Head Gear for Sparring

E

EQUALIZER

Joined
Aug 14, 1999
Messages
254
I'm looking for head gear for padded stick sparring.

I was told by someone who does a lot of fma competition that a store that many of you are probably familiar with in the Philipines, The Squadron Shoppe, has the best. He said that he would pick me up full equiptment for my class while on that island, but he didn't get to go this year. He said that it would be durable, protect eyes, yet allow good visability; which sounded exactly what I was looking for.

The class that I'm teaching has some students that are ready for sparring, and we've done some w/the rule for no head strikes. Nevertheless, all of us end up losing our glasses now and then:cool: :eek: :rolleyes:

I can't find a web site from this store, but SURELY the same equiptment must be available somewhere online. I'm just waiting for someone to tell me that "It IS (head gear) online, but Don't call me Shirley!"

Signed,
Looking for helmets in all the wrong places.
 
willrise said:
A fencing mask works great with padded sticks
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Fencing masks will dent though. I've used a fencing mask (because that's what we had handy) with padded sticks and with a solid strike, the mesh would dent, sometimes being driven into our foreheads (we started wraping a cloth around our heads to keep the cases of "waffle-face" to a minimum).

Also, it seems like fencing masks are kind of 'bend-to-fit' type things -- at least the one we were using was. The result of this was that each time I got smacked on the side of the head, the fencing mask would bend inward a little, making it tighter. At one point, after being hit once on either side of the head, I had to pause the match to unbend the mask. That second smack had made it so tight that it felt like my head was going to pop.

Anyway, if you have a fencing mask handy, by all means use it, but if you're going to buy something, I'd suggest buying something more specifically designed for stick fighting.
 
I use a hockey mask with a metal face cage. The upside is it gives you more protection than a fencing mask, since it's a full helmet, and you can go harder on headstrikes anywhere on the head.

Downside is that you'll only be able to use certain padded sticks with it -- the sticks obviously have to be wide in diameter than the size of the mesh opening. Sof-Stix padded knives, for example, are too close in size for comfort. Nok's padded trainers work with this helmet, though. So do the homemade padded trainers that people make by wrapping pipe foam around a dowel and duct-taping it all together.
 
I was told by someone who does a lot of fma competition that a store that many of you are probably familiar with in the Philipines, The Squadron Shoppe, has the best. He said that he would pick me up full equiptment for my class while on that island, but he didn't get to go this year. He said that it would be durable, protect eyes, yet allow good visability; which sounded exactly what I was looking for.
Click to expand...

Yes, the Squadron Shop is probably the best, but last time I was in Manila, it, along with the rest of the mall it was in (Virra Mall Greenhills) was closed due to renovations. I heard that they haven't gotten around to finishing up the mall since, and as a result, Squandron Shop is currently defunct, as far as I was told by my aunts and uncles. If someone can correct me, please do. I love that store and I'd hate for it to go out of business. It's only 5-10 min from my home in Manila.
 
I've used fencing masks, WEKAF masks, and hockey masks. Both with padded sticks and real sticks. Never had an issue with them. They all have +/-.

Fencing masks are only dental and eye protection with the heavier sticks. I think that is the idea. Waffle effect gives you the ability to brag to your friends about how tough you are. :)

I did install a hockey type clear eye shield in my WEKAF mask. Punyos are your real fear here. I witnessed a rattan stick splinter after multiple punyos. Drilled it and tied the shield inside the metal mask with paracord, works great.
 
Kendo helmets seem to be a good choice. In addition to protecting the face, the side panels also protect the neck and collarbone.

Only major downside is the helmet ain't cheap...but it is your head, after all.
 
There are helmets designed for sticks, but can be sometimes hard to find. They are frequently referred to as WEKAF helmets. They have a steel face cage and padded flaps that protect the neck.
 
That "Action Flex" helmet looks good. I wonder how it woud stand up to light ratan when we get to that point? One of our school's students won pro women's ground fighting, bjj, at the Arnold Classic again this year. I didn't get to go, but was told that there was stick fighting as one of the events. They thought that the guys were using thin ratan and said they were just playing each others heads like drums:rolleyes: . I guess trying to rack up points under their rules.

I tried out the hocky and lacrose helmets in the stores here, and guess I'm too picky. I liked them except for the the areas that lost visability of sticks in the bars. Like you said, unpadded sticks might penetrate the gap in the face shield, but they are good. One of my students has used fencing masks for fencing and adviced against them for our class due to denting. Althesame, thanks for your recommendation as they are of high quality, and would meet many fma needs.

