Taekwondo Equipment: Everything You Need to Have

Taekwondo Equipment For Every Level: Our Expert Guide For The Perfect Gear

Are you ready to unleash your inner warrior and take your Taekwondo training to the next level? Whether you’re just starting or a seasoned veteran, the right gear can make all the difference in your journey to mastery.

Think of it as the armor that shields you from harm and the weapons that empower you to conquer. The right Taekwondo equipment can make all the difference between victory and defeat, comfort and pain, and safety and injury. But with so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.

Fear not, brave warrior, for we are here to guide you on the quest to find the perfect gear for your level of martial arts training. In this article, we’ll explore the best Taekwondo equipment for every stage of your journey, from beginner to expert. So sharpen your blades, don your armor, and join us on a journey to discover the ultimate gear for the ultimate warrior.

Our Best Taekwondo Gear Reviews

Taekwondo Uniform

The essential equipment for a Taekwondo student is the uniform or dobok (Korean: 도복). It is usually a two-piece white uniform with a belt tied around the waist. Unlike the similar judo uniform, whose top is a cross-over jacket and has to be connected with the belt, the Taekwondo uniform is a closed pullover, and the strap is attached as a symbol rather than a practical accessory. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, but more on that is below. 

The trainee uniform is usually wholly white, collars included. There are variations with black-red and black collars, but they are typically reserved for holders of a black belt, i.e., instructors.

The rules regarding collar colors vary from school to school. Some schools explicitly prohibit non-white collars for students, while others have a more liberal approach, thus allowing both students and instructors to have black collars on their uniforms. 

Although rare, colored uniforms do exist in Taekwondo. They are typically reserved for higher-belt instructors and special demonstrations or events and can vary in color. 

Now, returning to the basic design, we can only repeat that the most common type of uniform is a V-style pullover, as used in most WT competitions and schools. It is a long-sleeved shirt with a firm collar that reaches just above the knees.

The belt is not necessary to tighten the pullover, but since it is somewhat large and wide, it helps keep the top part of the uniform in place.

But, although rare, there are jackets (like in judo) in Taekwondo. WT has a Y-shaped cross-over jacket that crosses the torso diagonally and is usually seen in the younger Poomsae sections. ITF also has a cross-over jacket, but its opening on the torso is vertical. 

This is the essential piece of equipment necessary for Taekwondo practitioners. Someone with no competitive ambitions and who doesn’t aspire to be a professional fighter doesn’t need any other equipment. 

Taekwondo Sparring And Protective Gear

Taekwondo protective and sparring gear play a vital role in developing your skillset. You cannot progress or boost your skill levels because you’d suffer tons of injuries without sparring equipment.

Shadowboxing or sparring partners is not enough to touch the sky in Korean martial arts; you need every piece of Taekwondo sparring gear. Shin pads, forearm guards, foot protectors, and gloves are very important to your success, especially if you plan to compete, boost your skills, and win tournaments. In the world of South Korean martial art, sparring gear sets are super-important!

Taekwondo equipment - Sparring and protective gear

Headgear

Headgear is extremely important layer of protection for sparring sessions. Alongside sparring gloves, a headgear protects the sensitive areas of your body from fatal blows. It keeps your brain from severe traumas in all kinds of martial arts. Oh yes, shock absorption matters!

There are different types of headgear, depending on whether you train or compete. The ones with removable face grills cost more money, but you’ll get better adjustability.

In Taekwondo competitions, two colors are allowed – red and blue. Some of the most famous, great headgear brands are RDX headguard, but other good models include Sanabul Essential and Elite Sports. Note: you will wear electronic headgear in the competition.

Taekwondo equipment - Headgear

Mouthguard

There are three types of mouthguards for sparring – stock, boil-and-bite, and custom-made. Stock is the least popular part of Taekwondo protective gear, as you might eat very hard shots in the sparring.

Custom-made mouthguards are the best option for a serious competitor in martial arts because the dentist shapes them toward the shape of your teeth and mouth. Please, this is a critical part of your sparring gear, do not ignore this! You don’t want to pay hundreds of dollars to fix your teeth!

Every serious competitor should think of purchasing a custom designed mouthpiece! One more note – only white mouthguard is allowed in the WTF Taekwondo competition, please don’t take black one because the judges will not let you compete!

