Using martial arts training equipment is very important in helping you to get and stay in shape as well as guard against injury throughout your martial arts career.  Martial arts training equipment is used throughout the class and can include punching bags, kicking shields, hand targets, gloves, muay thai pads, weights and other equipment.  Some clubs may also have a freestanding punch bag. These are great for providing a complete workout with one piece of martial arts training gear. The freestanding punch bag allows you to perform both aerobic and strength exercises. 

Sparring gear is intended to reduce the risk and severity of accidental injury to protected areas during supervised, no contact or light contact martial arts sparring.  Sparring gear is recommended at Yellow Belt and above for contact sparring. Protective sparring gear is worn on the body, hands, feet, and heads. One of the first and most important pieces of sparring gear is the helmet. This should cover the forehead and sides of the face, but be well ventilated. Then every martial artist should have a mouthguard. These a very inexpensive and apart from protecting your teeth, their main purpose is actually to protect you from concussion when you are kicked or punched in the head. Chest protectors are optional, but essential if you engage in a full contact martial art, such as WTF Taekwon Do. Martial arts gloves, should cover the knuckles and preferable the wrists as well. Shin pads make kicking and blocking with the legs far more comfortable. They are my personal favourite piece of sparring gear. Some brands have built in boots, but others have separate boots. These are again essential, not so much for your protection as for yor opponents; especially if you are kicking to the head.  There are a huge number of brands for sparring gear. Online shopping can be the way to go when buying sparring gear as the selection online for martial arts training equipment is unbeatable. The right martial arts protective sparring gear is essential for safe sparring. 

Just a final word of caution, wen you are using your martial arts training equipment to stay in shape, it is very important that you are stretching before each of your exercises. This warms up your muscles and protects them from tearing too much. Martial arts training is a serious commitment, on the part of the instructor as well as the student. Having the most appropriate martial arts training equipment for your needs can only enhance your training and development as a martial artist.