Martial Arts Defense Equipment

Martial arts equipment covers everything from clothing and pads to weapons and gear, depending on your purposes. For those training for competition, investing in head gear, mouth guards, and athletic cups is essential. For those looking to prepare for street fighting, protective gear is virtually useless unless you've got a sparring partner who's also padded.

Most martial artists who are inspired by old Kung Fu films out of places like Hong Kong and China are motivated by the appeal of weaponry. There's a certain sexiness to weapons such as tonfas and sais, especially in the hands of a capable warrior. The reality is that most self-defense buffs will never have a reason to wield instruments like these. Even most law enforcement officers aren't trained to fight with swords and throwing stars (though many are seasoned tonfa fighters).

Cool Weaponry

Kubotans are cylindrical tubes with loops at their tips and are widely available on the market. The reason for this is that they look nondescript and are unlikely to raise a furor or even garner attention. Most passersby will simply think they're miniature flashlights and won't give them a second thought. Nevertheless, in well-trained hands they can be devastating weapons.

Escrima sticks are more or less longer versions of kubotans that sometimes measure up to two feet or more. While they don't have blades the way sais and juttes do, they are still forceful impact weapons, especially when wielded against bony areas of the body. Elbows, knees, forearms, ankles, and collarbones are all ripe targets for those brandishing blunt striking instruments such as escrima sticks or bo staffs, even if these weapons are rather inconvenient to carry with you on the street.