The Best MMA and Boxing Headgear in 2021

Best MMA and Boxing Headgear

If you’re looking for the best MMA and boxing headgear in 2021, then you’ve come to the right place.

We have compiled a list of all of the top-rated brands along with some great information about how to select the perfect headgear for your needs.

Whether you are an amateur fighter or a pro athlete, we have reviews that will help keep your noggin safe from injury!

So without any further ado, let’s take a look at the best MMA and boxing headgear in 2021.

Best Headgear for MMA and Boxing

1. RDX Headgear – The Best MMA Headgear

 

RDX Headgear - The Best MMA Headgear

 

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Features

  • High-quality leather
  • Washable design
  • well stitched
  • fits easily
  • Multisport headgear

Starting our list of the best MMA headgear with RDX headgear. During our research, we found it quite interesting due to several amazing features. The first thing that makes it worthy of the best overall title is the durable construction of the headgear.

RDX MMA Headgear is made of high-quality materials that will protect your brain in the event of a blow to the skull or face area. Apart from that, it has a very comfortable feel thanks to its impact-resistant foam and airflow ventilation mouthpiece design.

Another thing we liked about this MMA gear is how easy it is to adjust for a perfect fit. The adjustable Velcro strap at the back allows you to find an ideal level of tightness without being too loose, while still remaining breathable enough not to cause any discomfort during fight time!

Staying comfortable during the fight is extremely important because you want to be at your best when it counts the most.

Another thing that we love about the RDX MMA Headgear is its sweatband. It keeps you dry and comfortable for longer periods of time by wicking away moisture from your forehead!

This is great because sweat can get in the way of training, so this headgear prevents that from happening. It also has soft padding around the mouth and nose to keep you safe from blows.

The last reason why RDX is our top pick for best boxing headgear is due to everything else included with the purchase, such as two removable cheek guards, one chin strap, and one head strap.

These additions make it very easy to put on the product as well!

Pros:

  • Super effective for blocking out punches
  • Very comfortable and stay in place well and is easy to put on
  • Anti-sweat design
  • Includes cheek guards and chin straps
  • Comes in a variety of colors and designs

Cons:

  • The straps might not be the most durable
  • Some people may find it a bit too tight on top of their head

Final Verdict

If you are looking for the best boxing headgear, then there is no better option than RDX. It provides high functionality and protection while staying very comfortable to wear as well! It has a variety of colors and designs that can be chosen in order to fit your personal style preferences. In addition, it includes cheek guards that not only protect your face but also come in handy when blocking punches


2. SANJOIN Headgear – The Best Synthetic Leather Headgear

 

Sanjoin Headgear

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Features

  • Durable design
  • Thick padding
  • long-lasting performance
  • Offers protection to full face
  • Suitable for adults

The next option on our list is the SANJOIN headgear. This product is made of synthetic leather and it offers a great alternative to those who do not want a cloth or foam material on their face during boxing training

During our research, we noticed a few things that make the gear stand out from the crowd. The first and the most important thing is its durability. The synthetic leather is designed for strength and resistance so this product will not break the moment you punch it.

It also has a perfect fit due to its elasticity which means that there’s no chance of ripping or tearing from jumping rope, bag work, or sparring with another boxer.

This headgear comes in four sizes: small, medium, large and extra-large. This is the best choice because it allows for a perfect fit and maximum protection during workouts.

The SANJOIN headgear also has an adjustable chin strap that ensures a snug and secure fit, while its unique shape with extended ear coverage provides more safety from blows to the face.

The additional padding on the forehead brings extra comfort which means you can train more without worrying about getting tired too quickly.

The back of the headgear is made from an elastic mesh that provides a comfortable fit and breathability for your scalp, meaning you’ll be able to stay in the ring or gym longer before feeling hot and sweaty.

Another thing that makes it amazing is its two adjustable hook-and-loop straps on the back. These allow you to adjust the tightness with ease and without any time-consuming adjustments, which is helpful when your training partner needs a fight or if someone else wants to try it out for themselves.

Apart from that, it features a lightweight design that gives it an edge over the other headgear models. This means that it gives you great mobility, so you can punch and move freely without the feeling of being restrained or slowed down because of your protective gear

Pros

  • Very comfortable, with its adjustable head strap and chin straps that make it very easy to put on.
  • Its lightweight design means you won’t feel weighed down while training like some of the other heavy gear might give you.
  • Comes in a variety of colors for people who want something more customizable.

Cons

  • The padding is on the thinner side, which does make it a bit more protective than some of the other headgear.
  • Some people have reported that this product runs small and might not fit everyone.

Final Verdict

This is a great headgear for those who are just starting out in the sport. There’s a lot of padding, but it’s still thin enough to not be too heavy and restrict your mobility.

It has good protection around the temples which might make you more comfortable with what you’re doing if that area worries you. The price point makes it a great value for the product you’re getting.


3. Sanabul Essential – Best MMA HeadGear with Face Sheild

 

Sanabul Essential MMA Boxing Kickboxing Head Gear

 

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Features

  • Available in three different sizes
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to wear
  • Comfortable

If you are looking for headgear with a face shield then we have something special for you. Although the first two options also offer face protection, however, they are thinner from the sides.

When it comes to this headgear you will completely fall in love with it. It is because the product features a superb quality structure that makes it more durable and protective.

It is worth mentioning that this model offers complete protection for your head, jaw as well as ears. This will make you feel relieved when using this product even on aggressive training days because of some really good padding around these areas too.

The stitching of the gear is done in a way that it is nearly impossible for the stitches to come out. The product features an elastic Velcro strap at the back which will keep your headgear in place during training sessions and matches, too.

With such a structure it proves to be an amazing youth MMA headgear. Apart from the well-built structure and the surprisingly protective design, there are a few other things to mention.

First of all, it possesses a lightweight design that makes it stand out from the crowd. The lightweight design comes in handy, during the match and practice. It will let you dodge the incoming jabs and uppercuts swiftly like a jolt of electricity.

Secondly, this headgear is perforated which will allow for improved airflow and ventilation when you are training hard or fighting a tough match. The design of these features proves that they were put together with the safety of the young fighters in mind.

Thirdly, it is machine washable which means that maintaining this MMA headgear will be a breeze for you and your family as well. Allowing for easy washing also ensures that you don’t have to worry about buying new ones too often because they won’t get dirty so quickly

Pros

  • comfortable design
  • machine washable
  • comfortable padding
  • durable construction

Cons

  • The company doesn’t produce gear for kids

Final verdict

The Sanabul headgear proves to be worthy of your money and time for a number of reasons. It offers great padding which will protect your head from punches or kicks, sturdy construction that won’t break in the middle of sparring practice, machine washable design to make maintaining this gear much easier and comfortable than you expect.


4. MaxxMMA – The Best Boxing Headgear

 

MaxxMMA Headgear

 

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Features

  • very well padded structure
  • Long-lasting leather design
  • Available in black color
  • Suitable for MMA and Boxing
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to wear

As we know without headgear boxing can be quite painful. It is because all those jabs and punches can shake your brain inside your cranium. Luckily, during our research, we found some interesting boxing headgear too.

The MaxxMMA proves to be the best headgear for boxing due to a lot of qualities that come with it. We will tell you all about it so that you can decide whether it’s the best boxing headgear for you.

First of all, we would like to mention how this MaxxMMA is great at absorbing shock and protecting your brain from injury. The foam lining absorbs any impact efficiently so that the force doesn’t get transmitted directly to your skull which can lead to concussions or worse yet, a fractured skull.

In addition to this, the headgear is also equipped with a wider surface that can cover more of your face, so it’s the perfect protection for beginners in boxing or those who want to avoid any damage caused by heavy punches.

The MaxxMMA comes in three different sizes: small, medium, and large which makes it very easy to find one that suits you.

Apart from that, it is made from durable materials that are designed to last a long time, it has an adjustable strap and can be worn under your helmet for added protection while sparring with other boxers in the ring or on the streets.

The MaxxMMA also doesn’t rub behind your ears so you don’t have to worry about any chaffing or pain.

So if you are looking for more comfortable headgear, protects your face better, and doesn’t make you sweat too much then the MaxxMMA is definitely worth checking out.

Another thing that makes it an excellent choice is its price. It is available at an affordable price and is definitely a good deal considering all the benefits you get.

Pros

  • Very affordable.
  • Comes in a variety of colors to suit your style.
  • The chin straps are adjustable so you can get the perfect fit for yourself.
  • It is made from durable materials that will last a long time.
  • It protects your face better and doesn’t make you sweat too much as other headgear does.

Cons

  • It is a bit bulkier than other headgear
  • The Velcro on the straps may come loose after some use

Final Verdict

According to our research, the MaxxMMA is the best MMA and boxing headgear in 2021. It is affordable, durable, protective and it comes in a variety of colors. Being a boxer, you should definitely consider it if you are looking for a high-quality boxing helmet.


5. TTP Headguard for Boxing – The Most Versatile Option

 

TTP headgear

 

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Features

  • Available in three different colors
  • Comes in different sizes
  • Lightweight
  • Suitable for youth

The next option on our list is the TTP Headguard for Boxing. It is a durable, good-looking, and affordable product that has been designed to protect your face from injuries without making you sweat too much or get in the way of your performance.

The material it is made from is soft enough so that it doesn’t hurt when someone kicks you or punches you but also tough enough to protect your head in the event of a fall or an accident.

It has been designed for both MMA and boxing competitions, meaning that you are getting one of the most versatile options on the market.

The padding is thick enough so that it can absorb any type of impact without letting it hurt you. But at the same time, thin enough not to interfere with your technique or gameplay.

The closure system is a high-quality Velcro that will not come off while you are competing or training, meaning it can keep up with the most aggressive fighters and athletes out there.

Another best thing that we love about the TTP gear is its weight. At only one pound, it is not going to weigh you down or be an inconvenience when you are competing.