Sorry to hear about the Squadron Shop. With the following they seem to have, I'd guess that they could do pretty well as an online business.
 
EQUALIZER said:
a Mom, who starts out students w/ "pool noodles", she really impresses me with her review.
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I had a teacher in grade school that said she was going to slap me with a "wet noodle" but I don't think that counts. :rolleyes:

I think for most younger and/or newer students you could scare them away with the heavy stick sparring. It might be better to gear up and go light or use the padded sticks as you said.

sidenote:
I was at the Arnold MA tournament and fought for the second year in a row. I won't knock even the WEKAF type stick sparring. I still have some good bruises. In the Arnold rules, the allow 3 seconds until takedown and kicking from the knee to the neck. That makes it a little more fast paced.
 
When you get serious about sticking fighting you will begin training with rattan and hockey masks, with eye protection worn beneath the masks.

I promise you, you will feel very alive when engaging in this form of mock combat.

Test yourself, and you will feel good about it later knowing that you have the courage to do so. :)
 
Terry Newton said:
When you get serious about sticking fighting you will begin training with rattan and hockey masks, with eye protection worn beneath the masks.
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Definitely, I find sparring minimal gear is lots of fun.:thumbup: :thumbup:

IMO, a hockey mask can still be too much protection sometimes. Unless, your a runway model....lol :D

I have to use my hands for my job. If I don't have hands, I'm out of work. So, wearing a fencing mask and good lacrosse gloves is a must for me.
 
Pahtoocara said:
sidenote:
I was at the Arnold MA tournament and fought for the second year in a row. I won't knock even the WEKAF type stick sparring. I still have some good bruises. In the Arnold rules, the allow 3 seconds until takedown and kicking from the knee to the neck. That makes it a little more fast paced.
Click to expand...

In all fairness, the students from my school who went were from a different class than I teach, Brazilian JJ, and they didn't pay much attention to the FMA competitions. I was wondering if you could describe a little more of your experience.


Thanks for the advice and leads on the WEKAF helmets.

Those who know,
1. Are the WEKAF helmets, and the ones the Squadon shop used to sell the same?
2. I'd like to get something that will work w/ thrusts to the head, while offering eye protection. I have developed multiple opponent drills, and in sparring there is always a chance for worse case schenareos. Do those WEKAF helmets provide this?

BTW, Some of my more advanced former students would light spar w/ratan w/rule of NO head strikes. I don't like to put anyone at too much risk though.

eq
 
EQUALIZER said:
In all fairness, the students from my school who went were from a different class than I teach, Brazilian JJ, and they didn't pay much attention to the FMA competitions. I was wondering if you could describe a little more of your experience.
Click to expand...

Its the second year in a row I have fought at the Arnold. I did both single and double stick. Only 3 people competed in the "forms" competition for FMA.
I think there were a total of about 20 competitors? There were 7 in the intermediate division that I fought it. Good experience, and always lots of fun. Everyone in the FMA seems to have a unique connection even when not from the same school or style. I've found this isn't always the case with other styles.

Here's the "official" rules. As with all FMA we didn't strictly adhere to them all the time!!
http://www.arnoldmartialarts.com/pdf/2006_kali_rules.pdf

I won't lie, I got my but kicked. But I also dished some out (at least in my mind). I think someone mentioned it before: it is about aggression and stamina, less about realistic stick fighting. Its a game, but still useful and fun.
 
EQUALIZER said:
I'd like to get something that will work w/ thrusts to the head, while offering eye protection. I have developed multiple opponent drills, and in sparring there is always a chance for worse case schenareos. Do those WEKAF helmets provide this?
Click to expand...

Pahtoocara said:
I did install a hockey type clear eye shield in my WEKAF mask. Punyos are your real fear here. I witnessed a rattan stick splinter after multiple punyos. Drilled it and tied the shield inside the metal mask with paracord, works great.
Click to expand...

What I did was buy a regular "hockey type" clear eye shield (the kind that go inside of a hockey helmet). I drilled some holes around the forehead area of the eye shield and used paracord to tie it on to the inside of the WEKAF helmets metal cage. It's been through a few "battles" and I have no problem with it at all. It has kept the debris out of my eyes and makes me feel safer when I get a punyo or thrust to the face. Hope this answers your question.
 
I have a Kali helmet from iiSports, but they no longer sell them. For rattan sparring you need a strong cage over the face. I've seen some pretty solid ones crack with a strong hit from rattan.

"The martial art with an EDGE"

Ben King
www.inayan.com
Inayan School of Eskrima
 
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