-defense, others to get in shape, and some train competitively.

Wrestling has been a significant influence in no-gi BJJ, not least because many former wrestlers transition into BJJ after they graduate because they have no other option to continue training for fun.

This difference in the type of practitioners and mindset creates distinctly different atmospheres and flows of training and sparring in both sports.

BJJ vs. Wrestling For MMA

BJJ vs. Wrestling For MMA

BJJ and wrestling constitute two of the so-called pillars of MMA and, as such, are equally crucial for mixed martial arts. Jiu-jitsu reigned supreme early on but was quickly overthrown by wrestling once wrestlers learned how to defend submissions and throw an overhand right.

Wrestling has produced the most high-level champions, followed by BJJ, so it’s safe to say the two are excellent bases for mixed martial arts.

Today, when narrow specialists no longer exist, and fighters are well-rounded, everyone trains in both wrestling and BJJ in the context of full MMA rules.

Wrestling vs. BJJ For Self-Defense

Wrestling vs. BJJ For Self-Defense

While the two may be considered equal regarding MMA applications, BJJ is the clear winner regarding self-defense.

Wrestling is a good skill set in a street fight, and the athleticism and ability to take anyone down at will are extremely valuable.

Still, there are also many gaps, like the lack of striking and finishing ability on the ground. Of course, a wrestler can always resort to ground-n-pound, which is not as difficult against an untrained opponent.

But Jiu-Jitsu has a lot more options. The strong positional game can help you control and dominate almost anyone, and the submission holds further allow full control or debilitating injury, depending on what you want to do.

The cons of BJJ for self-defense include low takedown skills, which can prove a big problem against tough to takedown opponents, and a lack of striking.

If you have access to an academy that teaches self-defense BJJ, these classes will be a great way to expand your grappling knowledge in a real-world, practical way.

Wrestling vs BJJ: Which Is Better?

Is BJJ Better Than Wrestling

The answer is easy- both. Wrestling and Brazilin Jiu-Jitsu represent two aspects of grappling. While jiu-jitsu is more versatile and encapsulates more, its specialization remains the groundwork and is light years from the mastery wrestlers have in stand-up wrestling.

As we see in modern MMA and submission grappling, the complete fighter and the well-rounded grappler need solid skills in wrestling and BJJ. So, if you aim to be one, you need skills in both domains.

They are equally awesome if you want to specialize in one of the two styles. But the reality is that BJJ is likely the better fit for most of you reading this article and accommodates all ages, genders, and physiques.

If you are past the wrestling competition age, you likely don’t have anywhere to train wrestling, and jiu-jitsu is your sole option.

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Best Heavy Bags (2024): Punch & Kick Hard! https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/best-heavy-bags/ Tue, 26 Dec 2023 13:28:13 +0000 https://sweetscienceoffighting.com/?p=7557

The heavy bag is the best friend of every martial artist. Heavy punching bags are extensively used in all striking disciplines. They are mandatory in every gym and a preferred piece of equipment in every home gym.

But picking the right heavy punching bag for your needs is not an easy task. What if you live in a small apartment? Or you can't hang anything from your ceiling? We've got you covered with options for every scenario.

Header
Revgear Pro Series 6 Foot Heavy Bag

Best Heavy Bag

Revgear 5 Foot Heavy Bag

Best Heavy Bag For Home Gym

Best Heavy Bag With Stand

Model

Weight

130 lbs

100 lbs

270 lbs

Material

Vinyl coated nylon

Vinyl coated nylon

Vinyl

Fill

Ships Filled

Ships Filled

Ship Unfilled

Price

Best Heavy Punching Bag

Revgear Pro Series 6 Foot Heavy Bag

Revgear Pro Series 6 Foot Heavy Bag

The Revgear Pro Series 6-foot heavy bag is the perfect option for punching and kicking with full power. A heavy bag ready for pro fighters and garage enthusiasts alike.

To facilitate this, this bag is 6 feet tall and weighs 130 lbs, the gold standard for MMA and Muay Thai heavy bags. The good news is that this is not the capacity or the recommended weight, but the factory-filled weight this USA-made model comes at.

Filling a heavy bag is not rocket science; I've done it, but matching the ideal density and distribution of a pre-filled bag is nearly impossible, and with Revgear, you won't even have to try.

Durability won't ever be an issue with the Pro series Revgear bag because it's made with 22-ounce vinyl-coated nylon and triple-stitched seams. 

Reinforced nylon straps do the hanging, and if you use a proper bag hanging system (also available from Revgear and other places), I am certain you won't ever have issues. Revgear is also confident and offers a 10-year warranty if the bag is hung and used correctly.