The padding also comes with two different types of foam: the traditional and the outer layer that can really help make a difference in your comfort levels.

It is a special type of headgear that is designed for both MMA fighters and boxers alike so it is perfect for anyone that wants to be fully protected.

Last but not least, it is important to mention that the TTP gear comes in a variety of colors and designs, so you will be able to find one that suits your style.

Pros

  • It is very lightweight and comfortable
  • well-padded structure
  • available in different colors
  • budget-friendly

Cons

  • It can be a bit tough to put on for some people.
  • bulky, not ideal for small heads.

Final Verdict

The TTP boxing helmet is capable of providing you with a high level of protection, it is very comfortable and lightweight so you will be able to wear it for hours on end without any issues.

Pricewise, there is nothing to complain about as it still falls under the category of affordable boxing helmet.


6. Venum Elite – Top Boxing Helmet with Cheek Protection

 

Venum Elite Headgear

 

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Features

  • Available in 8 different colors
  • Perfectly Padded structure
  • Fits easily
  • Comfortable
  • Lightweight
  • Consists of mesh and leather

Coming up on number 6 in our list of the best boxing helmets is this Venum Elite. It’s a great option for those who are looking to get some cheek protection from the impact of getting hit in the face.

Although it doesn’t happen often it does still happen on occasion and you’ll want that extra safety feature if it ever happens.

This is a lightweight boxing helmet that is perfect for the fast-paced, high-octane style of MMA. It’s also going to be great for competitive boxing as well so you can use it in whatever sport you choose.

The straps are made from breathable fabric and will allow your head plenty of room to breathe which really helps if you’re training in a hot environment.

It has an adjustable chin strap that you’ll be able to tighten or loosen depending on your preference and the fit will always stay secure, even during intense training sessions.

The padding is made from high-quality materials so it’s going to last for years of wear and tear without any issues at all. It also offers plenty of protection.

Moreover, the helmet comes in all different sizes which include youth sizing as well. It makes the product quite versatile and suitable for everyone.

Apart from that, the Venum Elite features 100% skintex leather construction that makes it not only durable but also comfortable to wear. It doesn’t come with a metal face protector, which means you’ll be able to breathe easily and won’t have any issues while training in hot environments.

In addition to this, It has plenty of ventilation holes that will let your head stay cool even during the most intense workouts, especially if you’re running or sparring for a long time.

It features a durable and ergonomic design that will make it be the perfect option for everyone but especially for fighters who want to get their hands on affordable yet high-quality headgear. It’s easy to see why most people prefer this product, as it’s very practical.

The price is also fair considering the fact you won’t have to spend your time looking for another headgear anytime soon. As a last note, I would like to add that this is one of the most comfortable MMA and boxing headgears in 2021 on the market so far.

Pros

  • It’s very comfortable
  • It has plenty of ventilation holes
  • Durable and ergonomic design
  • Fair price for the quality you’re getting

Cons

  • The padding can shift around a bit sometimes if you wear it too tight
  • Sits higher on your head than some other models
  • The Velcro is loud when putting it on and off.

Final Verdict

If you’re looking for a high-quality product with plenty of ventilation and durability – this is the headgear to go with.

This MMA boxing headgear has made it to our top ten list because it’s one of the most practical out there, while also being very affordable. It’s easy to see why people prefer this particular model.


7. Everlast Everfresh Head Gear – Our Bottom Choice

 

Everlast Everfresh Head Gear

 

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Features

  • Available in black color
  • Adjustable chin strap
  • Consists of synthetic leather
  • Comfortable
  • Lightweight

Last but not least, we have the Everlast Everfresh Head Gear. During our research, we noticed that this model comes with a lot of benefits. It has both its plus points as well as downsides that make it different from the rest of the market.

Don’t worry because we are going to tell you about all of its features right now. The first thing that makes it worthy of the top ten list is that you get a lot of ventilation. This means your headgear won’t be too hot, even if you play for hours on end!

The gear features a breathable structure that allows the flow of air thoroughly. It helps to prevent sweating and provides a comfortable experience throughout the match. In addition to this, it has a beautiful structure that will last for years and withstand heavy training and matches like a pro.

The second thing we want to mention about this MMA boxing headgear model is its durability. It’s made from very high-quality materials and it will last you forever (at least, until you lose it or decide to get a new one).

The third thing we want to mention is the size. It’s different than most models because of how large and wide it appears on your head.

We mentioned that this model has downsides too, so we should bring them up now. The main downside is that it doesn’t cover the nose and mouth area. It can be an issue for people who want to prevent their faces from getting injured.

Apart from that, it doesn’t seem washing machine friendly which may not please a lot of players. Although it doesn’t get dirty very quickly but still.

However, these disadvantages are not enough to make this item less worthy of attention. The product still has many great qualities that make it a top contender for the best MMA headgear.

Pros

  • Very protective of ears, forehead, and jaw area
  • Quality is better than most models in the price range
  • It’s durable too which makes it a great investment

Cons

  • It doesn’t cover the nose and mouth area
  • Doesn’t appear to be machine washable

Final Verdict

It is a fantastic option due to its high level of protection. It may not be the best MMA headgear for sparring but it is a good choice if you’re looking for something that will protect your ears and jaw area from injury.

The price isn’t too bad either considering its quality, durability, and protective features.


How to Choose the Right Boxing and MMA Headgear

If you are a complete beginner and this is your first time choosing an MMA headgear then we can help you. Here are a few things that will help you choose the right headgear for your playstyle without any issue.

When you’re choosing your boxing or MMA headgear, the first thing that you need to consider is what is your play style?

Sparring Headgear

Sparring headgear is designed to protect your sparring partner and yourself. They are made of softer materials that help absorb the impact from punches but provide less protection against strikes like elbows or knees. Sparring gear can be used for both boxing as well as MMA training.

If you’re looking for good quality, affordable option then the Venum Elite Boxing Headgear would be a perfect choice for you.

Size of the Headgear

The size of the headgear is important to ensure that it fits well on your head. If you’re a beginner, then go for the smaller gear and as you become more experienced in sparring or boxing, upgrade to larger ones.

If you have a narrow face try something like Rival Boxing Headgear which has straps at both sides so they can be pulled tight.

If you have a broader face, then Venum Elite Boxing Headgear should be a better choice for you as it has wider straps with Velcro locks to adjust the headgear easily.

Headgear Padding

When looking for headgear for martial arts, you should always choose the one that has got a well-padded structure. It should provide complete protection against the hits of your opponent.

Make sure that the gear is not only padded around the forehead area but it has decent padding on cheeks and ears. It will be quite handy during intense fights.

Conclusion

What is the best MMA headgear for you? The choice can be a difficult one. You may have to try out multiple brands before you find the perfect fit, but this article should help narrow down your search.

Here are three of our favorite picks and why they’re so great!

RDX Headgear offers some awesome features that make it stand apart from other products on the market such as its padded chin strap and cooling technology with mesh lining.

Sanjoin Headgear has a synthetic leather exterior which makes it durable while still being breathable.

Lastly, Sanabul Essential has all of these unique features in addition to a face shield that will protect your nose during sparring or training sessions when strikes land close enough to cause injury.

In the end, each of these headgear brands is a great choice and has its own set of pros and cons, but we believe that Sanabul Essential offers you everything you need without breaking your bank account.

Mica Galvao: Jiu-Jitsu Phenom Called Brazilian Gordon Ryan

Mica galvao

If you’ve been paying attention to the international BJJ Tournament Scene you must have heard of Mica Galvao by now. And if you haven’t you certainly could be for quite some time. But if the name is still new for you this kid’s got quite the story and buzz around him.

Some are calling him “The Brazilian Gordon Ryan”, but who is he and why is he so special?

Mica is a 17-year-old Black Belt from Manaus Brazil. Manaus is the city in the Amazon that produces some of the toughest guys in the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu like Ronaldo, Jacare, Souza, Alexandre Ribeiro, Walid Ismail, and many others.

Mica got his brown belt from his father Melky Galvao who is the head coach of the Dream Art academy in Manaus. Dream Art academy, also, has another location in Sao Paulo, Brazil led by Izak Maez, and is one of the first-ever pro sports teams in BJJ.

Mica Galvao is also a Black Belt in Brazilian grappling art Luta Livre and trains extensively in Judo and Wrestling to help his overall grappling game.

Dream Art is a part of the Alliance team and Mika was affiliated with Cobrinha Charles over the years but has recently relocated to Miami to train with Team Fight Sports.

Mica galvao

Now you may be wondering “what’s so special about him?”

Well, when he was in his early teens he was tearing up the local social tournament scene and has some big wins over some of the top teenage, and juvenile athletes from around the world. After he went back to Brazil from the US, and after being promoted to blue belt Mica made a public challenge where he wanted to test himself against the BJJ Black Belts.

This sent shockwaves in the local Manaus Jiu-Jitsu scene as some people thought it was disrespectful while others thought it was cocky. Soon he got someone to step up and accept the challenge.

So, at the Copa Podio Orange League Event Mica faces off against a legit BJJ Black Belt from Manaus. Mica won that fight via armbar in about seven minutes.

Since then Mica continued his winning streak at several major events IBJJF and AJP tournaments worldwide as well as more super fights against black belts.

At one point he amassed a winning streak of 100 wins mostly via submissions.

He was promoted to a BJJ Purple Belt at the age of 16 and recently he’s promoted to BJJ Brown Belt at the age of 17. As of July 11, Mica Galvao is a BJJ Black Belt. You can read about his Black Belt promotion in the text below.

Recently he also had a challenge match where he submitted a very tough Black Belt in Gustavo Telus in 55 seconds.

His career in Brown Belt thus far has been pretty amazing as he won the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam World Pro, and the IBJJF No Gi Pan Ams.

