Starter Kit: All the equipment you need to begin your martial arts training

Martial arts training is one of the best things you can do for your physical and mental health. As someone who has practiced martial arts all my life, I can confidently say that my experiences in boxing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, Kempo Karate and Wing Chun have made me a better, more well-rounded person. However, preparation is key, so before you start throwing punches or aiming for takedowns, let's look at some equipment to help you get started.

Why did you choose these items?

I've been training in various martial arts for nearly 20 years. During that time, I've tried countless pieces of equipment and developed a few favorites. The list below includes some of my favorites, as well as what I think is best for beginners. Remember, as with any product, you need to find the equipment that best suits your needs and fits your budget.

Gloves, shin guards, protective gear

“Take care of your equipment.” I'll never forget what my first MMA coach told me. Even if you're not competing, having good protective gear is essential to your longevity in martial arts. Whether you're attacking or defending, you want to make sure your hands, shins, teeth, and everything else is taken care of.

Best ALL-PURPOSE BOXING GLOVES: Hayabusa S4 Boxing Gloves

Everyone needs a standard pair of full-face boxing gloves for training. This may be the most basic equipment for a fighter. They can be used for solo training on a heavy bag, striking on focus mitts with a trainer, or light drills with a partner. The Hayabusa S4 are a good beginner glove for just about any training. If you plan on sparring, get the 16 ounce ones (most gyms have a minimum rule of 14-16 ounces depending on your weight class).

Best MMA Gloves: RDX Hybrid MMA Striking Gloves

If you're doing martial arts in a sparring session, you need gloves with open palms and fingers to create a proper grip. I have a pair of RDX MMA gloves in black and gold and I love them. The knuckle padding is enough to protect your opponent for light strikes, but not too bulky to lock in a jiu-jitsu choke.

Best Hand Wraps: Ringside Mexican Style 180cm Hand Wrap

A good hand wrap is important to keep the bones in your hand in the correct position when throwing a punch. I like Mexican style wraps because they are stretchy. They fit snugly without restricting circulation. Even if you have small hands, get a 6' 4″ to ensure you have enough material. Ringside is a staple in the boxing world, so this brand is always a good choice.

Best Shin Guards: Fairtex SP5 Shin Guards

I have so many Fairtex shin guards I don't know what to do with them. They've been a standard part of my arsenal since I started training. They're the right balance of effectiveness, affordability, and simplicity. I love that I can easily remove them when I'm done training. They're made from Fairtex Syntech leather, so they're also perfect for vegan fighters.

Best Elbow Pads: Advanced IMF Tech Elbow Pads for Martial Arts

When you start suiting up for elbow strikes, you'll feel a bit like Robocop with all the gear you'll be wearing. That said, elbow strikes can do a lot of damage, so with some good padding, you're unlikely to recreate Matt Brown's famous knockouts while training.

Best Knee Pads: Adidas Wrestling Knee Pads

Knees can take a beating in martial arts training, and not just from getting caught in a heel hook leg lock. Blocking a kick or hitting your knee during a spin kick can be pretty painful if you have poor technique and no padding. The Adidas knee pads are low profile, so they fit out of the way under your shin guards and protect you when driving your knee into your opponent's ribs in a clinch.

Best mouthpiece: Venum Challenger Mouthguard

Dental care is expensive and often painful, so protecting your teeth is a good idea. Most of the people I train with have at least one or two of these Venum Challengers in their training bag. I even wear them when rolling so I don't scrape the inside of my mouth when I press my face into the floor.

Best crotch cup: Venum Competitor Groin Guard

Is there any need to “sell” this? Getting hit in the groin hurts for everyone, so protect your sensitive body parts as much as possible. Traditional design allows you to wash the garment and cup separately.

