Sandee Muay Thai Kick + Punch Pads

Along with Top King, Fairtex and a few others, Sandee is one of the best makes out there for Muay Thai gear. Their level of quality is so consistent that its hard for me, who's someone that likes a bargain, to be able to admit that they are worth the money. That's because they are not cheap. However, they will most probably outlast many of the cheaper pairs by a number of years.

So they are a good investment if you're someone who's serious about Thai Boxing and knows with some certainty that you won't be calling it quits any time soon. Anyone that's been doing Thai Boxing for a number of years will no doubt know all about Sandee and how good their products are. The Sandee pads featured in this post are straight, extra thick kick pads, but there's also Sandee curved examples available.

 

Versatile Striking

They are both referred to as "kick pads", but this is a bit of a misconception. Go to any Thai Boxing gym, either here in the UK, the Netherlands, and even Thailand, and you will see that these straight "kick pads" are effectively being used for every strike in the book. Punches, elbows, knees, hi kicks, low kicks, front kicks, flying knees, spinning back fists, superman punches, you name it. 

If you want to see this first hand just look up some videos on Youtube of Nopparat Keatkhamtorn, who is a Two time Lumpini Champion + Thailand Champion, for a quick example of someone using these pads for a lot more than just kicking. They are extremely versatile, tough and very long-lasting.
 

Design

This design has the three hand / arm handles at the back. Two of those can be adjusted (velcro + belt buckle fastening) for a perfect fit. If you've ever held these types of pads for someone you will be aware of how secure they feel on the arms when taking a battering. The force is extremely well absorbed, specially for big power strikes like side-on hi kicks. 

For low kicks the holder would use only the top handle, which is fixed (not adjustable like the other two), and hold it against their leg. If you're a newbie, be sure to always have the knee bent on the receiving leg to prevent either serious injury to the leg / knee, or being kicked straight off your feet.
 

Are they suitable

Also, if you're new to Muay Thai training, and your legs aren't very well conditioned to taking low kicks, it would probably be best to use the gyms bigger pad for low kicks. All decent Thai Boxing Gyms will have one. Some refer to it as a Banana pad, which is a much bigger and thicker curved pad that does a really good job of protecting the receiving leg from people who have tree trunk legs and kick like Tong Po from Kickboxer.

Sandee Quality

Sandee Muay Thai pads are made in Thailand using the highest quality Cow hide leather. They are used by professionals, as well as amateurs and those just starting out who want a top end product. Sandee offer a full range of Thai Boxing equipment. Including boxing gloves, shin pads, flat / curved striking pads, hand wraps, ankle supports, groin protectors, stomach / body shot protectors and shorts.

Price

The one area which can be a deal breaker  when it comes to buying these pads, is their price. They are expensive. But if you want the best, you have to pay the price. However, not everyone will need such high quality pads. A much cheaper pair will do the job for someone who goes Thai Boxing one or two times a week. 

Thankfully, there are some excellent, much cheaper alternatives out there for sale. Some of the RDX pads are really good for the price, but they are sold individually, so the cost will shoot up to double if you're after a pair. A cheaper option worth considering is a pair of pads from the Maxx brand. Much cheaper, and you get two for the price.

Top King Thai Boxing Shin Guards UK

Top King shin guards are sold in the UK. Been doing Thai Boxing or MMA for a while? If so, you will no doubt be aware of how much it hurts to clash shins with someone in sparring. Never trained Muay Thai or MMA before? Take my word for it, it hurts like hell. Don't get me wrong, after a while of training, and with numerous shin clashes under your belt, the shins get tougher and the pain becomes bearable.

 

Top King Shin Guard In Black

 

Those already competing in full contact Thai fights, or considering it will definitely have to get used to the pain if they want success. However, it's still something you don't want to experience every time you go training and do some sparring. That's where shin guards come in.

Shin pads do a great job of protecting the shin bone and front foot from heavy impact. The cushioning takes most of the power out of the strike and makes the blow much more tolerable. One thing to be aware of, though, and this is mainly regarding the cheaper pairs, is a lot of the time after an exchange of low kicks, or a successful block from a low kick attack, the shin guard will be turned to the side and won't actually be in front the shin anymore.

This will see you constantly moving it back into place to ensure its protecting the front of the leg and not the side. Needless to say, If you don't re-adjust the padding the shin is no longer protected.

 

Top King Shin Guards  In White / Dark Flare Pattern

 

This is an issue with the cheaper pairs that have a big fat block of padding at the front and nothing at the sides. If you spend a bit more money on some RDX, Valour Strike (both cheap but good), Fairtex (Excellent), and of course, Top King (Pictured), this issue happens far less frequent. If at all, as these pairs, which are mostly velcro fastening, cover the front and side of the shin and foot. The padding is thinner but offers much better protection by covering a lot more area.

If you're just starting out, or more experienced and on a tight budget, I would recommend the cheaper pairs from RDX and Valour Strike as they will serve you well. If you want the best quality and know that you are in Thai Boxing (or MMA) to stay it has to be either Fairtex or Top King. 