Mica Galvao Abu Dhabi

It’s not just the wins and titles turning heads about this kid. It’s the way he’s winning his matches in a very well-rounded and entertaining style while all of his wins are coming from him submitting his opponents in record time including the win at Abu Dhabi Grand Slam finals in just 28 seconds.

Today he also won three matches in a row in less than one minute each by submission before winning a final match by decision.

Right now Mica Galvao is Brazil’s most popular upcoming Jiu-Jitsu star. His Instagram profile has 150 000 followers and it’s growing daily.

He also put two new DVDs on BJJ Fanatics, and we can say that he has the most buzz at the brown belt in quite some time.

Now that Mica is in the United States for a short while he there himself right into the fire as on May 28. he’ll face very dangerous Andrew Tacket on the upcoming Flo Grappling Promotion “Who’s Number One”.

Recently, he entered into some controversy as he puts his name into the next SUG promotion 170lbs bracket where he’ll be the only brown belt allowed to compete in the 8-man bracket full of legit BJJ Black Belts.

In August he’ll have an upcoming super-fight at the next BJJ Bet event in Brazil where they created an entire event and bracket opportunity for Mica.

Mica Galvao BJJ Bet

As his confidence is growing with his experience, and physical structure so is his technical prowess as he continues to look more and more impressive in each match combining a strong takedown and passing game with fluid sweeping and submission system in place.

But as Manaus Leg Locks game, specifically with Heel hooks, doesn’t seem strong Mica did not look out of his element this weekend and even winning a match via Heel Hook in under one minute.

However, if you wonder if Mica Galvao is related to Andre Galvao the answer is No. Galvao is a pretty common name in Brazil.

There do not appear to be many kings in his armor, but as the tests continue to come his way and as he continues to take them all directly, only time will tell if Mica is truly the next big thing in Jiu-Jitsu the fans and the sport have been waiting for.

Source

Mica Galvao Becomes a Black Belt at the age of 17

On July 10, Mica Galvao became a BJJ Black Belt at the age of 17, and he’s the youngest BJJ Black Belt in the history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Mica Galvao Becomes a Black Belt at the age of 17

Mica literally achieved something that almost everyone thought is impossible. Or at least everyone thought it’s impossible to get to Black Belt so young while deserving it at the same time. Well, Mica proved everyone wrong as his belt is very well achieved and proven numerous times till now.

As we wrote before in this article Mica was able to beat some of the incredibly good and talented BJJ Black Belts much older and experienced than him.

Mica gave a statement on his Instagram profile following his promotion:

I arrived where I always dreamed of and where everything begins. I thank everyone who was and still are by my side on this journey, without you guys none of this would be possible.”

“I received my JIU-JITSU BLACK BELT at 17 years of age. I have a RESPONSIBILITY to give nothing less than MY BEST to represent this belt and continue GIVING GOOD EXAMPLES in any way I can for the NEW GENERATION. God bless you all”

There’s no doubt there will be some controversy about Mica’s promotion and how is it possible someone this young can become a Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. As far as we know there’s no real restriction on how old someone should be to achieve a Black Belt. Actually, there is no kind of measurements in BJJ to measure if someone’s knowledge is enough to achieve any belt as there are many parameters. It’s all in the eyes of an instructor.

In the case of Mica, yes, there will be people raising their eyebrows commenting on this decision, but Mica did everything that someone should do to achieve the black belt in Jiu-Jitsu.

Pull-Up Exercises and ABS

Pull-ups bjj

Are you thinking about what you can do with a pull-up bar? The answer is quite a lot! There are loads of different pull-up variations that will work your chest, back, and abs. We will go into all of these types of pull-ups in this article!

What is a pull-up?

Let’s start with defining a pull-up. A pull-up is a type of strength exercise where you grab onto a bar and, using your arm muscles, pull your shoulders up so they are just above the bar. This exercise is challenging – it requires powerful muscles in your chest, back, triceps, and biceps, as well as a solid core.

Here is how to do a standard pull-up.

  1. Stand behind the bar.
  2. Reach up and grab onto the bar with both hands.
  3. Pull yourself upwards so your shoulders are in line with the bar.
  4. Hold this for a second or two.
  5. With control, move back down to beneath the bar.

Different Types of Pull-Ups

There are several different types of pull-ups that are useful for different reasons. Try to perfect your standard pull-up first before moving on to the other moves!

Around the World Pull-Ups

This pull-up variation is excellent for not only your chest and back but also your abs. It isolates different muscles in your upper body and gives them all a really thorough workout.

  1. Stand below your bar.
  2. Grab onto the bar and hold it tightly.
  3. Then, pull yourself upward, moving toward the left as you do so.
  4. Once you reach the top left, push your body over to the right.
  5. Once you reach the top right, start lowering your body down.
  6. Repeat on the opposite side.

Hanging Leg Raises

Hanging leg raises are an advanced ab workout, and they are one of the best ways to get a six-pack! Here’s how to complete them.

  1. Hold onto the pull-up bar with your arms. Keeping your core braced, lift your legs until they are parallel to the ground.
  2. Keep your legs straight and hold them for as long as you can.
  3. Then, slowly lower them back to the ground.

Don’t worry if you can’t lift your legs very far, to begin with. If this is the case, keep practicing, and try and lift your legs a little further off the ground each time. This is still an ab workout, and you’ll work up to eventually being able to do a full hanging leg raise.

Windshield Wipers

This is a variation on hanging leg raises that targets your oblique muscles.

  1. Get into the hanging leg raise position.
  2. Move your legs slightly further upwards – as much as is comfortable.
  3. Then, move your legs from left to right, as if they are mimicking windshield wipers.
  4. Move them back to the hanging position.
  5. With control, move your legs back to the starting point.

Vertical Knee Raises

This exercise is quite similar to hanging leg raises but uses slightly different muscles and is a different motion. It’s also a great exercise for strong, toned abs.

  1. Hold onto the pull-up bar with both arms.
  2. With control, lift your feet off the ground and bend your knees.
  3. Move your legs up so your thighs are parallel to the ground and your legs are bent.
  4. Move them up further, slightly higher than the parallel, for an extra boost.
  5. Then, slowly move them back down.

Again, this is an intense move, and you might struggle with it initially. Keep practicing – just do what you can until you can do it as instructed! If you feel any pain in your back, stop immediately.

Tips for pull-ups

  • If you find pull-ups too tricky, you could use a pull-up band to give you some support. These are resistance bands that attach to both your body and the bar and help you move toward the bar a little easier. Once you’ve practiced a few times with a pull-up band, you might have built up your muscles enough to go without!
  • If you are struggling to do pull-ups, work on building your chest and back muscles. Do weights like chest presses and clean-up presses, as well as bodyweight exercises like push-ups.
  • Practice makes perfect with pull-ups! You may not be able to do one straight away, but with a bit of time and some training, you’ll be performing them with ease.

Whether you are a pull-up pro or just starting, these exercises are great for your upper body, core, and abs. They take a while to perfect, but once you’ve got the hang of them you’re guaranteed to notice the benefits!

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(Video) Nick Diaz Spars Tyson Fury in Grappling and Boxing Ahead of His Rumored Comeback

(Video) Nick Diaz Spars Tyson Fury in Grappling and Boxing Ahead of His Rumored Comeback

Although the date of Fury’s match with Anthony Joshua is announced and it’s known that there are exactly three months left until the “clash of titans” on August 1.4 in Saudi Arabia, Tyson Fury is still in California, where he can often be seen training with various celebrities, like David Beckham. But he claims he also trains regularly for the fight with Joshua. He seems to do so in a variety of places.

So, a few days ago he visited Nick Diaz, and they did boxing sparring, but also a bit of wrestling, after which he decided to send a message via Instagram to those who’ll fight the Nick Diaz next.

“I’m here with my friend Nick Diaz. We’re working and coming after all your s##t, we’re going to break you. Nick is in great shape, and he’s ready. Give him a fight Dana, give him a fight!” – Gipsy King said, while Diaz stood beside him.

Nick Diaz announced his return, after which he had a meeting with Dana White, who stated that he was not sure that Nick really wanted to fight and for what reason. He wasn’t sure if he would organize a fight for him.

At the same time, Dan Hardy, right after he was fired from the UFC, asked his former employer to fire Diaz as well, so the two of them could fight in Rizin.

Anyway, if Nick Diaz openly says he wants to fight, shouldn’t White provide it to him, rather than publicly questioning whether Nick really wants it?

Nick Diaz is still under contract with UFC, and he hasn’t fought since 2015. His last victory dates back to 2011, but he expressed a desire to do what is written in his contract.

In the video below you can see two videos composed from Fury’s Instagram story posts.

UFC 262 Video: Andre Muniz Breaks Ronaldo `Jacare´ Souza’s Arm in the First Round

Andre Muniz Breaks Jacare's Arm

Four minutes into a fight between Jiu-Jitsu legend “Jacare” and Andre Muniz was enough for Muniz to take the Jacare’s back and submit him with an armbar.

After a “lightning-quick” double leg takedown from Muniz Jacare managed to get up on his feet but leaving his back exposed.

Muniz took advantage of it to jump on Jacare’s back. While it seemed that Jacare will be able to shake him off of his back near the cage Muniz managed to trap Jacare’s arm under his armpit and break it.

The loud sound of the arm snapping was heard and it was all over.

Charles Oliveira Becomes the UFC Lightweight Champion by defeating Michael Chandler at the UFC 262

Charles Oliveira Becomes the UFC Lightweight Champion by defeating Michael Chandler at the UFC 262

UFC star and BJJ Black Belt Charles Olivera defeated Michael Chandler for the UFC Lightweight Champion Title.

In a very entertaining and challenging fight, Charles Olivera managed to defeat Michael chandler via TKO stoppage in the second round.

