- Joined
- Feb 15, 2011
- Messages
- 19,224
- Reaction score
- 15,719
Im taking a few weeks off from work to rest and recharge so I figured I'd knock out a post I've been meaning to get at for a while.
Most people in this forum know I'm a boxing/striking coach and put a lot of stock into proper pad work. I wanted to talk about all the different tools of the trade, specifically the ones that I use on a daily basis. I'm also happy to answer any questions or give recommendations based on the thousands of hours I've spent over the last 4-5 years slinging mitts professionally and full time.
focus mitts:
My primary set up is to use focus mitts, a belly pad and a leg shield for all my fighters. I like the maneuverability and mobility I get like this, being able to throw shots back and wrestle/clinch while still being able to absorb kicks and knees. I teach more boxing than anything else so focus mitts are my most important tool.
onx air mitts-
These were hand stitched by trevor wittman years ago. these are my daily drivers, my main mitts for day to day use And probably my favorite pair. they weigh about a pound each and are donut shaped under the leather shell giving a nice pocket to my clients to hit.
Pros: durable as all hell. I've had them patched up by a cobbler a few times, but in general they have held up better than any mitts i've ever seen, held, or used. excellent wrist support, good "pop" and when I get a heavy puncher who can aim I don't feel a thing.
Cons: they're heavy which can slow me down a little for speed/conditioning work. I had "coach J" stitched on the outside edge which means when I'm throwing back at someone i can accidentally catch them with the bit thats a little abrasive. because of the big size I don't use them for guys with no aim. if someone clips the edge of the mitt it torques my wrist. they were pretty expensive and took a while to get made, but all things considered it was well worth the cost and the time. the fact that wittman is still making time to sit down behind the sewing machine and make equipment at all is pretty extraordinary. hes one of my favorite coaches in the game so they have a ton of sentimental value too. they can be a little hard on my elbows.
Top Boxer customs:
another set of mitts that used to see heavy rotation into my day to day schedule. if I'm working mma or kickboxing then these are my go to set. big enough I can comfortably catch elbows, knees, and even kicks with a belly pad on.
Pros: soft padding is great for begginers, and if I want to throw straight punches at guys fast/hard without hurting them if i connect. they are light enough I can do speed work but thick enough to catch big punches from most guys. relatively affordable as far as custom equipment goes.
cons: the padding isnt super absorbant of energy, so the force can get sent straight through to your arm without much dampening. the finger hood could stand to be a little thicker to prevent an accidental finger hit, although your fingers sit so far back it hasnt been an issue. they can be a little hard on my shoulders.
Ringside micros:
I owned a pair of these years ago and returned them after one mitt session bc I couldn't keep the damn things on my hands. I bought this pair used from a gym who cut its striking program and they were pre worn in and make for a fantastic set of mitts. once theyre curved a little from punches and you add a few stitches to make the hand hood a little tighter then they are a great pair of working mitts.
Pros: small mitts means my punchers have to be accurate and no one's going to wrist lock me by hitting the outside of the mitt. they are light for speed work but offer enough protection I can use them with big punchers too. I wear these almost exclusively when I'm doing a free consultation session with someone because they have so much POP and CRACK to them it makes a newbie feel like they're throwing with some real power. (hey- a mans gotta eat.). i use these for free flow pad work and clinch pad work.
Cons: fucker wont stay on your wrist unless you add a few stitches to the backside. not a ton of protection compared to other mitts, the stiff foam can be a little shocking to my hands and wrists. wouldnt recommend highbred pad work with these. boxing and elbows only. no kicks.
THAI PADS:
I'm still on the hunt for a good, daily driver pair of thai pads. Im considering the combat corner curved single straps, I've used them a little and really like them. until then:
Hayabusas 2 strap:
surprisingly good for an mma company. they are soft eough for my begginers but offer enough protection for guys who can thump, but only up to a point. if someone wants to blast kicks then I'll grab my K pads.
pros: they're soft and pretty big, making the perfect pads for beginners. light enough to be maneuverable without giving up safety for the pad holder.
Cons: if someone wants to blast kicks they're going to break my god damn forearms.
