Different types of punching pads
Pads play a role not only in boxing, but also in many other martial arts such as Muay Thai, K1 and kickboxing.
Because the respective martial arts are not just about punches, but also use the legs and feet, the punching pads or punch cushions differ in their designs.
Overall, there are three main groups that we would now like to introduce:
Pad for punches
Classic boxing pads for punches are available in straight and curved versions, the choice depends on personal taste.
These types of pads are usually the size of a plate and are held by the training partner in one hand.
The training partner reaches into the recesses from behind, which are shaped like a glove, and closes the Velcro fastener on the wrist.
Due to their compact size, they can be moved quickly and thus promote the boxer's reaction and aiming ability.
In the picture on the right you can see roughly how big the pads are and how training with them works.
Punching pads for punches and kicks
Punching pads or Muay Thai pads are suitable for training kicks and kicks that target the upper body.
Due to the force of the kicks, these punching pads are much more heavily padded than normal boxing pads.
In addition, they are not carried in one hand, but over the entire forearm.
This means they offer enough surface area for slightly less precise kicks, which are generally harder to place than straight punches.
The picture on the right also shows a boxer with a training partner, who is holding the larger punching pads with his hand and has attached them to his forearm.
Punching pads for low kicks
In order to train low kicks like in Muay Thai boxing, so-called punching pads are used, which are up to a meter long and cushion the kicks even better.
The shape and size of these are very reminiscent of shields from Roman times or the Middle Ages and are worn in a similar way.
The foam in this version is significantly thicker than in the pads that have already been pre-ordered, because a lot of energy is released from the fighter's rotation, especially in the area of ​​low kicks.
In this case, the picture shows how the training partner uses a large and thick striking pad to absorb a low kick.
The type of pad you should ultimately buy depends on the sport you are doing. For classic boxing, pads in the first category are of course the most useful, because the focus here is much more on accurate punching with fists.