The first round started with Chandler swinging at the Charles Oliveira. Oliveira tried to impost his dominance with few low kicks, but it wasn’t enough to stop Chandler from going forward.

Charles Olivera Ufc Champion

One minute into the first round Chandler clipped Olivera what resulted in Oliveira immediately lowering the level and taking Chandler down with double leg just to end up in guillotine choke. While it seemed that the guillotine choke from chandler was pretty tight, it wasn’t. Oliveira got out of it and took the back of his opponent.

Even with the tight body triangle, Oliveira wasn’t able to choke Chandler. Chandler managed to get out of back control and get the top position. They both disengaged and they were both on their feet again.

As soon as they both got up Chandler overwhelmed Oliveira with the punches. First, left punch from Chandler wobbled Olivera and the second one dropped him down. He was in real trouble while trying to survive the many strikes coming from Chandler. While first being in turtle position and then on his back many punches hit the head of Oliveira.

It seemed like such high-paced fighting from Chandler, who wasn’t slowing down at any moment will be enough to finish the fight, but Oliveira somehow “survived” it by getting the Chandler into his closed guard.

Round one was over with Oliveira lying on his back, playing the guard while pushing Chandler away.

The second round started with Oliveira tagging Chandler with the left hook, forcing him out of balance, and followed by a knee and punches that he couldn’t withstand. Chandler was dropped to the ground receiving punches without defending himself and the referee called the fight.

Charles Oliveira TKO Michael Chandler

The fight is declared as the fight of the night with Oliveira receiving the UFC’s lightweight belt after nine consecutive wins in UFC.

Charles and Olivera were fighting for the UFC’s Lightweight Belt which was vacant since Khabib Nurmagomedov held it since 2018 after defeating Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.

The Best Shin Guards for Muay Thai and MMA in 2022

The Best Shin Guards

When you start to develop an interest in one sport, you automatically try to read and learn everything about it. You are here because you want to learn what are the best shin guards for Muay Thai and MMA. After you have learned and gained some theoretical knowledge, you try to learn how can you start training and practicing that sport. And during that learning curve, you start to learn about all the necessary equipment that you need.

In contact sports such as Muay Thai and MMA protection gear is really important. It will save you from unnecessary accidents and pain that you will experience during your training. In Muay Thai and MMA the second most important part of the equipment after gloves are Shin Guards. Not only will you use a lot of your hands but also your legs. And since the legs can produce quite powerful kicks than hands you will need to wear your shin guards on your Muay Thai or MMA training.

Not only will your shin guards protect your legs, but will also help to reduce the impact of your opponent’s kicks. And let’s be honest you can’t train in full power and effectiveness if you are in constant pain from given and received kicks while you practice Muay Thai or MMA. You have to realize that there are no shortcuts in safety. And by training in Muay Thai or MMA, you are putting your body under immense stress. That’s why you have to take care of it and protect it as much as possible.


What are Shin Guards?

A shin guard or, so-called shin pads are a piece of equipment that protects an athlete’s shin from the injury in front of the shin. Shin Guards are used in many sports like soccer, football, baseball, hockey, and especially in combat sports like MMA, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, etc.

History of shin guards

History of shin guards
History of shin guards

Shin guards are not a modern invention. They are first introduced as an important part of warrior’s armor in ancient Greek and Roman Republics.  Known under a different name “Greave” which means shin armor, they were made from bronze or other sturdy materials that were strong enough to sustain the impact. Because their purpose was to protect your life and legs from sharp swords and spears. But the oldest known reference to the shin guards is written in the Bible when talking about Goliath.

Since then the shin guards made a lot of improvements on their materials and comfort. And especially their purpose. They are no longer used on battlefields, but in regulated sports. Usage of shin guards in Muay Thai and MMA is just a small fraction of their usage in other sports.

The first sport that adopted the use of shin guards was cricket, but it wasn’t used as a protection tool, but something that would give an advantage to the batsman, until the rules have changed. But the main purpose from the beginning for fighting sports is the protection of fighters.

Why do you need Shin Guards for Muay Thai and MMA?

The first and most important thing why you need to use them is safety. Not just yours but also your sparring partner.  When you first start your legs and bones in them will not be prepared for the torturous conditions you will put them thru. You will feel every kick that you give and especially the ones you take.

The first shin guards that you will use in your Muay Thai or MMA training have to be well padded. As a beginner, even the smallest and lightest kicks will have a large impact on the health of your shins and legs overall. It’s always better to be smart and take care of yourself from the start.

You need to buy good quality equipment that will last you and show its effectiveness in the long run. Don’t even think about using shin guards meant for other sports like football(soccer) or hockey. In the first one, you will hurt yourself and your partner. They are too thin and lack structural support to stay on the legs. With them being too thin the danger of hurting yourself and your opponents rises drastically.  You could possibly be kicked out of your club. And if you wear hockey ones you will just look silly. But if that is what you want go for it.

If you are looking for the best shin guards for your Muay Thai and MMA training, but can’t still choose, look no further. Down belove, we made the list of our recommendations for the best shin guards. We listed everything that you need to know about them to help you with your decision.

Difference Between Muay Thai and MMA Shin Guards

As MMA and Muay Thai are different sports in many fields so are the Shin Guards. If you’re looking for shin guards for MMA you should have grappling in mind as it will be a huge part of your MMA training.

MMA guards are usually less bulky and are coming in socks-like sleeve form to maintain a good fit when grappling and rolling what includes a lot of scrambling moments for guards to slip off.

Muay Thai guards usually come with velcro straps to keep them in place, but for the most part, they give more protection to the shin. Muay Thai is a sport based on striking, and especially leg striking. Shin to shin strikes and blocking the strikes with shin checks can be painful and having great protection for your shin is mandatory.

Our Recommendations for the Best Shinguards for Muay Thai and MMA


Venum Elite Standup Shin Guards

Venum Elite Standup Shin Guards
Venum Elite Standup Shin Guards

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These shin guards are an amazing example of how you can create something that looks good but also serves the purpose it was designed to do.  You can use these shin guards for Muay Thai or MMA since they use premium multi-density foam that will give you the necessary protection while sparing your partners. With its special foam design, it heals to absorb more force from the kicks and prevent injuries. It will help you hit harder and for longer without feeling any pain.

Not only it is anatomically designed to give you maximum comfort and mobility. You will enjoy the additional feeling of freedom that it gives you. You will see how much progress you will make when you stop thinking about the pain that is all gone thanks to these shin guards. It features a wide variety of designs to south your taste. There are options for people that want to be stealthy or even flashy with their gear. And since the shin guards are critical equipment at places that anyone can see, you will be seen if you want. These shin guards offer reinforcements for your shins and neck of the foot while built-in elastic bands for the support will make sure that shin guards stay in their place during your Muay Thai or MMA practice.

Features:

  • Wide range of colors and designs for you to choose
  • Premium Multi-density foam for protection
  • Anatomically designed for best fit
  • Handmade with care
  • Elastic band support in strategic places

Meister EDGE Leather Instep Shin Guards

Meister EDGE Leather Instep Shin Guards
Meister EDGE Leather Instep Shin Guards

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These shin guards are not only good looking but also quite practical and comfortable. During their construction, the manufacturer thought of everything. And we mean everything. Not only it is ergonomically designed to follow the contour of your legs but is also filled with special gel distributed over the shin guards. That way you will feel the impact of your kicks but you won’t feel the pain.  The force of impact will be distributed equally over the whole shin guard and prevent possible injuries. That way you not only get an ideal fit to your legs but also maximum comfort during your use of these shin guards in your Muay Thai or MMA training.

Constructed 100% from Cowhide Leather and High-density Impact Foam means they will take a lot of beating and abuse before even starting to show signs of wear and tear. Shin guards are also slightly curved inside to allow them to adjust to your insteps.

Built-in straps will keep these shin guards firmly in place no matter what you tried to do with them in your Muay Thai or MMA sparing’s.  And the most important thing about them is that the strap that goes under the ball of your foot is covered with rubber dots. They will provide additional traction that you will be losing while wearing some other models. And we all know that traction means safety. You will be able to perform kick as you should without the fear that you will slip. They really thought about everything while constructing these shin guards.

Features:

  • Excellent bang for your buck
  • Internal gel padding for added protection
  • Long-lasting Cowhide Leather
  • Dotted rubber straps for your stability
  • Ergonomically designed for the best fit

RDX Shin Guards for Muay Thai and MMA

RDXShinGuardsforMuayThaiandMMA
RDX Shin Guards for Muay Thai and MMA

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If you really want something special to have and use in your everyday training and during your matches. Look no further. These Certified SATRA and SMMAF approved shin guards are creme de la crème of possible choices. They are built with purpose and target in mind. To be the best.

Manufactured from the best quality May Hide Leather and integrated with high-density Nylon they provide excellent durability and crack resistance. You can use these shin guards for Muay Thai, MMA, or any other fighting sport. A combination of special shell shock gel and shock dispersion sheet will provide you with enough protection in even extremely tough sessions. Every force of impact will be equally spread over the shin guard and your leg. You will feel the impact but without any pain.

It has tactically placed sweat mesh and lining that will keep your shin and foot dry and free from sweat and any unpleasant smells. Just that alone will give you extreme comfort and additional motivation to keep going forward. All while carefully placed straps will make sure you have an amazing fit at all times, without any chance for slippage. Your legs will move freely and you will forget that you are even wearing them. Also, let’s not forget that price fits in anyone’s budget.

Features:

  • Extremely light weight for your mobility
  • Certified by the professionals
  • Multi layered protection for your shins
  • Built in anti-sweat fabric for better ventilation
  • Quick adjust straps for ease of use

Venum Challenger Standup Shin Guards

Venum Challenger Standup Shin Guard
Venum Challenger Standup Shin Guard

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We could call these shin guards a little brother of the previously mentioned Venum Elite Shin Guards. But don’t let that fool you. These shin guards are capable to endure anything that you throw at them during your Muay Thai or MMA training. 

