After watching Enter The Dragon for the tenth time, you have just signed up for karate classes but forgot to buy proper training gear.
But what’s the worry? All Bruce Lee has is a cloth wrapped around his hands, so you do the same thing and head down to your first karate class, ready to beat every opponent. The sessions begin with light workouts before shifting to a punching bag and gentle sparring with a partner.
It’s not long before your hands start aching, and you can hardly punch anymore. Instead of red and swollen hands that might take weeks to recover, why not do the easy thing and use karate gloves?
Today’s guide discusses the importance of using this simple equipment to master the art of karate.
Do You Need Gloves For Karate?
Most people wouldn’t think about wearing gloves for karate, but they are essential to staying safe. That doesn’t mean you can wear any gloves because something like boxing gloves won’t work well. Although they provide ample protection, it’s no secret that boxing gloves limit your movement compared to proper karate gloves or mitts.
But why is wearing gloves important? Can’t you spar without them? It’s impossible to replicate real-life scenarios without proper gear, making karate gloves vital for training. Both you and the sparring partner will remain unharmed while learning the skills of this ancient art, provided you use suitable karate gloves.
What makes karate gloves different is they protect the fingers and knuckles from injury, thanks to the lightweight foam padding. This ensures the gloves are comfortable and safe without compromising mobility.
Things To Look For In A Karate Glove
When choosing karate gloves, ensure they fit well without being too tight or loose. Some of the best products come with strings for a secure fit and feature premium-quality PU material for long-lasting performance.
You can choose gloves with or without a thumb based on your needs, but the top products have a pro-concave shape, suitable for high-contact sports. This reduces the impact by softening the blow on opponents and your hands.
But if you’re just starting, we recommend choosing gloves with a thumb for added protection. They deliver an optimum striking sensation and cover several areas across the hands, including the wrist.
The most important thing to consider is the ergonomic shape of the gloves for greater impact resistance. Also, due to the velcro straps, it’s possible to achieve a snug fit while making sure the gloves enclose your hands from all sides.
Karate Gloves For Specific Purposes
A vital component of learning the art of karate is mastering the chop, but you’re not Bruce Lee, so it will take some time before you “be like water.” Until then, you can use chop mitts which cover the fingers and thumb from all sides. The mitts will improve your technique when striking a target or sparring with a partner.
Most mitts come with a velcro strap for a snug fit, but if you only want to wear gloves, opt for semi-mitts. These are not mitts in the true sense of the term, but a hybrid between gloves and mitts, having injection-moulded foam.
You don’t need us to point out that the foam helps absorb impact and functions much like a glove without affecting karate training. With these mitts, you can engage in bag, semi or full-throttle workouts.
Put On Those Karate Gloves!
The bottom line is that using karate gloves is a must to enjoy the training sessions and learn the skills of this unique discipline.
As with any contact sport, using the right equipment will allow you to practice at a high level without fearing injuries or hurting someone else. But an equally important aspect is taking proper care of the gloves.
After long sparring sessions, the gloves invariably become sweaty, and you need to clean them with antibacterial wipes. This will lower the chances of irritation and rashes since washing them every day is impossible.
Speaking of washing, check the instructions and material before using soap or water to maintain the product’s quality. A simple technique is leaving the gloves to dry in a well-ventilated area to guarantee proper air circulation.
For karate gloves, equipment and uniforms, head to our store at MMA Factory. You can start your training off the right way with an extensive range of products!
