Wearing proper martial arts sparring gear can help protect martial artists in a variety of situations. Its greatest use is in creating safe and effective training scenarios, but reliable gear can also offer adequate protection when learning new striking techniques. At Macho, we believe that one injury is one too many, especially if the injury could have easily been prevented with the right gear and proper instruction.
If you are looking to invest in some sparring gear, here are the questions you should ask before purchasing it to make sure that you, your child, and/or students stay safe while training.
Where is your gear coming from?
A lot of gear is made in unregulated factories overseas, but Macho training gear is made in a factory dedicated exclusively to making Macho products and is regulated to make sure it meets our rigorous safety testing standards. Macho is partnered with an ISO-certified factory, which means that it meets the highest standard for manufacturing expertise. No other big brands are manufactured at our facility, so before you buy make sure you look into where exactly it is coming from and how it is being made.
Does it use quality material?
Foam density and design are key factors that affect how gear disperses the force received from a strike. Wearing gear that is made of poor material or that has a bad design could be costly, both to your body and your wallet. If the gear you buy is made with quality material and has been designed properly, then it will fit securely. However, if your headgear does not have a secure fit and either dislodges or spins around your head when sparring, critical areas could end up being exposed or injured.
Will the gear disperse force or channel it into your body?
A 1/2-pound hand can deliver over 700 pounds of force. If your gear can’t absorb it, then you will have to. Gear with double layer foam protection provides extra shock absorption for the back of the head and ears. Without this type of adequate padding your body will absorb the full force of the impact – potentially leading to a serious injury.
Is it tested, proven effective?
Macho tests its gear at its own facilities and independent labs, and we’re not afraid to share our testing results with consumers. We want every martial artist to feel safe when training and by publishing our results you can rest assured that our gear has been proven to provide proper coverage. Safety is our #1 concern, and is the reason behind why our company was started. To fulfill this mission, we perform High-Energy Striking Impact Tests on all Macho gear. The results demonstrate that wearing Macho gear reduces the level of force that transfers to the body, leading to a safer sparring experience overll.