Made from 100% Skintex Leather will leave you comfortable while fighting with them or just putting them on. But not only that, they will endure anything that you throw at them. Use them and abuse them, and they will come back for more. Leather backed by high-density foam with additional padding across the shins and instep will provide comfort and shock absorption from the impacts of your kicks. Your legs will be thankful to you. Additional help that you will receive of absorbing the impact force will leave you speechless. After the first hit, you will want to go on and on.

No matter what you do in your Muay Thai and MMA sessions these shin guards will still be attached to your legs with their large Velcro straps customized for the no-slip fit. That means that you can give it the hardest hits you can and keep doing that for as long as you want, and these shin guards will still be there where you placed them.

Features:

  • Double layered padding for enhanced shock absorption
  • Lightweight for unrestricted mobility
  • Large straps that will stop slipping
  • Durable long lasting synthetic leather
  • Minimalist design

Sanabul Essential Hybrid

Sanabul Essential Hybrid
Sanabul Essential Hybrid

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“Tested by Pro’s, created for you.” Is a motto that stands behind these hybrid shin guards for Muay Thai and MMA. And it’s true. This company hired professional fighters to help them design the perfect combination of materials, knowledge, practice, and more to create shin guards perfect for any combat sport. The great thing about these shin guards is that they give you a piece of professional gear but without its price. With its price, it can fit in anyone’s wallet, but still, give you needed protection.

While having a minimalistic approach to the outside design. The inside is filled with high-impact protection foam with reinforcements in different locations for those smooth and painless kicks. Once you try these on, no one will be able to stop you.  In steep padding will make sure that it ergonomically contours your foot with its articulated segments. And offers you better absorption of the kicks and better damage control. These lightweight shin guards will feel like they are not even there. Your moves will not be constricted.

Just amazing and simple shin guards for all your Muay Thai and MMA needs. Give them a try. We can guarantee you that you will be satisfied.

Features:

  • Multi color design
  • Design and tested by industries professional
  • Excellent price, especially for the beginners
  • Double layered protection for even hardest kicks
  • Special straps for better security

Fairtex Competition Shin Guards

Fairtex Competition Shin Guard
Fairtex Competition Shin Guard

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Lightweight but powerful, is the way we could describe these shin guards for Muay Thai and MMA. Made from premium quality synthetic leather that feels like the real thing, and double-layered high impact foam with excellent shock absorption will make you feel invincible. Every kick will be absorbed and spread thru the shin guard. Once you feel how much of the difference it makes, you will not want to take them off and will be looking for other things to kick and not just your opponent and bags.

While only offering basic colors for the outside design, the inside is where the magic happens. While providing the full shin and instep protection the lack of metal parts and its rounded edges will give you superb comfort. It will feel like these shin guards are your own legs.

Equipped with strong and durable Velcro straps these shin guards are just what you need for your Muay Thai and MMA training. They will not move a millimeter even under the most intense situations. And you can forget that these shin guards will constantly rub your knees. The company’s main quest was to provide the best comfort, so not only is the top is raised so it doesn’t get in touch with your knee, but its design also features a unique nonstich or open system design that will further enhance their comfort level.

Features:

  • Multi color design
  • Long lasting durable synthetic shell
  • Dual layered padding for extra protection
  • Well rounded edges without any metal inserts
  • Extremely comfortable

Fairtex Neoprene Shin Guards

Fairtex Neoprene Shin Guards
Fairtex Neoprene Shin Guards

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This is something that you have probably never seen before. Shin guards for Muay Thai and MMA made from neoprene. We could call them shin guards made for ultimate comfort.  This one-of-a-kind design will provide you with the support you never felt before. As you put these shin guards on you will feel instant suction to your legs. The whole shin guards will feel like they are glued to your legs but in a good way.

You will be able to kick the hardest you can and these shin guards won’t move. Comfortable inside and protective from the outside with its high-impact foam. You won’t feel any restrictions. You will feel like they are your own leg. Run with them, jump with them and most importantly kick with them and you will be satisfied in an instant.

Design to eliminate all metal supports and with round edge design and covered with neoprene, they will provide you the ultimate comfort. They are lightweight but still sturdy enough to provide all the necessary protection. And let’s not forget that cleaning these shin guards is as easy as it can get.

Features:

  • Unique mounting design
  • Detachable parts for different uses
  • Extremely durable under any stress
  • Tight fitting for that extra security
  • Simple but elegant colors

If you still have a problem while deciding what shin guards to choose from, let us help you by giving you some inside knowledge on what you need to keep your eye on.

How to Choose the Best Shin Guards for Muay Thai and MMA

There are a few things that you need to keep in mind while purchasing the shin guards. And all of them are related to your body. Sometimes you will take some time to find exactly what you want, and sometimes you will find what you need for the first time. But with that in mind let us help you learn a little bit more about what you need in shin guards for Muay Thai and MMA.

Shin Guards Size and Fit

Basically, it all comes to the thickness of the material and amount of the protection you want. The thicker material and padding the more protection you will have. But also, if your shin guards are too thick, they will become something you hate. If your shin guards are too thick, not only are they heavier they will also hinder your ability to move freely and will lock your kicks and motions. But also if they are too small and thin you will be able to move faster, but you will be lacking necessary protection.

That’s why is important to look at and measure your shins and calves and compare them with the size chart on the shin guards. You will want to have something that tightly fits your size, but something that will not be too tight or too loose that will make you additional problems.

Different brands will have different sizes, that’s why you must read and measure your size with the ones on the shin guards. The last thing that you want is for your shin guards to just slip while you are performing a kick, or even worse when you are using your leg for protection. The possibility of the injury is great and you will want to protect yourself as best as you can if you want to continue with your training.

Protection and Mobility

As I mentioned before there is a difference between MMA and Muay Thai shin guards. One offers more protection while others offer more mobility and less slippage. In the case you’re training in both sports you should actually aim to have two of them. One for greater protection and standup training and one with less protection but with less slippage and more mobility. Even if you’re training only in MMA there will be standup-only training sessions so you should make a compromise between choosing the best possible shin guards for both.

Materials in Muay Thai and MMA Shin Guards

  • Leather
  • Nylon and Cloth
  • Foam
  • Neoprene
  • Protective Gels

Leather vs Synthetic Leather

One of the main differences between the shin guards is usually the leather. Depending on the price, you can have real leather or synthetic one, but sometimes there is only nylon and cloth material. With higher prices comes the higher quality and real leather. But just the higher price shouldn’t indicate that something is good. In the same way, you shouldn’t buy something that is too cheap, because it’s usually too good to be the truth.

Even do everyone swears about real leather, the modern synthetic is nothing to be ashamed of. Sometimes it’s even better as it comes with addons that will neutralize odors and sweat. They won’t last long as real leather but also won’t stink as real leather can. If someone is trying to tell you that one is better than the other, just don’t trust him. The days where that was the truth are long over, and technology has come so far. Why not take the advantage that it offers if you can. Just imagine how much time will you save that you don’t need to waste with taking extreme care of your equipment. Just wipe it off and you are good.

Nylon and Cloth

If you are buying cheap shin guards you will often find only nylon and cloth as the main materials. The problem with them is that they do not offer pleasant contact with skin, they will absorb sweat and will start to stink quickly. You will not feel comfortable and they will constantly slip down your leg after every kick. And while doing that the material will easily scratch you. Which will make that area even more painful and uncomfortable. And that could even lead to infections if not properly taken care of.

Foam

Inside of the shin guards will usually use high-impact protection foam. That is a unique material technology that has been designed and engineered with one thought in mind, protection. With its easy to form design and great absorption of shock impacts while still providing good comfort it quickly became the number one choice for everyday and sports use.

But as always not all foams are the same even though they have the same name. Usually, the cheaper shin guards will have cheaper quality foam that will not provide needed protection and will quickly start to disintegrate. If you want real long-lasting protection you will have to stay outside the ultra-cheap shin guards. Because let’s be real. You do not want to skimp on your own protection. Not only in shin guards for Muay Thai and MMA but also other necessary equipment for your training and everyday life. You can quickly injure yourself so better be safe than sorry.

More money gives you better quality foam and hybrid technologies. Where you will find different forms and materials layered on each other to provide better absorption and protection.

The industry standard is to use double-layered materials to increase shock absorption and prevent possible injuries. But that kind of structure also offers other benefits like sweat and odor resistance, and increased comfort even during your most intense sparing or fighting situations.

Neoprene

Neoprene is a synthetic rubber produced by chloroprene and polymerization. While some people will like neoprene in their protective gear others will hate it, and it usually comes to MMA and Muay Thai practitioners’ personal preferences. When it comes to neoprene shin guards we can say they’re very good as they offer great comfort and will maintain guards to stay in place.

Protective Gels

But also shin guards filled with protective gels that will give additional protection and spread the force of impact equally to other parts of the shin guard and prevent concentration of force in only one area.
It is uniquely combined technology that offers us a glimpse into the future tech and what else would be possible.

Different brands of shin guards

As it always happens, when someone builds its name with the quality of the products and more and more people want to buy it something has to suffer. Usually, that is the quality of the products because they increase production so there is no time to set everything as it should be. You can even see that they start to use lower-quality materials to save additional money. All that is usually followed by the rise of the price. In the end, the one who suffers the most is the customer.

What we are trying to say with that is that you should not be allowed to be lied to. Don’t allow all those promotional materials and commercials to blindly guide you. You have to think about what is best for you. When deciding what you want to buy it is best that you read and research as much and as best as you can. And with that knowledge, you can decide what is the right product for you.