Chest Protector

You don’t have to buy a chest protector; the tournament official takes care of it. Good sparring gear keeps your ribs, abs, and kidneys from powerful strikes.

In martial arts tournaments, chest protectors have an electronic installed, so when the foot touches the specific area of the protective gear, you get points (it depends on the techniques and judges too). Even a light touch could bring you a point in the sparring!

I’ve seen many questions “which size should I wear”? Should it be small, medium, large, or x large? The answer is simple – the tournament official takes care of it, you should wear the one you feel comfortable in.

Hand Wraps

Hand wraps protect your knuckles and fists and work as extra sparring gear. Most of them are three or five meters long and are put below the gloves to minimize damage and injury risk, especially when techniques go wrong.

Kick Pads

There are three types of kick pads in martial arts – Muay Thai (rectangular shape), curved shield, and focus pads.

Focus pads rock for head kicks and accuracy, they can put your skills to the next level, while rectangular shapes add power to your sparring strikes. A curved shield is a combination of the first two. The most famous brands are Fairtex, RDX, Venum, Meister, and Sanabul.

Taekwondo esquipment - Kick Pads

Forearm Pads

You must wear forearm pads in a Taekwondo competition as this area of your body blocks in 95% of cases. Forearm pads with elbow protection are prohibited in Taekwondo but can serve as sparring gear in a training session. Wacoku and Wesing offer the best models for Taekwondo sparring equipment and other martial arts.

Foot Pads

Evaliana and Adidas offer the best models in the market. It serves to protect your foot, and there are different types, depending on the use, and you can use some of them for training, too (foot and fore fitting).

Foot pads are a very important aspect of Taekwondo sparring gear sets. You will wear the electronic ones in the competition, so you’ll score a point when you touch the body protector.

Shin Pads

Shin guards are pieces of protective gear for your shins. You can wear shin guards in the training session, but the most recommended models for martial arts are RDX, Fairtex, Meister, and Combat Sports.

Optionally, you can wear knee pads in the training session, but don’t forget – this piece of equipment is illegal in the tournament.

Taekwondo Shoe

Taekwondo equipment - taekwondo shoes

An excellent and supportive pair of Taekwondo shoes protect your joints and feet during workouts. Adidas and Century offer the best Taekwondo boots’ models for martial arts.

Gloves

Sparring gloves serve to protect your hands. Two types of sparring gloves are ITF and WTF Taekwondo sparring gear models. The WTF version reminds me of the MMA gloves, while the ITF ones resemble kickboxing ones. And no, you cannot use them for boxing workouts!

This is a very savvy piece of sparring equipment for martial arts. The most popular brand in the market is Finger Ten at the moment.

Groin Cup

Keep your groin by any means necessary; one illegal kick and you’ll end up on the canvas helpless because you forgot a piece of your sparring gear.

There are hard and soft groin cups for martial arts. Harder models enable better protection, while the softer one makes you more flexible. The best models are Shock Doctor and Venum Challenger. This is the most important piece of sparring gear for all martial arts.

Towel

You can wipe your face during a hard training session or between the rounds in the competition. A towel is a must for every serious competitor.

taekwondo equipment - towel

Taekwondo Training Equipment

In martial arts, practice makes perfect. Every training session turns you into a more well-rounded martial artist.

Kicking pads and a heavy bag are an important part of martial arts training, but a sparring partner matters too. A living person that will hold your pads is also a critical part of great training sessions.

Taekwondo equipment

Taekwondo Kicking Paddles

Taekwondo paddles will boost the accuracy and power of your head kicks in the sparring. In Korean martial arts, your feet must touch to score a point, so this is a critical piece of sparring equipment and training gear. If you’re looking for the most popular models, stick with 2Pack.

Taekwondo Kicking Shields

The primary purpose of Taekwondo kicking shields is counters – spinning back kicks, a side kick to the body, or a push kick with your lead leg. When purchasing, look for thick foam and maximum shock absorption for enhanced protection.

Give a shot to RDX, MaxxMMA, or Overmount for high-quality counter training. They will work for other martial arts too.

Heavy Bag

The heavy bag is an actual test of strength and technique for any warrior. It’s where raw power meets precision and skill. It’s where you hone your strikes, improve your power, and sharpen your technique. It’s where you unleash the beast within and push yourself to the limit.

