Boxing & head gear

[WC_Lun]

Originally Posted by damen

lol honestly, head gear is not only uncomfortable, but also usually either restricts my peripheral vision or my hearing - either of which drive me completely insane

I do understand that. I hate wearing head gear unless I know I am going to take some shots just because of the periphial thing. As long as you kow the risk then you are an adult and capable of making those decisions

[Chad]

I only wear headgear for full contact sparring, medium or lightand I'll risk it.

[Sensei Tom OBrien]

OK, OK! I am going to make everyone use head gear now in addition to the 16oz. gloves. We use mouth pieces but we don't generally wear groin cups unless we are in a competition.

Thanks,
Tom

[souldrum71]

When I first started karate back in the '80s, we only wore punches, kicks, mouthpiece, and cup. Headgear was not required.

In Japan, we sparred with absolutely no protective gear about 75 percent of the time. When we did wear gear, it was 4 ounce gloves and padded cloth headgear with a thick plastic face shield.

Now, we mix it up at my TKD dojang, but most of the time we wear kicks, punches, mouthpiece, cup, and foam-dipped headgear. We have some of the Century Silver MMA headgear, but I don't particularly like them. They move around on your head too much when you are sparring.

Truth to tell, I haven't noticed a higher number of head injuries at any of the schools that did not require headgear. But I guess it's better safe than sorry.

[ladyfighter]

when I was younger we used hand pads, foot pads sometimes but mouth pieces and groin cups for males were optional... I remember the first time I ever saw a headgear.. I though it looked like a CAGE around your head LOL yeah it hurt to get a hard lick in the head, but I don't recall any head injuries... I don't think

We use head gears now, as soul mentioned, but I personally think it is important to wear them to help reduce the head injury or as WC pointed out, to keep you from having to take time off of training due to an injury!! I think most EVERYONE should wear a headgear with faceshield while training in a striking art, to prevent injury... I mean you still feel the hit, and I have not yet seen someone NOT defend the head because of one,...

Tom, as you get older I would suggest you also look at any/all possible protective gear. in 2008 me and soul met a 68yr old man at a tournament who (after sparring some pretty heavy young dudes) showed us that he was wearing a thin chest-spine protector under his uniform jacket. It looked like a regular underarmer/rash guard-shirt. I NEVER would have thought he was wearing one and he said it worked like a dream... made him feel 20yrs younger and a whole lot less worried when sparred those 'younger fellers' (as he put it) I even suggested them to my adult male students (40yrs plus) as an option when looking at sparring gear.. they're light wt and just another form of protective measure to ensure you're safety while training.

[TRIANGLEFROMGUARD]

I don't like face sheilds or cages, I only think of protecting against a concusion so I stick with boxing head gear. The one with the nose guard is okay I guess.

[WC_Lun]

I really don't care for head gear with face shields or cages. Maybe its because I'm a tad claustrophobic. The boxing head gear is what I prefer.

[Sensei Tom OBrien]

Uh oh! I'm dating myself, but back in the day we did not wear any gear. I think the boxing headgear is the smart way to go though.

Thanks,
Tom