Other martial arts - such as Karate, Taekwondo or Krav Maga - also use the same or slightly different shin guards (depending on the martial art or combat sport).
In MMA (stand-up fighting section) and Kyokushin Karate (full-contact) the same shin guards are generally used as in kickboxing.
Together with good (kick)boxing gloves, shin guards are the most important items in the sports bag of every kickboxer. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to find the right pair of shin guards for your posture and budget.
Why do you wear shin guards?
Every kickboxer – from absolute beginners to professional fighters – wears shin guards during training. Otherwise it is impossible to continue training and progress without constant injuries and wounds.
Matches in kickboxing and Thai boxing are without protectors (with the exception of the youth), but in preparation training is always done with shin protection. Sometimes even with extra protection to avoid last-minute aches and injuries.
How should kickboxing shin guards fit?
Good shin guards fit tightly around the lower legs and protect the entire shin bone up to about the knee. Ideally, the guard goes down to below the kneecap, but if they are a little shorter that is acceptable. You also don't want to go for a larger size if you have otherwise slim legs to prevent the guards from sliding.
Nowadays almost all kickboxing shin guards have a foot piece that is stitched to the shin part. There is no hard and fast rule that the toes must be completely covered, since there should be no kicking with the toes anyway.
You do want to have the vulnerable metatarsal bones well protected. Some brands – such as the King from the SG series – cover almost the entire foot, while brands such as Twins, Booster and XPRT often leave the toes free. Both are good and partly a personal choice.
Usually there is no difference between left and right with shin guards, but we prefer to keep the eye of the closure (with hook & loop shin guards) on the inside of the leg.
What size shin guards?
Shin guards are almost always available in sizes S, M, L and XL. Sometimes there is even XS or special sizes for youth. There is quite a difference in sizing per brand, which is why we have added a unique size chart for almost every brand of shin guard. Please consult this carefully. However, you cannot compare the sizes of the different brands. For example, a King XL is many times larger than a Twins XL.
The majority (90%) of the shin guards sold are sizes M and L. XL are often for really big men (185 cm plus). S is in some cases, like the protectors from Twin Special, really small and are therefore even suitable for youth and smaller women.
In our martial arts shop near Rotterdam you can of course come and try on the martial arts shin guard of your choice. We have all the common models in stock in sizes S, M, L and XL unless otherwise stated.
For small children, our advice is always a stocking model shin guard . Children from 8-10 years old can make the step to the cotton shin guard that is equipped with 3 elastic Velcro closures. If you have any doubts, please contact us by email or by phone. You can of course also come by and try on in the showroom. We are open from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00.
What types of kickboxing shin guards are there?
Shin guards are very similar in general, especially the currently most used harder and pre-formed variants. The differences are mainly in the closures used (hook & loop or closure of 2 sides), the materials used, the thickness and the design or the shape.
Types of closure:
There are actually two types of closure for hard (skintex or PU) shin guards
Hook & loop closure: We like this type of closure the most because with this type of closure you can put the shin guards tight on the legs. This way the protectors slide as little as possible during intensive use.
However, it is very difficult for manufacturers to make the right length, since people's lower legs and calves vary greatly in thickness. It does not matter if the closure sticks out a bit or is just short on the velcro. As long as there is enough adhesion around the velcro for the band to stay in place.
Closure from two sides: This type of closure is often used on shin guards by various brands because it almost always fits and is easy to close for everyone.
Materials:
Hard, pre-formed shin guards are almost always made of artificial leather, skintex or PU. Real leather is almost never used for shin guards, not even in the more expensive models. This is because the material is used in a different way than boxing gloves.
Thickness:
There are considerable differences in thickness between different brands of shin guards. You don't want shin guards that are too thin, although thickness doesn't always determine the degree of absorption. King (the SG models) is known for very sturdy, extra thick protection.
Price ranges and quality
Unlike boxing gloves, there are no really expensive brands or variants of hundreds of euros for shin guards. In our assortment, there are actually three price ranges: budget, mid-range and higher (but still very affordable) segment.
The better shin guards really deserve attention as they offer more comfort, protection and ease of use. In addition, they often last longer.
Maintenance of kickboxing shin guards
Shin guards do not require a lot of maintenance. The most important thing is to take them out of your bag after training and let them dry well. You can wipe them with a clean dry cloth after training.
You can also spray them with an antibacterial spray made for the maintenance of sports equipment, such as a Sukkiri spray or FreshKO .
Of course you want your martial arts gear to stay in good condition. Your bandages and martial arts clothing can go in the wash, but your boxing gloves and shin guards should absolutely NOT GO IN THE WASHING MACHINE .
Lifespan
The lifespan of shin guards is difficult to determine in practice, because this is of course closely related to the intensity at which they are used. It makes a difference how hard and how often you train.
We can say that a good shin guard lasts quite a long time and usually longer than a pair of boxing gloves. Vulnerable points are the stitching (usually at the foot part) and the elastics (under the foot and sometimes behind the Achilles tendon).
Difference between women, men and children
There is no difference between men's and women's shin guards. They are usually unisex and women simply usually need a smaller size than men.
Small children usually use a completely different type of shin guards: stocking models. We almost always recommend this type of simple shin guards for (smaller) children. These are cheap, easy to put on and offer sufficient protection.
You can choose from more than 50 different shin guards ! All kickboxing shin guards are shipped from stock within 1 business day!
Fight2Win is the martial arts and kickboxing specialist and knows everything about protectors for kickboxing and Thai boxing! Of course you can also buy shin protection for Krav Maga, Karate, MMA and Taekwondo from us.
Everything is really in stock in all sizes and immediately available. If you have any doubts, please contact us by email or by phone at 010-2263868. Of course you can also come by and try on in the store . We are open from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00.
TIP: Check out our YouTube channel for great reviews on various models.