Because of those kinds of shady practices, we decided to make this list and help you and everyone else in their decision. We gathered different shin guards from a lot of different manufacturers and during the tests, these are the ones that stood out to us, enough for us to make a recommendation. By doing this we tried to help you and offer much necessary information’s that you need. That way it becomes a lot easier for you to decide what is the best fit for you. But also, before buying anything ask around your gym and see what others are using. Ask some questions. And with our guide and their recommendations, you will find something that will suit you perfectly.


Frequently Asked Questions

What are Shin Guards for?

They are necessary protection equipment meant for your feet, ankles, and shins. If you are training Muay Thai, MMA, or any other fighting sport you will need shin guards to extend the health of your legs and keep yourself out of pain that will prevent you from going further.

Are shin guards one time use only equipment?

No, they are not. If you buy good quality pair of shin guards for Muay Thai or MMA they can last you really long. Not only will they be a lot higher quality and materials, if you take care of them as the manufacturer advises you can use them for a very long time.

Do I need shin pads for the heavy bag?

If you don’t have any bruising or pain go for it. Just don’t kick so hard. That way you will condition your shins faster and will last longer. But if it’s too much for you then feel free to use your shin guards to prevent any injuries.

What size shin guards do I need for Muay Thai and MMA?

The best way to try and find your size is to measure the distance between your ankle joint and the bottom of your knee. But also don’t forget to measure the circumference of your calf. But ultimately you will not know if the shin guards fit you well unless you try it.

Are shin guards with ankle protection better?

Yes. Not only do they offer protection for a larger area of your leg, but they also stay better in their place with additional straps. Also because of the larger area, they scatter impact force more proportionally to the rest of the shin guard and leg behind it.

The 7 Best Muay Thai Gloves in 2021 – Reviews

The best Muay Thai Gloves

Whether you are a pro or beginner if you want to become the best you have to have the best equipment. And the best way to start is to choose our recommendations for the best Muay Thai gloves.

As you can imagine, there is a lot of options on the market that claim they are the best Muay Thai gloves for you. But as always you can’t blindly trust everything that the seller says. To help you choose what are the best Muay Thai gloves for you we gathered and tested a large number of different gloves that are currently in the market. We compare each one carefully and throw them thru rigorous tests to see if they claim are justified or are just selling snake oil.

There is a lot of aspects that someone needs to take into consideration when choosing their Muay Thai gloves. A lot of key aspects such as protection, comfort, and material are vital for someone’s performance boost and skill development or everyday stress which stops your focus while training. A right glove will make or break a person’s desire and spirit. That’s why it’s important to choose the right equipment from the start.

From all the tested gloves we chose the best Muay Thai gloves that will help you elevate your performance to the next level while keeping you comfortable.

Muay Thai gloves vs Boxing gloves

Even though share two of the same things and that is punching and gloves, there is a difference between them. Both in techniques and their gloves. The main difference between those two sports in those two categories is the way that you use your hands. But to better know their differences it’s best to start from the beginning.

History and development of Muay Thai Gloves

The first official recognition of boxing as a professional sport was during the Olympic games way back in 688 BC. But the evidence of the fist-fighting reaches as back as 3000 years BC. But boxing competitions were already had organizational events during the 7th century in ancient Greek.

Himantes Muay Thai Gloves
Himantes

During this period the boxers wore “Himantes” leather straps that acted as protection for their hands and knuckles, but left the fingers free, similar to today’s hand wraps. Himantes later developed the type of gloves that primary function was to inflict a lot more damage. They were called “cestus” and were still made from leather, but were now filled with iron plates. Sometimes even blades or spikes. They became a pure weapon and not something helpful.

Cestus Muay Thai Gloves
Cestus

Boxing Gloves

In 1743. we first come on reported traces of what someone could describe as the beginning of modern style boxing gloves. These so-called “Mufflers” were the earliest form of boxing gloves. They were made from wrapped cloth around the boxer’s hands. And their main purpose was to reduce damage and injuries boxers could get during their sparring.

Mufflers Muay Thai Gloves
Mufflers

At the same time, we started to see the development of regulations in those boxing matches. Usage of those gloves allowed boxers to hit opponent’s head more often without the fear they would kill them or break their hands.

The first recorded use of boxing gloves in the professional competition was in 1818 in France, but they didn’t become mandatory until 1865. During that time the bare-knuckle boxing was still widely popular. After they become standard equipment to use, they slowly started to lose their thickness and were going back to the past where everyone was trying to get them thinner and thinner to deal more damage while still disregarding the possibility of hand injuries. But as time progressed the boxers and people around them realized the importance of safety and that became the main characteristic on which modern-day adults and youth boxing gloves are built.

Muay Thai Gloves

As previously fighting techniques used for the combat the Muay Thai gained popularity whit exhibition fights between soldiers. Their main purpose was to entertain the crowds and provide an introduction of military skills to regular people.

They first used regular cotton threads that sometimes had powder mixed with them to make them firmer and tougher. But were quickly replaced by hemp ropes called “Kard Chuek”. The ropes acted as a protection for the fighter’s hand, but also as a weapon because of its design they offered the possibility to cause cuts on the opponents and make them bleed.

Kard Chuek Muay Thai Gloves
Kard Chuek

During one of the fights in 1928, there was an incident where one of the fighters died because of the sustained injuries during the fight. That caused a large disturbance between people and government, and then the government decided to permanently ban the use of Muay Thai
ropes in any form of fighting, and mandated the fighters use regular boxing gloves.

During the use of regular boxing gloves, the fighters slowly started to make changes that would make gloves more fit to the use in Muay Thai than the regular boxing.

Differences between Muay Thai Gloves and Boxing Gloves

The differences between Muay Thai and Boxing gloves are small and subtle but important for their roles. We could put those differences in a couple of main categories that would consist of the shape of the gloves witch is impacted by the padding of the glove, wrist support witch impacts and adjusts the mobility and flexibility of the fighters.

Flexibility and support

Traditional boxing gloves have very rigid wrist construction that prevents possible injuries because of the type of punches that is used in boxing. A lot of positions where the straightness of the hand plays a large role. And the boxers are forced to have distance between them. While Muay Thai often has a lot of clinching or what is known as stand-up close-quarters grappling where other parts of the body are also active. The gloves are a lot more flexible in the wrist area just because of that. It gives fighters a lot more freedom to move.

That’s why the boxing gloves have thinner and tighter, but longer wrist area support. While Muay Thai gloves typically have short cuffs and are not as tight, but lack wrist support because of that. Also, the gloves do not close the hand the same way as the boxing glove that forces fingers in the closed position. Muay Thai gloves also have an open palm that helps fighters grab each other, why boxing ones are completely closed.

Shape and padding

Classical boxing gloves have a rectangular almost boxy kind of shape while the Muay Thai gloves have a more rounded and puffed look. That look is caused by the distribution of the padding inside the glove. Because Muay Thai is not just punching like a box but also kicks, knees, elbows, and backfists the padding is evenly distributed around the knuckles and the back of the hand. While the boxing glove has padding concentrated around knuckles.

Boxing gloves are also more compact, which forces the hand in the closed fist position as previously mentioned above. While the Muay Thai gloves are more relaxed and open when not used for punching. All that gives the fighters additional protection while giving them the freedom to execute all other techniques.

So which Muay Thai Gloves to chose from?

As a beginner, you can use both until you are more familiar with the sports, but the best practice is to use designated equipment just for that sport. Most of the time manufacturers call their Muay Thai gloves the boxing gloves, but when you compare them with regular boxing gloves you will see the difference that we described above.

Our suggestion is to start the right way from the start and use designated Muay Thai gloves. That way everything you will learn or already know will be amplified when you use the correct gear. But with that in mind, whether you are just a beginner or seasoned professional look at the list of designated best Muay Thai gloves that we tested just for you.

These are our recommendations for the best Muay Thai gloves

Sanabul Essential Gel Gloves

Sanabul Esential Gel Gloves

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These gloves are one of the world’s best sellers and for a reason. Created and tested by the professionals and all for you. Sanabul company took the professional fighters and designers of their equipment to make something for everyone. Economically priced but still maintains the high requirements that professionals are looking for.

These gloves fit in the category of the best Muay Thai gloves for a reason. They will keep your hands snug and protected inside while specially engineered leather construction will keep everything together and take you through the hours of training and more. Specially padded interior infused with special gel mixture will make sure that your hand will stay undamaged. All the fore from the impact will be absorbed by the gel and it will distribute evenly. You will feel the impact but not the pain.

On their wrist, you will find a very powerful hook and loop system that will stay in its place from the moment you tighten it around your wrist. You can forget about the fear of it losing up and possibly dropping the gloves. Once you set them, they are there to stay.

Also, forget about having to “break” these gloves. A specially designed longitudinal arch will make sure that you feel like you have been wearing these gloves every day. The special mesh on the palm will allow your hands to breathe even under the toughest conditions. Your hands will stay dry and clean. And we can’t forget the different color designs that they are offering. Fully black if you want to go stealth or bright neon colors if you want to be seen. Perfect for everybody professionals and beginners.

Features:

  • Special gel infusion for lower impact force
  • Created by the professionals
  • Large choice of colors and quality of the materials
  • Palm mesh allows your hands to breathe
  • Excellent price for everybody’s pocket

Venum Challenger 2.0

Venum Challenger 2.0
Venum Challenger 2.0

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Another set of very beautiful gloves made by Venum. Also one of the best sellers and for a reason. A little bit pricier than the gloves previously mentioned, but worth the extra cost. They come in a wide variety of designs and colors. From all-black to champion gold, or even special designs that will make sure that you stand out in the crowd and have something unique.

These are very lightweight gloves that will give you the extra mobility that you need whether you are a beginner or advanced user. The quality of premium synthetic leather is amazing. It’s robust but still soft enough to not cause any trouble. Fitted interior mesh under the fingers will make sure that your hands have enough air that they stay cool and sweat-free no matter how long you use them.