K-pads:
enough people reccomended these that I decided to check them out. hand made in thailand, i was assured by the Muay Thai mafia that they are the best on the market.
Pros: they are dense and heavy, the only things I'll wear for shin conditioning of my fighters or when guys have good, strong kicks.
Cons: apparently they take 300 rounds to really break in and im about to just drive over the damn things with my car. they are so dense adn thick that they shock my forearms when I take heavy kicks. they're used for shin conditioning for a reason: kicking these fuckers hurts.
Belly pad:
Standard operating gear. I tend to catch kicks partially on my pads and partially on the belly pad I’m wearing, regardless of if I’m using Thai pads or focus mitts. If we’re targeting the front of the body with the kick instead of the side or the floating rib then I’ll ask the fighter to be a little easier on the power.
Windy:
another one I picked up based off of the advice of the muay thai mafia. This was a great suggestion and I’m happy with it.
Pro: its soft for my fighters and comfortable for me. its big enough I don't worry much about getting teeped in the dick or face.
Cons: the velcro strap sucks and is almost worn out after a short time being used. I can use it to catch kicks along with focus mitts or thai pads but its a little too soft to take the force of anything on its own. a good left hook to the body from a competent boxer would damn near drop me.
Leg shield:
There are some slick ways to hold for low kicks with Thai pads, but they all require the kicker to hold back and most put your elbows in some compromising positions. You could just eat them but I’m not that tough anymore.
fairtex:
I fucking love this thing. everyone loves kicking it, the video content is sexy when guys are smashing it, and it is the only way I've found for guys to practice throwing full power kicks on pads.
Pro: inside or outside kicks both have plenty of space available for good targeting. its comfortable to wear, the velcro strap stays put, and you can cinch down the elastic strap in the back so that it hugs your leg. ive had god damn monsters bury kicks into the thing and I get to keep moving like its nothing once im warmed up and my leg is used to it.
Cons: if you don't wear another pad under it then it absolutely smash the shit out of your ballbag. it will slide over and hit your nuts and it sucks. seriously, I considered wearing a cup when i was wearing it just to stop smacking myself in the beans as it slide over on impact. but that’s a second, smaller leg pad under it helped absorb the extra force and kept it from moving. other than that my only complaint is that I can't buy one leg at a time. I spend so little time preparing fighters for southpaws that my right leg shield is basically brand new while the left one has a big divot kicked into it.
Punch shield: great for more than just power work and if can think outside the box.
some off brand I bought used. I don't use it that often, this thing sucks. looking for a new one.
Pool noodles: can be for head movement and footwork specific drills or just subbed out for mitts and used in all the exact same ways.
literally just pool noodles cut down to length. I've used a few different brands of hit sticks and paddles and at the end of the day this is the best way that i've found. I use these for all the same things I'd use mitts for, along with head movement and such. its a nice break from getting my joints destroyed by pad work.
Pro: I can work from further out and see more of my athletes body mechanics. they have 0 impact on my limbs what so ever. its also super satisfying to smack someone upside the head with them. they're faster than mitts so if someone is dropping their hands but I cant smack them with a mitt in time then the noodles will absolutely get there.
con: they wear out fairly quick, but I can buy a new one for a buck and have three sticks per noodle, so its really not that bad. I also lose the ability to block/parry stray punches like I can with mitts.
shin pads: they kick me, I kick them. Also often rotated to the side for calf kicks.
hayabusa ratchet backs. another pair I picked up use. I have a hard time spending real money on shin pads since I don't spar ever.
pros: easy to slide on and off. enough padding for lobbing kicks back at people.
cons: the little knob on the back would get in the way if i was doing any real sparring.
not pictured:
rival body shield, aka "the iron man suit"
For body shot and interception/split work with boxers.
so there you have it. Bear in mind I’m a little light in the ass to be a full time pad holder so a lot of my gear is based on keeping me safe and healthy.
