Martial arts equipment has long been made for men and then shrunk. It has got better, but too many women are still told that "it comes in small" when the answer should really have been a different model.
This guide goes through what is actually different, what is required in competition, and what is just a different colour on the same product. We tell you about both.
What is actually required in competition
| Equipment | Gender-specific? | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Chest guard | Yes | Required in several disciplines and in most women's classes. Check the rules for your discipline. |
| Sports bra | Yes in WAKO competition | WAKO has its own approved, labelled sports bra, on a par with other competition equipment. |
| Headguard | No | Same models. Fit is what matters, and head circumference varies more within each gender than between them. |
| Gloves | No, but | Hand circumference and finger length vary. A glove that is too wide fits badly regardless of weight. |
| Shin guards | No | Size and leg shape are what matter. Try them on before you buy if you can. |
Chest guard: the most important one
This is the equipment most people put off buying, and the one most people regret putting off. A chest guard is a moulded shell protector worn under your uniform, and it does exactly what it looks like.
There are three practical things to know. It should fit snugly - a guard that shifts does not protect. It should be tried on with what you actually train in, not just on its own. And it comes in several shapes, from thin models you barely notice under a gi to sturdier versions for disciplines with harder contact.
The price range is wide, from around two hundred kroner to around nine hundred. The difference lies in the material, ventilation and how well it fits over time - not in how much it protects against a single strike.
Sports bras, and the WAKO requirement
In WAKO competition there is a dedicated approved, labelled sports bra, just as with gloves and headguards. It is easy to forget, because it does not look like equipment - it looks like a piece of clothing. But it is checked.
For training the requirement is simpler: it should fit, it should not have clasps or details that can chafe the skin in grappling, and it should withstand frequent washing. Compression models without underwire are the standard in martial arts, for the same reason that Vale Tudo shorts are standard in grappling - anything loose is something that can get caught.
Gloves and hand circumference
Here is the honest version: a glove marked "for women" is often the same glove on a narrower last. That is not marketing nonsense - a narrower glove really does fit a narrower hand better, and a glove that fits badly gives poorer protection.
But it also means you are not tied to women's models. If you have wider hands, take a regular model in the right weight. What matters is whether your fist fills the glove, not what it says on the box. See the guide to boxing gloves for choosing the weight.
The same goes for hand wraps: the standard length of 4.5 metres suits most people, but if you have small hands, that is a lot of fabric to fit in. A shorter wrap or a gel inner glove is then a better choice.
Training clothes that can handle the mat
For grappling the same rules apply as for everyone: nothing loose, nothing with zips, nothing with pockets. Tights and compression garments are the standard, and they should be tight enough not to roll up when someone grabs hold.
For striking there is more freedom. There the point is mobility in the hips and that the garment does not slide down when you kick high.
Our picks right now
Competition
590 kr. WAKO-labelled. If you are heading to a Norway Cup or a championship, this is the garment that otherwise gets forgotten until the equipment check.
Karate, competition
890 kr. WKF-approved, so it is the one you need in karate competition.
More coverage
690 kr. Larger coverage area, WKF-approved.
Most affordable
199 kr. The simplest way in, and a perfectly good choice for training and children's classes.
Training
549 kr. Compression model with no details that get caught.
Gloves
1,190 kr. Narrower last. If a regular model fits you better, take that - it is your hand that decides.
For the mat
549 kr. Tight, with no pockets or zips. That is the requirement in grappling.
Shorter length
549 kr. Seven-eighths length, which stays clear of the instep during kicking work.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to wear a chest guard in training?
Not necessarily, but most people choose to when sparring. In competition it is usually required - check the rules for your discipline.
Can I wear a regular sports bra in competition?
In WAKO there are dedicated approved, labelled models. For training you can wear whatever you like, as long as it fits and has no details that chafe.
Are women's gloves worse than regular ones?
No, they are narrower. If your hand is narrow, they fit better. If it is not, take a regular model - there is no difference in quality as such.
What about a hijab or other head covering?
It varies between federations and disciplines. Talk to your club and the federation well before a tournament, so it is settled before you are standing at the equipment check.
Is there equipment for pregnant women?
Martial arts during pregnancy is a conversation with your doctor and coach, not with an equipment shop. Many continue with adapted, non-contact training - it is the safety assessment that matters, not the equipment.