In Taekwondo, power matters, but it’s not everything. Techniques come first, but without power, they are nothing. The heavy bag is the ultimate training tool for developing both. It’s where you practice your spinning back kicks, devastating push kicks, and side kicks and turn them into weapons of mass destruction.

But the heavy bag is not just for Taekwondo, and it’s also a valuable tool for other martial arts like Muay Thai, boxing, and kickboxing. It’s where you train to become a true martial artist who has mastered the art of power and precision.

taekwondo equipment - heavy bag

Rebreakable Boards

Rebreakable boards work for demonstration performances, but you’ll also have to break some of them when transitioning to a higher belt. The most often product dimension is 12 x 9.1 x 1.4 inches.

The best market choices are STRIKEFORCE and Jecery4Pack, as you’ll get a good price. Alternatively, you can pay somebody to make them from cork wood.

Conclusion

In the end, it’s all about the gear. The armor that shields you from harm and the weapons that empower you to conquer. As a Taekwondo warrior, you know that every step on your journey to mastery requires the right equipment.

A mouthguard to control your breath, a chest protector to guard your heart, hand wraps to steel your fists, kick pads to hone your strikes, forearm pads to shield your arms, foot pads to protect your feet, shin pads to guard your legs, Taekwondo shoes to increase your agility, gloves to enhance your grip, a groin cup to protect your vulnerable parts, a towel to wipe the sweat of victory, and training equipment like kicking paddles and shields, and heavy bags to test your strength. All these will be your trusty companions in your quest to become the ultimate Taekwondo hero.

Your training gear is not just a collection of equipment; it’s an extension of yourself. It represents your dedication, your discipline, and your ambition. It’s a reminder that you are a warrior and that nothing will stop you from reaching the top. So, equip yourself with the best and let nothing stand in your way. With the right gear, you’ll be unstoppable, and nothing will be able to defeat you in the ring of life.

In the end, remember, you are not just a martial artist but a hero. And heroes always have the right gear.

Frequently Asked Question About Taekwondo Sparring And Protection Gear

What do I need for first-time Taekwondo training?

You will need trousers, a t-shirt, or a towel. If you can buy a gi, it’d be awesome, as you need to kick in the level of your head. Buy shin guards, a mouthpiece, a groin cup, a chest protector, and forearm pads after a few months of training – it will be a great piece of sparring gear for a beginner.

You can buy it for 100 to 300 dollars, depending on the quality and skill levels.

The most important pieces of sparring gear are a chest protector, shin guards, forearm guards, a mouthpiece, and a groin cup. If you compete, add Taekwondo gloves to this list of sparring gear sets.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use common sense (for example, don’t use Taekwondo headgear for boxing classes). Make sure you’re using the right gear for your level and needs and that it’s properly fit and adjusted. Regularly inspect and clean your gear, and replace it when it becomes damaged or worn out.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning, keeping, and storing your gear. Avoid harsh chemicals or high heat, and make sure your gear is completely dry before storing it. Store your gear in a cool, dry place, and keep it out of direct sunlight.

Consider your skill level, training goals, and budget. Research different brands and products and read reviews from other martial artists. Consult with a coach or an experienced practitioner for guidance.

Quality gear is designed to protect you from injuries and enhance your performance. It’s also more durable and will last longer than cheap gear. Quality gear is an investment in your safety and progress as a martial artist.

Vladimir Vladisavljevic has been training in the art of kickboxing for over seven years, holds a Taekwondo black belt, and has a master's degree in sports and physical education. He's also a huge mixed martial arts fan. He's a big deal in Bulgaria as a mixed martial arts commentator, analyst, and podcaster.
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Vladimir Vladisavljevic

Vladimir Vladisavljevic has a master's degree in sports and physical education. He has been training in kickboxing for over seven years and holds a Taekwondo black belt. He's also a huge mixed martial arts fan. Vladimir is a big deal in Bulgaria as a mixed martial arts commentator, analyst, and podcaster. He was known as The Bulgarian Cowboy in the Western world. In addition, he has a YouTube channel where he talks about his love of esports, one of the fastest-growing fields in the world. Our testing and reviewing method.
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