Both brands are made in Thailand (almost always handmade) and consistently produce top quality products. Their shin pads are always made from high quality leathers and really are top-notch. They also offer a massive range of different colours and designs, from red, white, black, multi-coloured and even snake-skin (not real snake skin!).

They are expensive but definitely worth the money outlay. Some people are suspicious of people selling them in the UK because there are a few fakes flying around, but there are genuine resellers who import them to England directly from Thailand. So not to worry, just read some of the customer reviews beforehand. Other names well worth checking out if you're after the best are Sandee and Twins. Venom Elite are worth a mention too. Looking for Thai Boxing shorts, check out the Lumpinee range.

Fitbit Charge 2 Metal Straps UK

Fitbit Charge 2 Metal Straps UK. Overall, the Fitbit Charge 2 (And Charge 3) is an excellent fitness tracker that has had some key features that were somewhat lacking on the previous model improved. And as good as it is, it's not perfect by any means. What are some of the most common complaints with Fitbit's in general. Well, in no particular order, first you have the battery duration, Sync issues, and then it's the strap. 

 

See the full range of Fitbit Charge 2 Metal Straps Currently For Sale

 So many people who buy a Fitbit complain about the strap irritating the skin on their wrist. The normal strap is made from silicone / resin, and not everyone, but some do find it annoying. In fact, some have even had an adverse reaction to it. However, you don't have to just sit back and grin and bear it.

There are a whole host of replacement bands available for the Charge 2 (In the UK), from pimped up originals of the same silicone material, to genuine leather and metal. The leather examples are excellent, and make the tracker look rather classy, but the metal ones provide a few extra perks that none of the others do.

Yes, to actually replace the original band they are all extremely easy to fix together. All of them just clip nicely into place, making it very easy to either attach or remove, but the metal straps require no holes to set the width.

Rather than having a clasp / buckle, they work by having a very strong magnet at the end, making it a no-brainer replacement if you're someone who has had problems in the past with not knowing if a strap will fit your wrist. And that goes for both very skinny or very thick wrists. The mesh metal replacement is basically one size fits all.

Actually, there is a small and large available, but which ever side you fall into (small wrist or big) just choose the appropriate size for your needs and you will be good to go. Other than the mesh strap, there are other metal designs for sale.

Some are heavier, curb-like in appearance. Another advantage that the mesh examples have over the rest is breathability. The thicker metal models, and especially the real leather straps have a tendency to generate perspiration build up and become quite sweaty on the wrist.

Take into consideration that a Fitness watch is specifically worn to exercise, and that sweat build up is magnified. The mesh straps are basically full of mini holes, so do a much better job of keeping the air flowing between the watch and the skin. Many colours are also available.

Of course, you have the very popular silver (pictured above), but also Black, Blue, Coffee, Gold, Rose gold and multi-coloured. In the USA, there are a few more colours to choose from. Champagne and Pink Gold are two. I'm yet to see the strap in White (in mesh) but would imagine it is out there somewhere, as White is a very popular colour with the Charge 2 (In silicone) and other tracker watches, like the Fitbit Alta (+HR), Blaze and many more.

The Future Of Gyms Is Uncertain

You don't need me to tell you about the effect this pandemic has had on the world. Whether you think its actually real or not is another story, and for me, a post for another blog. Bottom line is, this situation has had a dramatic effect on how we go about our daily lives. And Gyms, as well as the retail sector (and everything else other than what is owned by the 1% - which have profited massively), has been hit very hard.

When the pandemic started in the UK, to try and "stop the spread" we were told that there would be 2 -3 week lockdown to "flattern the curve". Many months and 3 lockdowns later we still don't see no end in sight. And now, there is a new invisible enemy in town. A "new strain", or mutation of the virus that is said to be more contagious than the previous strain.

"Gym Closed Temporarily" 

I'm sure you've seen the same message yourself recently

So it really does seem like this "new normal" isn't going anywhere, and any hopes of getting our lives back to anything like they were before this pandemic are fast being eradicated. Personally, I don't think things are ever going back to normal. Not the normal we once knew anyway. That's why phrases like "new normal" have been coined. It's telling us all that this is our new normal, and we better get used to it.

With months of experience under our belts, and with people now just accepting a new lockdown without much resistance, we are now more mentally conditioned to this new way of life than ever, and anytime the powers that be snap their fingers, it's back into your home for you, get back in your hole. Big brother says your grounded, just like when you were a kid being grounded by your parents.

Anyway, the meaning of this post was to highlight the reality of the title: The Future Of Gyms Is Uncertain. [Update while writing this post: Apparently, according to some news reports in the UK, it's just being reported that the closure of gyms may now be permanent.] In fact, the future of everything is uncertain. So, for those who rely on the gym to stay in shape, and feel completely lost without it,  you better change your mindset right now.

Through no fault of their own, Gyms can not be relied on anymore. They are seen as a high risk for spreading the virus / infection, and as a result almost all of them have been shut down nationwide. And at any point in the future, if they do happen to open again, they can be closed faster than you can say - I'm going to the gym on Monday.