Best earplugs: Cliff Keen E58 Headgear

For many, cauliflower ear is a rite of passage in martial arts (especially wrestling and jiu-jitsu). It causes extensive scar tissue formation. For the rest, it makes wearing earphones more of a hassle than it needs to be. Cliff Keen's headgear is conveniently made from a shiny, non-porous material that doesn't absorb sweat or water and washes off easily.

clothes

Since you're twisting and turning, sweating, and pulling at your clothes while you train, it's important to dress well on the mat. I'm usually pretty conservative when it comes to gym attire, and will throw in an old band t-shirt, but a well-made gi and comfortable tie shorts go a long way.

Best Jiu Jitsu Gi: Elite Sports BJJ Gear

Perhaps one of the most iconic pieces of martial arts gear is the judogi. The same cut is used for jiu-jitsu, karate, taekwondo, judo, and many other disciplines. The judogi even has its own emoji. Gis can be fancier, but for starters, I like this Elite Sports BJJ judogi. It's cheap, functional, and the black with red trim will make you feel like Kylo Ren.

Best all-purpose training rashguard and shorts: Half Sumo No Gi Bundle

Over the past few decades, MMA and UFC have really popularized No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu, and fighters like Gordon Ryan have proven their mastery of the sport. Half Sumo is a New York-based company that prints wild art and patterns on premium quality gear. They look so good I wear them off the mat too. The form-fitting material prevents bunching and chafing. They wick sweat away effectively.

Best Thai Shorts: Yokkao Carbon Fit Shorts

Yokkao is one of the most well-known names in Muay Thai, and for good reason. With a GOAT like Sanchi on their roster, it's no wonder people train at their facilities and wear their gear. The Carbonfit shorts are great because they're not made with any fancy materials and are easy to wash. The short length allows for freedom of movement, and the wide waistband keeps them in place.

Best Boxing Sneakers: Hayabusa Professional Boxing Shoes

If you like the elite-level moves of recent champion Vasiliy Lomachenko, you might want to work on your footwork. I'm not a fan of boxing shoes myself, but my training buddies rave about the versatility and style of the Hayabusa Pro Boxing Shoes. The high reach supports your ankles, and the textured sole provides grip without slipping.

Best all-purpose training sweatsuit: Adidas Men's Sportswear Basic 3-Stripe Tricot Tracksuit

There's a reason Adidas tracksuits are a staple, and to this day, they're where I buy most of my non-sports specific training gear. In fact, I have several tracksuits, each with its own purpose: one for teaching, one for training, one for running, and one for getting bagels and coffee on Sunday afternoons.

Peripheral equipment

To carry all that gear and train on your own, you’ll need a few more essentials. Complete your checklist with these final fighter essentials:

Best Training Bag: Superare Calcico Gear Bag

Superare is one of the best (and last) martial arts shops in New York City. They have the best fighting equipment in Manhattan, as well as some amazing custom gear. I just bought their gear bag this year and I love it! It fits my gloves and pads, a gi, and a change of clothes, and converts easily from a duffel bag to a backpack. You can't go wrong.

Best Pain Relief: Tiger Balm Sports Rub Pain Relief Ointment

I've seen Tiger Balm in dojos and martial arts gyms for as long as I can remember, and I'll be honest, I don't know if it works from a clinical standpoint, but I know that in the martial arts community, we all swear by it.

Best Timer App: Boxing iTimer App

I use this app daily. It's simple, easy to use and effective. Many apps have a lot of unnecessary features, but the Boxing iTimer app gets right to the point. It's one of the few free apps I would pay for because I use it so often.

Best Basic Fan: Bornado 133 Small Air Circulator

The more you train, the more you sweat. It's that simple. One of the most effective ways to keep your gear from smelling like hot garbage is to keep it dry. I like to put my gloves and shin guards in front of a fan to dry after each training session, and I do the same for my jiu-jitsu gi (after rinsing it) if I can't wash them right away. It works better than all the disinfectants and charcoal padding combined.

Best Jump Rope: Twins Muay Thai Rope

Other fighters will know you're serious when they see you jumping with the classic blue or green Twins Muay Thai Jump Rope. It's heavier than a regular rope and will hurt your toes if you get caught, but it'll keep your cardiovascular system running and your shoulders and forearms like steel.