Knowing what to bring to a martial arts class is key to feeling comfortable and prepared for your session. The specific equipment that is required for training will vary between disciplines and trainalta partner locations. These are some essential pieces of equipment that we recommend packing in your training bag.
A basic clean towel is essential to keep in any martial arts training bag, either to clean sweat off your body or to clean the sweat off your training gear before you put it back in your bag. While any beach or bath towel will do the trick, you can find specialized sports towels made of microfiber that can be cut at a more suitable size to fit in your bag without taking up too much room.
Another great thing to bring to a martial arts class is a pair of slides or flip-flops. You can wear these to class or carry them with you, depending on whether you are travelling from work or home to get to class. Having a pair of slides handy is also related to hygiene, as while you will be taking your shoes off and going barefoot in nearly all martial arts classes to keep the mats or training area clean, however, you will equally want to have something on your feet when you step off the mats and especially if you need to visit the bathroom during a training session. Having a convenient pair of slides by the side of the mat or in your bag means you can quickly put them on before walking off the mat, keep your feet clear, and signal to your coach and other training partners that you are considerate of the gym's hygiene.
Depending on your martial art style, you will be expected to wear some kind of uniform or training gear. The most common would be a Gi or Kimono, but rash guards, shorts and shirts are all standard training apparel. Its always a good idea to have a couple of different uniforms to cycle through, for if you are training regularly, the ability to wash your uniform and give it time to dry before you train again will become an important consideration.
If you are just starting and do not yet have a uniform, then generally, it will be a good idea to have a plain t-shirt that isn't too baggy and a pair of board shorts with no pockets. You want to make sure your shirt isn't too baggy in case it gets caught on something and was to tear, and you want to keep your shorts pocketless so that there is no place for people's fingers to get caught during any kind of contact.
A mouthguard is one of the key pieces of safety equipment you should keep handy in your training and use in any training session where contact is expected with another training partner. It is a piece of training equipment you always want to have handy just in case the style of training changes throughout a lesson. The cheapest and easiest mouthguard to get is a simple “boil and bite” style mouthguard that you can get from any pharmacy or supermarket. If you find these mouthguards uncomfortable or want to take a step up in quality, you can get a custom molded mouthguard from a dentist or specialist. But either style will provide the basics of protecting your teeth and keeping you safe.
Hand wraps protect the small bones within your hands and your wrist to keep them stable while punching mitts or bags. The most common hand wraps will be a simple cotton roll with a loop on one end roughly a few meters in length.
With your thumb placed between the loop, you wrap around your wrists, hands and knuckles to build support for the entire joint. If you are after a quicker option, you can also get a style of wrap that uses a padded gel sleeve to support the knuckles. While looking like a small glove, they will fit directly over the hand and have a much smaller fabric wrap attached to it that you then use to reinforce the gel sleeve. Hand wraps will not be required for all styles of martial arts training, so check with your trainalta partner if this is a recommended for your training.
Taking care of your hygiene is a must if you want to be a considerate training partner, and a simple bit of deodorant can help go a long way. Any deodorant will do but remember that you don’t want to have one that is too fragrant, as when training partners are looking to breathe in oxygen from a training session, a strong fragrance can be equally as frustrating. A roll-on deodorant can also help minimize the chance of spraying deodorant everywhere before or after another class has to train.
A good attitude is probably the most essential thing you can bring to a martial arts class. A good attitude is one that’s ready for a challenge, the excitement and enjoyment that can come from learning martial arts. Expect to be challenged and pushed outside your comfort zone as you learn the new skills and techniques of your chosen art and enjoy seeing yourself overcome obstacles you previously didn't think were possible.
Depending on the location of your training, some gyms will require you to bring equipment that other gyms may provide. It is important to ask your trainalta partner coach what you are expected to bring when you start training. Keeping everything in your training bag will ensure you have the correct gear for each session.
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