They come with anatomically design curvature that will fit your hands and fingers perfectly. There are built-in reinforcements for your palms and the thumb is fully attached. Fitted with the triple-density foam it will provide an even distribution of the impact force and keep your hands secured and healthy.

Its large Velcro belt on the wrist with its built-in elastic will provide you with a secure but comfortable fit during even the most intense training sessions that you have. Once you put the gloves on, they will stay on. So there is no wonder that they fit on our list of the best Muay Thai gloves.

Features:

  • Premium long-lasting synthetic leather
  • Breathable mesh for your palms and fingers
  • Wide range of colors and designs
  • Perfect for beginners and advanced users
  • Triple density foam padding

Fairtex Microfibre Muay Thai Gloves

Fairtex Microfibre Muay Thai Gloves
Fairtex Microfibre Muay Thai Gloves

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If you want something unique not just by the looks but also by the materials, then look no further. These Fairtex Microfiber gloves are the essence of the best Muay Thai gloves. With its very wide range of design and colors, it will leave you speechless and everyone who sees them. In its wide range of the design you will find the traditional mono-color ones that everyone uses, but also specially designed limited edition ones, that will make sure that you have something special. Something truly unique.

One other thing that makes these Muay Thai gloves stand out is their outer shell material. It is made from top-of-the-line microfiber. It’s not only durable as the traditional skin, but it also makes the gloves feel lighter and smoother. Because of the why that the microfiber is constructed it also makes these gloves less prone to deterioration. And it gives them additional flexibility. They will not feel like they are suffocating your movement. This microfiber also acts as a water repellant and helps to keep your gloves odorless and sweat-free.

The interior of the gloves is filled with evenly distributed Fairtex highly acclaimed padding that will evenly distribute the forces of the impact and keep your hands safe from injuries. The slimmer profile of these Muay Thai gloves will allow you to land more punches. It will pierce thru your opponent’s guard like a hot knife thru butter.

Despite the structured design of the gloves, they will fit your hands really well. They will feel like your own hand even if you wear hand wraps. No matter the intensity of your training or sparring these gloves will still feel cozy no matter what you put them thru.

Also, one thing that makes these gloves stand out is theirs superior wrist support. Manufactured with longer cuffs, they will make sure that your wrists get phenomenal support no matter the situation. Equipped with high-quality Velcro straps your gloves will stay in their place no matter the torture you put them thru. Strong and reliable they will keep on sticking even after thousands of bindings and unbindings.

Features:

  • Microfiber outer shell
  • Even distribution of the interior padding
  • An extremely wide array of designs and colors
  • Extremely lightweight due to used material
  • Phenomenal wrist support
  •  

Venum Elite Boxing Gloves

Venum Elite Boxing Gloves
Venum Elite Boxing Gloves

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These gloves really fit its name, the Elite. And once you wear them you will know why. You will instantly feel like the part of the elite club that no one knows about. These gloves are fully cut, sewn, and assembled by hands in Thailand. You can’t even imagine the difference makes when someone is assembling your gloves by hand instead of the machine. These are one of the best Muay Thai Gloves you can have.

Built from 100% premium Skintex leather, these gloves will last you for ages, while still providing you the same comfort as from the first day. Also offering a wide range of designs and colors. Little more subtle than the previously mentioned pair of gloves, but still not boring to look at. You will have something that matches your desires and personalities without the problem.

With their triple-density foam interior, these gloves will make sure that your hands are comfortable no matter what situation. All the force and the shock from the impacts will be absorbed and evenly distributed. Making sure that your hands and fingers are safe all the time. Reinforced palm will give you that extra safety and stability during your punching.

The cuffs feature a large Velcro surface with elastic embeds that will provide a tight and snug fit for your wrists. You can throw punches the whole day with these gloves and they will stay firmly fixed to your hands. No matter if you are a beginner or professional you will feel unstoppable once you put them on.

Features:

  • Bult in reinforcements to keep your hands fully secured
  • Fully handmade in Thailand
  • Triple-layered padding for additional protection
  • Strengthened seams
  • Variety of colors and designs

YOKKAO Matrix Breathable Muay Thai Boxing Gloves

YOKKAO Matrix Breathable Muay Thai Boxing Gloves
YOKKAO Matrix Breathable Muay Thai Boxing Gloves

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In this corner, we have another contender for the amazing high-quality handmade Muay Thai gloves. Designed and developed by the professional while hand sawn and assembled in Thailand these gloves will give you ultimate comfort and durability.

Bult from high-quality premium cowhide leather, these gloves will last you for a very long time. While they only offer a wide range of primary colors without some other special designs they are still good-looking. You could say they are undercover agents. No one will know what you have until they try them.

Filled with the shock-absorbing foam these gloves will make sure that your hands are kept safe no matter the intensity of your training or sparring. The attached thumb and internally built support will make sure that you are comfortable while handing out your punches or defending yourself from ones.

The built-in hook and loop closure will make sure that the gloves stay in their place during the most intense fights while offering the ease of putting them on and taking them off in one quick motion. For longevity and quality, these gloves come with the full spread double stitch that will reinforce the whole gloves and make sure that they last you a long time. But not only that, these gloves come out so soft and comfy that they feel like you broke them a long time ago. That is something that defines the best Muay Thai gloves.

Features:

  • Hand made by professionals in Thailand
  • Shell made from premium cowhide leather
  • Double stitches throughout the gloves
  • Simple hook and loop system
  • Already broken in

Fairtex BGV1 Muay Thai Boxing Gloves

Fairtex BGV1 Muay Thai Boxing Glove
Fairtex BGV1 Muay Thai Boxing Gloves

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These ergonomically designed gloves with unique contours are more compressed and compact than some other gloves on the market. With that kind of design, these gloves will have a snug, tight fit that will hug your hands like nothing else. You will feel like these gloves are your own hands.

The shell of these Muay Thai gloves is made entirely from genuine premium leather. It is soft on the touch and will last you a long time. The interior has smooth linings that will keep your hands soft and comfortable.
The triple-layered foam padding and weight of these gloves are evenly distributed to make sure you have maximum protection and unstoppable mobility. Every hit will be absorbed and distributed thru the glove and help you give even more from your performance.

A wide range of colors and subtle and not-so-subtle designs will give you a wide array to find something that best fits you. Handmade construction of these gloves will make sure that they are fitted exactly as they should. While it’s hook and loop Velcro system will make sure that these gloves firmly stay in place while you use them.

Features:

  • Premium Genuine leather
  • Tight fit that hugs your hand
  • Triple-layered foam padding
  • Extremely ergonomic
  • Handmade a wide array of designs

RDX EGO Muay Thai Boxing Gloves

RDX EGO Muay Thai  Boxing Glove
RDX EGO Muay Thai  Boxing Gloves

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Fully built from Maya Hide Leather will make sure that these gloves become one purchase that you will use for the rest of your life. These Muay Thai gloves are extremely durable and long-lasting that you will be left speechless. Used material leaves these gloves resistant to the crack, tears, and even splits.

Attached thumb and multi-layered high-density gel integrated padding which they call Quadro-Dome technology will provide you with much-needed protection for your hands. It will absorb and disperse impact across the surface of the glove and away from your hands.

RDX’s S.P.P. technology allows natural air circulation and prevents sweat accumulation while you train. Perforated holes in the palm area help to prevent foul odor from appearing and keeps your palms dry while offering nice comfort.

The built-in extra-long Velcro hook and loop system allows the gloves to have superior wrist support and alignment while still maintain a comfortable fit. It allows additional wrist movement while still keeping your wrists aligned when striking. No matter how hard you push these gloves they will stay on your hands and give you the necessary protection and comfort that you need.

One flaw where these gloves lack when compared with others is the design and colors. The gloves offer some difference between multiple colors but the overall quantity is not that wide. If you want something special, you will need to look somewhere else. But if you want the best Muay Thai gloves that have amazing technology and provide everything that they claim then look no further.

Features:

  • Exclusive multi-layered technology for maximum protection and comfort
  • Sturdy and resilient Maya Hide Leather
  • Extra-long Velcro system
  • Amazing endurance
  • Overall build quality and price

What to look for when choosing the Best Muay Thai Gloves?

There are multiple factors that you need to take into consideration when choosing the right glove for yourself. And the major one is that the glove has to fit you as best as possible. You can have the most expensive and most beautiful gloves in the world but if they do not fit you properly you can easily end up injured. So let’s go over a couple of things that you need to keep in mind when buying or choosing the best Muay Thai gloves for yourself.

Size

The size of the gloves is usually based on multiple things but the most important one is the user’s weight. You can see example belove to give you an idea of how ones fit other.

Muay Thai Gloves Sizes
Muay Thai Gloves Sizes

The number is not strict as people often don’t fit in predetermine categories, but as a starting point, it is a good way to judge what size is best for you. You also have to choose the gloves depending on what you want to use them for. If you use them for bag punching and regular training the heavier and more padded gloves could be better for you as they offer more protection. But you also have to look that the weight f the gloves does not impact your movement and become tiresome quickly.

Materials

There are a lot of options when choosing the right material for your Muay Thai loves. When you look on the outside the are couple of them that are constantly used such as real leather, synthetic leather, nylon, and mesh. But on the inside is a completely different story. There are so many different materials like different foams, gel injections, fabrics, and much more.

When choosing materials for the shell or the outside of the love you should look for that is easy to maintain, doesn’t break or flake. The real leather will usually last longer, but if you don’t maintain your gloves even the best leather can provide only so much before it starts to fall apart.

That doesn’t mean that you need to forget about synthetic leather. Because with modern technologies the synthetic leather comes so close to the real thing that is very hard to distinguish sometimes which is which. If properly maintained they can last for a long time.

Between the leathers, there is also one material that is not usually used but can be a breakthrough when choosing your Muay Thai gloves. And that material is Microfiber. It is lighter and softer. Offers your hands a larger area to breathe and just slides thru the opponent’s guard. If you want something new, go with microfiber and experience a completely different feeling than before.

