The intense physicality involved with combat sports means athletes aren’t immune to injuries.
Adhering to safety best practices and investing in high-quality protective gear can help fighters stay in the ring longer.
Hayabusa designs all of its MMA gear for safety, to provide the protection and comfort practitioners need to prevent injury as well as improve their performance.
In this article, we’ll cover why combat sports injury prevention is such a big part of training, and why being selective about your protective gear makes a difference.
Why Injury Prevention Matters
Combat sports call for a combination of strength, agility, and endurance, which takes a toll on the body.
Without the right protection, even the smallest slip-up can lead to a lingering injury. Here’s why athletes go all-in on injury prevention..
- The Demands of Combat Sports
Close contact with sparring partners, competitors, and equipment means fighters must think fast on their feet to avoid impact that can derail their training.
Additionally, every movement can lead to joint stress, bruising, mat rashes, all of which can be prevented with the proper coverage and support.
- Longevity & Performance
Staying injury-free boosts training consistency, allowing practitioners to reach peak performance and extend their fighting career.
Whether it’s pursuing excellence on an amateur level or evolving into a competitive professional, injuries can sideline progress in an instant.
Serious athletes know suiting up correctly keeps them in the proverbial game longer.
Common Injuries by Discipline
Every combat sport has its own risks based on the interactions and intensity of each discipline.
Boxing
Ergonomic injuries can sideline boxers quickly.
Poorly supported hands and wrists and repeated impact with a heavy bag or sparring partner pads can lead to hand and wrist sprains and fractures, and even concussions from a misplaced punch.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)
Skin-to-skin contact involved with BJJ training can promote the spread of bacteria, leading to rashes, burns, and other skin infections.
Additionally, grappling moves and ground work can result in shoulder dislocations or joint sprains, which can keep athletes out of training for weeks if safety protocols aren’t followed.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
MMA fighters have to be cautious of injuries to both the upper and lower body, with leg trauma from kicks being high on the list of common injuries.
Bruising to the arms and shoulders, as well as cuts, due to striking and clinching, are also part of the potential injuries fighters face.
Protective Gear Every Fighter Needs
So, what’s the key to avoiding these common injuries? No fighter should step on the mat or into the ring without wearing the right gear. There is specific protective equipment necessary for each sport, including:
Gloves & Hand Wraps
A key part of boxing injury prevention is wearing hand wraps and gloves. This protects the hands and wrists from fractures from repeated impact against a heavy bag and/or when sparring with a partner.
Both layers of protection are necessary when in battle to offer wrist alignment and ample padding for the knuckles.
Headgear
Headgear is part of every combat sport, particularly during competition or when sparring with a partner.
It’s important to secure headgear that doesn’t impede vision while also providing full coverage to minimize cuts, bruises, and head trauma.
Rash Guards
No-gi BJJ injury prevention requires the use of rash guards to prevent mat burns and skin infections. The lightweight, durable material works as a second skin to provide a layer of protection that moves with the body and keeps athletes cool and comfortable.
Shin Guards
For combat sports that involve kicking techniques, Muay Thai and MMA gear for safety, including shin guards, is essential to prevent bruising, joint stress, and bone fractures.
Smarter Training for Injury Prevention
Suiting up with the right kind of gear is the first step in combat sports injury prevention.
However, smart training is also essential to keep yourself and those around you safe. Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind:
- Incorporate dynamic warm-ups and recovery cool-downs
Stretching and mobility drills are often overlooked as an essential part of training. However, without it, it’s easier for muscles to tear and fractures to occur.
Spending at least five to ten minutes of warm-up and cool down can prolong training and prevent cramps, muscle tears, and other potential injuries.
- Focus on technique over force
Combat sports training isn’t only about physical strength. It heavily involves mental acuity and body awareness.
Poor technique and timing quickly lead to injury that can be easily remedied when the fighter is following correct form.
- Prioritize rest and recovery to prevent overuse injuries
There’s a fine line between training hard and pushing yourself too far.
While fighters train every day to go beyond their limits, depriving the body of proper rest and recovery only prohibits them from getting to the next level. Optimal training doesn’t always equal maximum output every day; it’s about listening to the body and knowing when to take a break.
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When to Replace Old Gear
Investing in high-quality gear built with maximum durability will help you avoid constantly cycling through gloves, shoes, and other equipment.
However, training at high intensity requires regular evaluation to see if you need new gear. Here’s what to look for when deciding whether it’s time for a replacement.
Poor Padding
Glove padding is the most important part of boxing injury prevention. It inevitably diminishes over time, reducing the level of protection it offers, and is a sign that it’s time for a new, more durable pair.
Hayabusa Boxing Gloves are made with a virtually indestructible exterior plus multi-layered foam technology to keep hands well-protected. Fighters of all levels can feel confident every time they train without worrying whether their gear is going to hold up or not.
Hayabusa T360 Boxing Gloves
Hayabusa S4 Youth Shin Guards
Hayabusa Deluxe Hand Wraps
Hayabusa T3 MMA Headgear
Slippery Soles
When a shoe’s soles start to break apart from the rest of the shoe or fail to offer appropriate arch support, it can affect your stability and grip on the mat. Like tires, when the tread gets worn down, movements become more slippery because traction is compromised, which leads to injuries.
Hayabusa Boxing Shoes are designed with a fighter’s movements in mind. With optimal ankle support to promote agility and lightweight materials and anchored traction to deliver balance even during the most dynamic movements, practitioners get a good grip on the mat without feeling inhibited.
Material Damage
Foam and straps break down on headgear and shin guards, compromising safety. Proper body placement is also important to ensure the most vulnerable joints and bones are protected.
For headgear, secure full coverage and comfort without impeding visibility, and ensure a secure fit with shin guards made with multi-layered padding that conforms to the legs.
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Prevention Is the Best Fight Against Injury
Combat sports injury prevention is a part of training that simply can’t be overlooked.
Investing in protective gear and adhering to proper technique and form helps minimize injury risk for boxers and BJJ and MMA practitioners alike.
Hayabusa arms athletes with what they need to stay protected with premium gloves, hand wraps, and other premium gear designed to safeguard fighters and help them advance to the next level.
