Boxing sparring: headgear or no headgear?

**SifuJason** · Posted On: 2/16/2011 1:15pm

Originally Posted by tao.jonez

Wearing headgear is smart if you clinch at all - it'll protect you from headbutts, cauliflower ear, Velcro abrasions, and the aforementioned popped eardrum. It also helps if you're sparring hard. Getting gear that fits properly is vital, otherwise you'll be constantly adjusting it and it will distract and irritate you.

Sidebar - I've had my eardrum burst by a fairly light hook that was timed just right. No big deal, no permanent damage, but it wouldn't have happened if I was wearing gear.

What he said. It doesn't help much with concussive force, but at harder contact and with clinch work, it can prevent cuts, abrasions and otherwise face-uglification. I have also had my eardrum burst, at a TD no less, from a pretty light shot sans head gear. Like tao, no permanent issues, but wouldn't have happened with headgear.

**Permalost** · Posted On: 2/16/2011 1:57pm

IMHO if you box seriously, you should have some headgear as part of your training gear. If you have it, why not wear it? My boxing headgear fits great and breathes well compared to the crappy dipped foam headgear I used to have.

**Tom Kagan** · Posted On: 2/16/2011 7:42pm

From the study: EFFECTIVENESS OF BOXING HEADGEAR FOR LIMITING INJURY:

Based on the current effort,
the currently designed headgear and
gloves are effective in reducing the risk
of injury.

**Sang** · Posted On: 2/16/2011 8:20pm

I find any benefit offered by wearing headgear is offset by your partner's perception that you are wearing a cushion on your head and thus can be hit as hard as they can throw a punch.

**SifuJason** · Posted On: 2/16/2011 8:43pm

Originally Posted by Sang

I find any benefit offered by wearing headgear is offset by your partner's perception that you are wearing a cushion on your head and thus can be hit as hard as they can throw a punch.

Sometimes your partner is supposed to be doing that.

**Sang** · Posted On: 2/16/2011 9:13pm

Originally Posted by SifuJason

Sometimes your partner is supposed to be doing that.

Depends how often you compete in full contact competition. Getting a concussion or a broken nose in training in no way helps me.

Also, why do you find headgear to be useful for clinch work? Wearing headgear and clinching is one of the most frustrating things I've ever done.

**alex** · Posted On: 2/16/2011 9:36pm

agreed. clinching in headgear is fucking retarded anyway because i never fight in headgear, and you're never going to fight in headgear in teh streetz. if you seriously wear it to prevent **** like abrasions on your neck from gloves, perhaps a sport like darts or softball would be preferable.

**SifuJason** · Posted On: 2/16/2011 9:55pm

Mostly cause elbows cut and I have to go to work in the morning, and in my profession, having face cuts and abrasions is not professional and rather frowned upon.

**Sang** · Posted On: 2/16/2011 10:04pm

Elbows can be trained with elbow pads on to avoid cutting, abrasions can be avoided by not using gloves or handwraps. In fact, most abrasions you get in the clinch are on the neck. Wearing headgear in no way stops this. I've had one abrasion on my face in 3+ years of doing MT without headgear.