Most people in this forum know I'm a boxing/striking coach and put a lot of stock into proper pad work. I wanted to talk about all the different tools of the trade, specifically the ones that I use on a daily basis. I'm also happy to answer any questions or give recommendations based on the thousands of hours I've spent over the last 4-5 years slinging mitts professionally and full time.
focus mitts:
My primary set up is to use focus mitts, a belly pad and a leg shield for all my fighters. I like the maneuverability and mobility I get like this, being able to throw shots back and wrestle/clinch while still being able to absorb kicks and knees. I teach more boxing than anything else so focus mitts are my most important tool.
onx air mitts-
These were hand stitched by trevor wittman years ago. these are my daily drivers, my main mitts for day to day use And probably my favorite pair. they weigh about a pound each and are donut shaped under the leather shell giving a nice pocket to my clients to hit.
Pros: durable as all hell. I've had them patched up by a cobbler a few times, but in general they have held up better than any mitts i've ever seen, held, or used. excellent wrist support, good "pop" and when I get a heavy puncher who can aim I don't feel a thing.
Cons: they're heavy which can slow me down a little for speed/conditioning work. I had "coach J" stitched on the outside edge which means when I'm throwing back at someone i can accidentally catch them with the bit thats a little abrasive. because of the big size I don't use them for guys with no aim. if someone clips the edge of the mitt it torques my wrist. they were pretty expensive and took a while to get made, but all things considered it was well worth the cost and the time. the fact that wittman is still making time to sit down behind the sewing machine and make equipment at all is pretty extraordinary. hes one of my favorite coaches in the game so they have a ton of sentimental value too. they can be a little hard on my elbows.
another set of mitts that used to see heavy rotation into my day to day schedule. if I'm working mma or kickboxing then these are my go to set. big enough I can comfortably catch elbows, knees, and even kicks with a belly pad on.
Pros: soft padding is great for begginers, and if I want to throw straight punches at guys fast/hard without hurting them if i connect. they are light enough I can do speed work but thick enough to catch big punches from most guys. relatively affordable as far as custom equipment goes.
cons: the padding isnt super absorbant of energy, so the force can get sent straight through to your arm without much dampening. the finger hood could stand to be a little thicker to prevent an accidental finger hit, although your fingers sit so far back it hasnt been an issue. they can be a little hard on my shoulders.
Ringside micros:
I owned a pair of these years ago and returned them after one mitt session bc I couldn't keep the damn things on my hands. I bought this pair used from a gym who cut its striking program and they were pre worn in and make for a fantastic set of mitts. once theyre curved a little from punches and you add a few stitches to make the hand hood a little tighter then they are a great pair of working mitts.
Pros: small mitts means my punchers have to be accurate and no one's going to wrist lock me by hitting the outside of the mitt. they are light for speed work but offer enough protection I can use them with big punchers too. I wear these almost exclusively when I'm doing a free consultation session with someone because they have so much POP and CRACK to them it makes a newbie feel like they're throwing with some real power. (hey- a mans gotta eat.). i use these for free flow pad work and clinch pad work.
Cons: fucker wont stay on your wrist unless you add a few stitches to the backside. not a ton of protection compared to other mitts, the stiff foam can be a little shocking to my hands and wrists. wouldnt recommend highbred pad work with these. boxing and elbows only. no kicks.
I'm still on the hunt for a good, daily driver pair of thai pads. Im considering the combat corner curved single straps, I've used them a little and really like them. until then:
Hayabusas 2 strap:
surprisingly good for an mma company. they are soft eough for my begginers but offer enough protection for guys who can thump, but only up to a point. if someone wants to blast kicks then I'll grab my K pads.
pros: they're soft and pretty big, making the perfect pads for beginners. light enough to be maneuverable without giving up safety for the pad holder.
Cons: if someone wants to blast kicks they're going to break my god damn forearms.
enough people reccomended these that I decided to check them out. hand made in thailand, i was assured by the Muay Thai mafia that they are the best on the market.
Pros: they are dense and heavy, the only things I'll wear for shin conditioning of my fighters or when guys have good, strong kicks.
Cons: apparently they take 300 rounds to really break in and im about to just drive over the damn things with my car. they are so dense adn thick that they shock my forearms when I take heavy kicks. they're used for shin conditioning for a reason: kicking these fuckers hurts.
