Female sparring protection

[Tim Merritt]

Does anyone have recommendations or advice I can pass on about female specific sparring protection?

[Matt Shields]

I found these these a while ago.
This "MacKenzie - Smith" also makes some other protective items specially designed for women. But I'm not sure if they're what you had in mind...

[Lance Chan]

Matt,
Oh my... that is surely some way to punish the naughty hand that touches the wrong places, right?

Tim,
Congratulations for getting some female practitioners! <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" /> I think I've heard that there were some protective breastguard for women boxers. I'm not sure about that though.

[Tim Merritt]

Can't you picture the foam shards from your weapons hanging from them in utter defeat? You're going to get me in trouble for checking that on a government computer! Probably why I got shut out of myArmoury.com for "mature" content! I can hear the computer police approaching...

Two women called me seperately, on the same day, wanting to try this out, so we met and went over some basic stuff, including some light sparring. I would imaging a near miss across the chest might hurt. Padding, hard plates, flatten them out....?

[Brian Hunt]

Check out a good karate supply store or online store. They will have plastic Chest protectors for women as well as a form of plastic groin protection for women as well.

Hope that Helps.

Brian Hunt
GFS

[Randall Pleasant]

Tim wrote:
I would imaging a near miss across the chest might hurt.

I would call that a hit rather than a near miss.

[Ashley Bishop]

I use the Maxi-Guard and love it. This is a "hard" plastic chest protector that covers the sternum, breasts and partial sides. It slips into a sports bra-like "cover" so you can remove the plastic and cool down after sparring without the need to completely disrobe.

I've been using my maxi-guard for about three years now and have had no complaints.
ash


The company website, important info on fitting the guard and ordering the correct size.

http://www.qp-sport.co.nz/


This place has the cheapest that I can find in the U.S. This is where I ordered my guard - but they were slooooow.

http://www.boxing-gear.com/acatalog/Boxing_Gear_Women_s_Protective_Gear_489.html

Here's where you can buy replacement covers (and they have them in black!) I emailed to ask, and received a friendly and positive answer within minutes.

http://members.aol.com/chajonshim/qpmaxi.html


Some ladies really like the cups from Triplette, though I find them to be less that satisfactory (the edges tend to, ah, *dig* in if hit at the wrong angle. Anyway, the link is here:
http://www.triplette.com/sport%20fencing/sport_fencing_chest_protectors.htm

We have about 33% female membership in our group. One gal has sewn aluminum plates into her gambeson Another has the triplette plastic guard that uses elastic straps to stay on over a teeshirt. The rest seem to do fine with just a padded jacket (and of course, when using steel, a steel or hard leather breastplate, just like the guys!)

Feel free to have any of your Lady friends email me with questions,

Ash
ashley@waltrulaw.com

[Ashley Bishop]

oh, and yes, a groin protector is good too! I poopoo'ed the idea 'til I got kneed in the crotch by an over-enthusiastic grappler. Yowch.

[Shane Smith]

Thanks for the input Ashley and welcome to the forum. I will pass the link you provided along to one of our newer female Western Martial Artists here in VAB who was asking about this very thing last sunday...I of course, was at a loss on this subject.Thanks <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Randall Pleasant]

Ashley

Thanks for posting those links. I will be sharing them with all of the female members of the DFW study group.

[Tim Merritt]

Yea, that's great. I'm going to archive and pass along. Thanks!

[Karen Rose]

Ditto to all those sites Ashley passed along.
Also, one of the companies that sell law enforcement protective gear is helpful. www.galls.com is one I've used. A regular riot gear vest is padded horizontally, so it will sort of mold over any size chest area. Those also come with removable hard shoulder and upper arm protection.
The only setback is that these are made for men and may be a little broad across the chest, inhibiting movement. Good all round protection. I've taken a few good solid wacks with a wooden waster and didn't feel a thing.
Hope that helps.
Karen

[James_Knowles]

Advise from my wife:

If you don't have good groin protection, wear two extra thick maxi pads. Reportedly not the same as good martial arts equipment, but much better than being caught by a stray waster or knee.