The inside of the gloves is a completely different ball game. It contains and is divided into so many sections and variety that will need another article just for itself. But you can look at the picture belove to see exactly how much complexity is inside the Muay Thai gloves.

Muay Thai Gloves Materials

Breathing and sweat

If your hand quickly gets sweaty and the gloves that u use quickly develop an odor, maybe it’s time to buy gloves that inner linings and palm areas are covered with mesh material. Do not use gloves that only have a couple of holes in them and call that breathable. Be smart and choose the gloves that will fit your needs. When using well-ventilated gloves, your hand will stay dryer and more comfortable. There will be no possibility for slippage inside the glove which could produce injuries to your hands.

Enclosure

There are typically only two styles that are used. Velcro straps and Laces. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. The laces offer better fit and tighter support, while there is no way you can put them yourself. You will always need external help.

Velcro straps offer a quick on and off system that only needs one person. And that is you. If the Velcro strap is made from quality material it is no brainer on what to choose. With velcro, you will have freedom, independence, and quick adjustment on the fly if needed.

Cost

You pay your new gloves hundreds of dollars and still be unsatisfied. The price doesn’t mean that the quality is there and you can quickly burn yourself on overly expensive products. One of the reasons that we made these selections of the best Muay Thai gloves is to show you that you don’t need to have a lot of money to have amazing quality and performance. So go over our choices and see what fits in your budget. You will not be wrong whatever you choose from the list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need gloves for Muay Thai?

Yes, you do. Since this is a fighting sport whit lots of punches you need some protection, not only for your hands but also for your opponent’s face and body.

What is the difference between Muay Thai gloves and Boxing gloves?

Since you are not only punching in the Muay Thai but also use the rest of the body you need additional flexibility and mobility. But also protection for all areas of the hand because of different kicks and punches. That’s why the Muay Thai gloves have padding evenly distributed thru the whole glove, while boxing gloves padding is more focused on the knuckles area.

How to take care of my gloves?

The best way to take care of your gloves and make sure they last you a long time is to keep them dry when you don’t use them. After training wipe them with antibacterial wipes and leave them to dry. You can use the paper towels to soak up the sweat from the inside and leave them to dry. If you have gloves made from real leather use the leather conditioner and every couple of months use it and rub it over the gloves to stop the leather from drying too much and keeps its flexibility.

What is the best brand for Muay Thai gloves?

There is a lot of good brands out there on the market but the most famous one is Fairtex. The best overall Muay Thai equipment comes from the Thailand manufacturers but there are also some of the western manufacturers that are also quickly catching up with the quality.

How much do Muay Thai gloves cost?

You can buy one as cheap as $20 and also for hundreds of dollars. But the price does not also mean quality. The average price for high-quality gloves can be found between $50 and $100. You can find some for the lower side of $50 and they will last you for a long time. So don’t be afraid to look and search for brands and learn about their qualities.

John Danaher Explains How To Learn Takedowns Faster

John Danaher Explains How To Learn Takedowns Faster

It’s not a secret that BJJ practitioners lack takedowns in general. For many years, and even today, in a lot of academies people would start rolling from the ground, so the aspect of learning and teaching takedowns was completely abandoned.

In support of this are the usual IBJJF, and many other tournament rules in which it is allowed to pull guard without penalty. If you can simply pull guard and continue from there why would you even bother learning takedowns? Makes sense!

Usually, people would practice takedowns here and there before tournaments so they know at least something about it, but it was way beyond their focus.

Today, the situation is changing due to NO-Gi Jiu-Jitsu becoming more and more popular with rules that will punish you for guard pulling.

The process of learning takedowns can be extremely slow for BJJ practitioners as it requires a different method and approach when compared to the Jiu-Jitsu way of learning.

Let’s see what John Danaher has to say about speeding up the process of learning takedowns:

“Many of the most popular standing takedowns in Jiu-jitsu can also be used as sweeps from guard positions on the ground. This really helps the Jiu-jitsu students speed up the process of learning them as standing takedowns.

If you already have a strong Single Leg Sweep from open guard, it won’t be so difficult to lead a single leg takedown from a standing position.

Once you learn standing setups and elements of stance and motion etc, everything is quite similar.

Quite a few takedowns have very significant overlap with commonly used guard sweeps – double legs, Tomoe nage, sumi gaeshi, collar drags, ankle picks – these (and others) all are excellent takedowns from standing as well as excellent sweeps from the floor.

By focusing on these overlap takedowns, the Jiu-jitsu student can shorten learning time by taking what is already familiar and applying it in a different context. I’m sure that many of you have been applying these moves as sweeps for many years. It will be easier to apply them from standing once you make the necessary additions than learning an entirely new takedown that has no relation to the ground game you are so familiar with.

If you’re looking to develop a good standing takedown game in a short timeframe – ask yourself what some of your favorite guard sweeps are and whether they can be applied in standing position – a surprising number can – perhaps they can be your short cut to developing some takedown skills” – wrote John Danaher on his Instagram Profile

John Danaher's Takedown's system
John Danaher’s Takedowns System Videos

John Danaher Explains Why Roger Gracie is the GOAT of Jiu-Jitsu

John Danaher: 'Roger Gracie is the Jiu-Jitsu GOAT'

In Lex Fridman’s podcast, John Danaher gave his opinion on who’s the best Jiu-Jitsu practitioner of all times, but also made a distinction between four faces of Jiu-Jitsu.

Lex Fridman:
Who the best Grappler ever?

John Danaher:
You didn’t say greatest Jiu-Jitsu player.

Lex Fridman:
What’s the bigger category

John Danaher:
Jiu-Jitsu is the bigger category as Jiu-Jitsu has four faces. There is a Gi competition, No-gi competition, Mixed Martial Art competition, and there is self-defense. So, Jiu-Jitsu has four aspects.
Grappling refers only to the No-Gi aspect of Jiu-Jitsu, so it’s only one out of four possibilities.

Lex Fridman:
So, who is the greatest Jiu-Jitsu practitioner ever, and then who is the greatest grappler?

John Danaher:
I Believe that the greatest Jiu-Jitsu player that I ever met, and I believe of all time… I don’t wanna sound arrogant on that because you can go only with your own experiences and there are some great athletes that other people mention that I just never met. But in my estimation, the greatest Jiu-Jitsu player of all times is Roger Gracie.

My reasoning for that is that out of four faces of Jiu-Jitsu he excelled in three. In two of them in particular he was the best of his generation by a landslide.

In Gi grappling, no-gi grappling Roger dominated his generation to a degree that is truly impressive.

Lex Fridman:
What do you attribute that dominance to?

John Danaher:
In MMA he was at his peak, I believe, ranked in the top ten. He wasn’t the best in Mixed Martial Arts the way he was in grappling but he was damn good. He beat some significant people. He showed tremendous versatility in both Gi, No-Gi, and MMA.

He’s not really known in the world of self-defense, but there’s no real criteria by which you would become dominant in self-defense. But I believe if Roger gets into a street fight he would do just fine (laughs).

If you look at Jiu-Jitsu for what I believe it is, sport with 4 faces, you have to with Roger Gracie. He’s the guy who went out and empirically proved his ability to go across those elements and do extraordinary well in all of them.

He also made a step of coming out of retirement and beating the best of the generation that came after him, Marcus Almeida, ‘Buchecha’. That is a truly impressive accomplishment.

Lex Fridman:
I would like to talk to you about Gordon, Roger, and GSP (George St. Pierre). Let’s first talk about what do you think makes Roger Gracie so good as all these mentioned are very different artists

John Danaher:
Roger was probably the living embodiment of someone who played classical Jiu-Jitsu game around the fundamental four steps of Jiu-Jitsu.

If you took someone who had taken intro lessons in Jiu-Jitsu for three months they would recognize the outlines of Roger’s game as many of his techniques they learned in those first three months.

Roger was the best example of the dichotomy between the fundamentals of Jiu-Jitsu but also a kind of hidden sophistication underneath those fundamentals.

People always say Roger’s game was so basic. No, the outlines of Roger’s game were basic, but the degree of sophistication and application was extraordinary. His ability to refine existing technology was truly impressive.

I never saw anyone in his generation that even came close to his ability, both in competition and gym.

Lex Fridman:
So, for the people who don’t know, Roger Gracie was using simple techniques on the surface from the outsider’s perspective that most people learn when they start Jiu-Jitsu. Techniques like passing guard in a simple way, taking mount and choking from mount. Also, when he’s on his back, he’s in closed guard doing all the basic submissions from closed guard like armbar, triangle… He was able to dominate, control, and submit the best people in the world for many years as you said.

Including coming out of retirement and beating the best, perhaps, by far the best, of the next generation.

Are there some lessons from his system that u used to develop your own system?

John Danaher:
Great question! The thing that always impressed me the most about Roger was his relentless pursuit of position to submission. Everything was done with the belief that no victory was worthwhile if it didn’t involve submitting his opponent.

That’s a mindset that I try very hard to imbue to my students.

The easiest part of victory is the one that takes the least risk. For example, you’ll see many modern athletes focus on scoring the first point or the first advantage, and then doing the minimum amount of work to reach out the victory once they get that small tactical advantage.

They realize they’re ahead, they take no more risk and just do the minimum amount of effort to get the victory

Roger’s mindset was always to take the riskier gambit of submission which entails a lot more work and in many cases a lot more skill.

What I always liked about Roger is he never liked to play tactics. It was always, just go out there and try to win by submission. That, more than anything, that mindset of looking for the most perfect victory rather than the victory that takes the least skill and least effort is the thing I took from his career the most. That’s what I tried to work upon in my students.

Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals By The King, Roger Gracie

Who is the BJJ GOAT?

Best BJJ Fighters: Who Are The GOATs Of Jiu-Jitsu?