As a USA-made product, the Revgear bag is widely used and appreciated in big gyms nationwide, including The LAB, CSW, Sityodtong, Kings MMA, and many more. Chances are, if you've trained in a few gyms, you've come across Revgear heavy bags.

This sounds great, but the heavy bag wouldn't be the best if it weren't for the price. At $300, you get an unrivaled value ratio for a pre-filled professional-level 6-foot heavy bag. Only genuine leather can be worthy rivals, but they cost nearly twice as much. 

Pros:

  • Amazing value for the price

  • Come perfectly filled to US customers

  • 6 foot, 130 lbs perfect for punching and kicking

  • Very durable thanks to heavy vinyl-coated nylon and reinforced stitching

Cons:

  • May be too tall for garages with low ceilings.

Revgear Pro Series 6 Foot Heavy Bag

Revgear Pro Series 6 Foot Heavy Bag

Code "SweetScience" For 10% OFF

Best Heavy Bag For Home Gym

Revgear 5-Foot Heavy Bag

Revgear 5 Foot Heavy Bag

Regarding heavy bags for home gyms, size, and price are always a bigger consideration than if you choose a bag for a real gym. Many people prefer four-foot bags for boxing at home, while kickboxers ideally use a 6 foot one.

But the Revgear 5-foot heavy bag is the little brother of our overall best heavy bag and is the ideal middle version for your garage or basement. At 5 feet, it can also be used for kicking, while it can still be hung on a lower ceiling.

A big bonus is that the heavy bag comes filled, so you won't have to do it yourself. This is possible because these bags are not imported but are made in the USA. Factory-filled bags are generally filled much better than DIY ones.

This Revgear bag weighs 100 pounds and is the perfect size for boxing. The hanging is done with reinforced nylon straps, which may be slightly less durable than chains, but it is the only reasonable solution for a home gym where the noise from clanging chains is highly undesirable.

If you buy the Revgear bag, you get a 10-year warranty. The company is confident of the durability of its product because the 22-ounce vinyl-coated nylon and triple-stitched seams they used can take many years of punishment.

If you hang the bag correctly in a home gym, I don't see how anyone or even a family can use it enough to wear it down.

Considering all the features, especially if you need it only for boxing, you will be hard-pressed to find a better heavy bag for the home gym.

Pros:

  • Comes factory filled and saves you the trouble of doing it yourself

  • USA made

  • Heavy vinyl-coated nylon and triple-stitched seams guarantee extreme durability, backed up by a 10-year warranty

Cons:

  • Weight and size are not great for kicking

Revgear 5 Foot Heavy Bag

Revgear 5-Foot Heavy Bag

Code "SweetScience" For 10% OFF

Best Heavy Bag For Beginners

Everlast 70-Pound MMA Bag

A beginner's heavy bag must meet at least two criteria: it has to be relatively light and inexpensive. That is why the Everlast 70-pound MMA bag is perfect for newcomers to fighting sports or those who want to hit the bag just for fitness.

At 70 pounds, this bag is on the lighter side and won't be too much for lighter people or those with less experience, but it's heavy enough that it won't swing around wildly. The bag is made of synthetic polycanvas that will last long for its intended use. The design is simple and clean, with heavy-duty nylon straps securing the bag.

The price tag is very reasonable, and the nearly 2 thousand reviews on Amazon will guarantee that this Everlast bag is a good choice for a first heavy bag.

Pros:

  • Durable synthetic polycanvas

  • Good length suitable for different types of training

  • Good value

Cons:

  • Not as durable as higher-priced options

  • It may be too light for heavier people

Everlast 70-Pound MMA Bag

Best Heavy Bag For Muay Thai

Yokkao Heavy Bag XL

Yokkao Muay Thai Heavy Bag

Since Yokkao came to the scene in 2010, they have revolutionized the Muay Thai and combat sports equipment market. Yokkao is primarily a Muay Thai brand, so it's natural that they also make the best Muay Thai bag.

The Yokkao heavy bag is a staple of high-quality punching bags. This bag is handmade in Thailand from premium, high-quality leather. The quality is truly superb, and while this may sound like an exaggeration, the Yokkao heavy bag will last decades. 

Genuine leather has been and still is the best material for heavy bags to this day. Combined with this bag's craftsmanship, it guarantees extreme durability.

Yokkao heavy bags come in 3 sizes depending on your needs, which is another benefit. The smallest is 100 cm and weighs 77 pounds, ideal for beginners or fighters from the lower divisions.