Standard operating gear. I tend to catch kicks partially on my pads and partially on the belly pad I’m wearing, regardless of if I’m using Thai pads or focus mitts. If we’re targeting the front of the body with the kick instead of the side or the floating rib then I’ll ask the fighter to be a little easier on the power.
Windy:
another one I picked up based off of the advice of the muay thai mafia. This was a great suggestion and I’m happy with it.
Pro: its soft for my fighters and comfortable for me. its big enough I don't worry much about getting teeped in the dick or face.
Cons: the velcro strap sucks and is almost worn out after a short time being used. I can use it to catch kicks along with focus mitts or thai pads but its a little too soft to take the force of anything on its own. a good left hook to the body from a competent boxer would damn near drop me.
There are some slick ways to hold for low kicks with Thai pads, but they all require the kicker to hold back and most put your elbows in some compromising positions. You could just eat them but I’m not that tough anymore.
fairtex:
I fucking love this thing. everyone loves kicking it, the video content is sexy when guys are smashing it, and it is the only way I've found for guys to practice throwing full power kicks on pads.
Pro: inside or outside kicks both have plenty of space available for good targeting. its comfortable to wear, the velcro strap stays put, and you can cinch down the elastic strap in the back so that it hugs your leg. ive had god damn monsters bury kicks into the thing and I get to keep moving like its nothing once im warmed up and my leg is used to it.
Cons: if you don't wear another pad under it then it absolutely smash the shit out of your ballbag. it will slide over and hit your nuts and it sucks. seriously, I considered wearing a cup when i was wearing it just to stop smacking myself in the beans as it slide over on impact. but that’s a second, smaller leg pad under it helped absorb the extra force and kept it from moving. other than that my only complaint is that I can't buy one leg at a time. I spend so little time preparing fighters for southpaws that my right leg shield is basically brand new while the left one has a big divot kicked into it.
some off brand I bought used. I don't use it that often, this thing sucks. looking for a new one.
literally just pool noodles cut down to length. I've used a few different brands of hit sticks and paddles and at the end of the day this is the best way that i've found. I use these for all the same things I'd use mitts for, along with head movement and such. its a nice break from getting my joints destroyed by pad work.
Pro: I can work from further out and see more of my athletes body mechanics. they have 0 impact on my limbs what so ever. its also super satisfying to smack someone upside the head with them. they're faster than mitts so if someone is dropping their hands but I cant smack them with a mitt in time then the noodles will absolutely get there.
con: they wear out fairly quick, but I can buy a new one for a buck and have three sticks per noodle, so its really not that bad. I also lose the ability to block/parry stray punches like I can with mitts.
shin pads: they kick me, I kick them. Also often rotated to the side for calf kicks.
hayabusa ratchet backs. another pair I picked up use. I have a hard time spending real money on shin pads since I don't spar ever.
pros: easy to slide on and off. enough padding for lobbing kicks back at people.
cons: the little knob on the back would get in the way if i was doing any real sparring.
rival body shield, aka "the iron man suit"
For body shot and interception/split work with boxers.
Pros: this thing might be bullet proof. seriously, the selling point was watching a video of dudes hitting a guy with baseball bats while he wore it and was just fine. I'm a little light in the ass as far as pad holders go so I need some serious protection and this suit delivers. if I brace my abdomen for impact then im unstoppable. if im unprepared for a shot that energy still gets through.
cons: it is unwiedly as all hell. seiorusly, you'll feel like youre wearing the iron man suit tony made in the desert cave. if you like to throw kicks back, this isn't the suit for you. you cant really reach with your shoulders when you try and box back at your fighters either.
cons: it is unwiedly as all hell. seiorusly, you'll feel like youre wearing the iron man suit tony made in the desert cave. if you like to throw kicks back, this isn't the suit for you. you cant really reach with your shoulders when you try and box back at your fighters either.
so there you have it. Bear in mind I’m a little light in the ass to be a full time pad holder so a lot of my gear is based on keeping me safe and healthy.