If you prefer to do weights its now best to just buy your own. Take a look on eBay, Argos, Amazon, Gumtree etc. I know a lot of the big stores are now sold out of training equipment like free weights (Iron and Vinyl), benches etc due to sheer amount of people that now need to train at home. However, there is still alot of training equipment available on eBay and Gumtree, new and used.

But be warned, the prices have basically doubled. I should know, I have been selling a lot of my weights equipment at the moment, I'm more of a bodyweight / Isometrics guy, so don't really use the weights that much. And wow, the amount of people contacting me for weights, bars, benches, etc has been crazy. The bars sold instantly and I've been selling the weights off in sets of 2 x 10KGs for £40 each. They're Vinyl too, not Iron.

I've almost sold them all now. I'm going to keep a few light weights and a bar just for when I feel in the mood for some weights. What I'm saying is, buy your equipment now so that you don't have to run around at some point in the future and pay even more. With the potential of prices rising even further the more these lockdowns continue, that becomes a distinct possibility. Also, equipment will get harder to obtain because everyone who used to frequent the gym is after the basics, free weights, dumbells, bench, bars etc.

But don't limit yourself to that type of equipment. All is not lost if you can't find the basics for sale. I would recommend bodyweight exercises. No equipment needed and trust me, chances are you will feel much stronger, more efficient and agile than if you only did weight training previously. But I know some people, many people actually, love using equipment to work out.

So here are some suggestions of what to purchase to stay in shape if you can't find any weights for sale: Calisthenics frame, rowing machine, training dummy, exercise bike, Bullworker, Isokinator (reviewed here), bendi bar, pull-up bar, weighted vest, handweights, weighted skipping rope and punching bag.

Weighted Fingerless Shadow Boxing Gloves

If you've looked into this product line recently there's no doubt you will be aware of how many pairs of weighted boxing gloves there are out there for sale. Surprisingly, most of them have quite bad review scores. Being a relatively simple product to make, and make well, It's actually rather disappointing to read. So many of the cheaper pairs seem to have just been poorly thrown together. 

One of the better pairs for sale. The 0.5 KG (1.1 lbs) Adidas Velcro Fastening Training Gloves.

Fingerless glove, add some sand or other filler for weight, and sew it all together. With these terrible quality pairs, it's really not worth the time or money to purchase a pair. You will be much better off using a heavier set of real padded boxing gloves, or using a set of 0.5KG hand weights. Personally, I use tube design hand weights. A good pair can potentially last a lifetime.

However, hand weights are slightly less convenient, and a little more unsafe when swinging tired if you're going to train at a certain class, such as boxercise, P90X or aerobics. Weighted, MMA style boxing gloves also look more trendy! Not that I care about that, but some people do. So what are the best brands to buy? Well, there are a few that stand out from the rest.

One pair is the fingerless offering from Adidas (Pictured above). They weigh 0.5KG each, have a velcro fastening at the wrist and are made from a stretchy material. I believe the material is neoprene or similar.

Pictured: The highly rated Unisex Beachbody P90X 1 Pound per hand workout gloves.

The other pair, and the pair I would personally recommend for women (men can use them too) if they were looking to buy some weighted gloves like these, would be the offering from P90X. Like the Adidas example further above, the P90X are good quality, fingerless and velcro fastening. However, they do weigh slightly less per glove, weighing in at under half a kilogram (0.45KG / 1lb) each.

And they are less bulky around the wrist when compared to the Adidas pair. Both products claim to be breathable, and they are to a certain extent. But, ironically, that is one of the reviewers biggest gripes, that their hands sweat a lot, and after some weeks / months of use, their gloves start to smell. This is inevitable though, and its nothing that a good wash or odor killing product like the Meister Deodorizers can't put right. 

How much weight do you need in each glove?

 

0.5KG - 1KG (Max) is an adequate amount of weight for men and women.

Punching with too much weight can actually be bad for your joints. Especially if you're doing a lot of straight punches. If you have been wearing weighted gloves and throwing straight punches, extending the arm until the elbow joint locks with each strike, you may experience pain or discomfort in your elbows after training.

The heavier the gloves the more potential for injury if punching in this manner. All is not lost though. The best way to prevent this from happening without removing the exercise from your routine is to not fully lock the elbow with each strike when doing straight punches. Hooks and upper cuts are fine.

Can I use weighted fingerless gloves to actually punch a bag or pad? 

 

I'm one of those guys who punches a heavy bag with nothing but bare fist, so I would say yes, by all means use them to punch the bag or hit the mitts.

But my choice and training habits most probably don't suit the majority of people. The potential for injury is rather high. You may injure your hand, knuckles or wrist. So, if your hands are not used to impact training its best that you wear a nice padded pair of boxing gloves when hitting bags or pads.

Furthermore, if you use weighted gloves to actually make impact with punch bags, or other training aids, like training dummy's (ground and pound etc), they won't last very long, as the stitching will come undone and you will most probably have to buy a new pair.

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