The middle size is 120 cm which makes it perfect for boxing and Muay Thai training, and while heavier than the small one, it will still swing. The XL size is the standard 6-foot and 120 lbs. This Muay Thai bag is perfect for punching and kicking at all levels.

I strongly recommend the 6-foot version of the bag so that you can practice low kicks.

There are also options on Yokkao's website for an empty bag, which may be a better solution to save on delivery prices, which may be significant given the weight of heavy bags.

The exceptional quality of Yokkao comes at a hefty price, but if you want to equip a gym with the best quality professional gear, look no further than Yokkao for a heavy bag.

In fact, you can see why Bangkok Trainer of the Year and professional Muay Thai fighter Steve Pipe recommends this bag in his Best Muay Thai Heavy Bag article.

Best Punching Bag

Yokkao Heavy Bag

Code "SSOF2410" For 10% OFF

Best Freestanding Heavy Bag

Century Wavemaster XXL

Freestanding bags, also known as bags with a stand, are usually the more mobile and home-friendly versions of heavy bags. Century is the undisputed leader in the segment and has many different options. Still, their Wavemaster XXL is the best for serious martial artists.

The XXL freestanding bag, as the name suggests, is huge. This size removes most standing bags' limitations and is excellent for kicking and punching at all levels.

When filled, the Wavemaster XXL weighs roughly 270 pounds, meaning even people with serious power in the strikes will find it very good. This freestanding bag is made from a durable vinyl cover and has a tough but forgiving high-density foam.

Taekwondo practitioners also prefer freestanding bags as they don't swing. The Century extra-large bag is perfect for them, as well as traditional karatekas and other speed kickers. 

Pros:

  • Extra large striking area

  • Excellent base

  • A solid weight that allows powerful striking

  • Good even for people used to training on a hanging heavy bag

Cons:

  • A bit too bulky and hard to move for a freestanding bag

Century Wavemaster XXL

Best Heavy Bag For MMA

Outslayer MMA Punching Bag

Outsayer is a mainstay in many MMA gyms for its quality, durability, and perfect density. The 100-pound bag is the ideal middle ground choice for MMA as the 55" length also allows for low kicking if hung at the right height.

Outsayer offers a 10-year warranty, which considering how many pro fighters are using them, says a lot about the confidence Outsayer has in their quality.

The well-rounded density of Outsayer heavy bags, a common issue with lower-class heavy bags, is a strong selling point for them. The filling is 100% cotton with no sand, which significantly minimizes the chance of hard or hollow spots.

The quadruple hand stitching, in combination with the 4 ply hanging straps, further guarantees the quality of this USA-made heavy bag.

Pros:

  • 100% fabric filling prevents sinking

  • Heavy-duty straps that are durable and silent

  • A 10-year warranty

  • USA made

Cons:

  • Some users complain it’s too hard for beginners

Outslayer MMA Punching Bag

Best Heavy Bag For Boxing

Title Professional Leather Bag

Title Boxing manufactures some of the best boxing equipment available, and their boxing bags have stood the test of time. The Title genuine leather heavy bag will look right at home in any high-end boxing gym worldwide. Genuine leather is still the most durable material and comes with other advantages over synthetic materials.

The Title professional heavy punching bag is packed with fabric and has a perfectly balanced center weight and a foam rubber inside liner. The outstanding quality and timeless design come in three different weights and sizes.

The 100 lb. will be the top choice for most boxers, but there is a 70 lb. good for beginners and a 150 lb. one aimed at those of you with hammers in the fists.

This bag has a clean and proven design, features, and outstanding quality, so if you are looking for the best boxing option, this may very well be it.

Pros:

  • Genuine leather

  • Well-balanced fabric filling

  • Includes heavy-duty chains and swivel

Cons:

  • Expensive

Title Professional Leather Bag

Best Heavy Bag For Apartment

Century Versus Fight Simulator

Heavy bags are usually not suitable for apartment use. The most significant issues are noise and vibration, but mounting is another problematic point. While freestanding bags are a better fit for apartment use, most models also produce quite a bit of noise, which is unsuitable for every living situation.

In these cases, I can recommend a different kind of freestanding heavy bag called the Century Versus fight simulator. Perhaps the quietest piece of gear can still qualify as a heavy bag. It is also surprisingly versatile and can be used as a ground-and-pound dummy. 

The lower weight does not allow for full power striking. Still, for apartment training, it may be perfect for honing stand-up striking techniques and ground and pound. The Century Versus fight simulator is easy to put together and even easier to move around and store. 

Pros:

  • VERY versatile

  • It doesn’t make a lot of noise

  • Easy to move around and install

Cons:

  • Too light for power strikes

Century Versus Fight Simulator

How To Choose The Best Heavy Bag For You

Design

The most important thing when choosing a heavy bag is the design. The two main categories are hanging heavy bags and freestanding heavy bags. Hanging ones are the standard and are preferred by all combat sports athletes. Freestanding bags have their benefits and are easier to mount and move around, which makes them the preferred choice for many home gyms.

There are other design differences within both groups. Hanging bags are available in various shapes, lengths, and weights. We only included standard heavy bags in our review, not teardrop shapes, uppercut bags, or other specialized models.

Other models like wall-mounted bags, doorway bags, reflex bags, and such are often included in similar articles. Still, they are not really heavy, both literally and in the way you train with an actual heavy bag.

Material

Materials determine both the longevity and the feeling of using the heavy bag. Genuine leather is the most durable heavy bag cover, followed by synthetic leather, and vinyl materials are at the bottom of the quality ladder.

You can fill heavy bags with fabric, sand, water, rubber pieces, or other materials. High-quality bags are filled with fabric pieces because rubber and sand especially tend to leave some spots hollow while hardening others like concrete. On the other hand, water-filled bags are easy to carry and fill but can break or spill.

Martial Art You’re Practicing

The martial art you are practicing also determines what bag you need. If you only box, the classic size will do. A banana bag will be more suitable if you want to low kick hard. Taekwondo guys need to practice speed kicking, so a heavy freestanding bag is usually the best choice.

Price

Price is usually indicative of the quality of all equipment. The materials of punching bags largely determine their price. A leather cover will cost you the most, but it's the most durable. Fabric filling provides the best density and can easily be removed or added. Still, it's more expensive than sand, which may produce hollow spots in some places of the bag.

Hanging bags are cheaper than freestanding ones and are better for training, but not everyone has the space to hang a bag and leave it there. Freestanding bags are easier to mount and move around, but they require more materials and are naturally more expensive.

If you equip a home gym, you can usually use a mid-quality bag. Getting a cheap heavy bag is never a good idea. It will wear out faster, and it will be uncomfortable due to excess sinking and bulges.

On the other hand, the premium ones are overkill for a garage gym unless money is no issue. If this is the case, by all means, buy the best gear on the market.

Frequently Asked Heavy Bag Questions

How Heavy Should Your Heavy Bag Be?

The weight of the heavy bag depends mainly on the weight of the users. Heavier and more experienced fighters have more power in their strikes and require heavier bags. 70 lbs. bags are usually more oriented towards beginners.

Bags weighing 100 pounds are the boxing standard, while 120 lbs. are generally longer and designed for kicking and punching. 150 lbs. are often used by professionals and heavier people in general.

What Heavy Punching Bag Do The Pros Use?

A 100 lb. heavy bag is the staple for boxing, while Muay Thai fighters and MMA athletes go with 120 lbs. 6-foot bags that are also great for low kicking. Some fighters use heavier bags than those, but the overall standard is 100-120 lbs., up to 150 lbs. Heavier bags are single exceptions, albeit legendary ones like the 300-pound bag Mike Tyson used to train with.

What Is The Best Material For A Heavy Bag?

Genuine leather is the most durable and best-feeling material for a heavy bag. Naturally, it’s more expensive than nylon and synthetic leather. But if you want the best quality bag that will last the longest, genuine leather is the top choice.

What Size Heavy Bag Does Floyd Mayweather Use?

Despite being a welterweight fighter not known for his power punches, Floyd Mayweather preferred to use a heavier-than-usual heavy bag. The yellow and black heavy bags often seen in his videos are wider than usual and around 4' x 18" in size, 135 lbs.

Can A Heavy Bag Be Too Heavy?

Yes, it can. Some come at 150 lbs. and above and can be too heavy for beginners or lighter fighters. The bag should provide enough resistance, but it still has to move to be used to its full capacity.

Can You Hit The Heavy Bag Every Day?

You can train on the heavy bag daily, but you should do this once you are more conditioned and experienced. Hitting the heavy bag stresses the bones, muscles, and tendons, and they need some time to recover between sessions. In time, you will be able to hit the heavy bag every day without issue. 

Summary

The Revgear Pro Series 6 Foot Heavy Bag takes the top spot in our best heavy bag list due to its unparalleled quality and design. It is the best option for professionals and people looking for the best gear. The high price tag will dissuade many buyers, and in the list, you can find many other options for different needs.

Revgear Pro Series 6 Foot Heavy Bag

Revgear Pro Series 6 Foot Heavy Bag

Code "SweetScience" For 10% OFF

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