How to choose the right groinguard for your boxing style
Boxing groinguard are not only useful tools for preserving your future offspring, but also excellent tools for reducing blows to the body and therefore ideal allies in sparring and boxing matches.
In this short article we will do a quick rundown of boxing groinguard types, dividing by gender ( man and woman), by type of use and experience (amateur, competitive and professional) and finally by model and pattern (Mexican / American model, Japanese model and Italian model).
In this list we will also add specific construction details and materials used inside and outside to protect the boxer from the opponent’s blows.
Structural differences between-the-groinguard for man and woman
The men’s and women’s groinguards basically have the same function. Anatomically, however, man has a greater need to wear a groinguard as the effect of an accidental (or deliberate) blow is very serious and painful for the male gender.
In fact, a low blow for humans is debilitating and can even lead to cardiac arrest or in rare cases to death.
As for the female gender, a low blow can also be very painful and risky, but for lighter blows it is slightly less dangerous.
Therefore, in addition to the obvious anatomical differences, men’s and women’s groinguards are made up differently. Those for women usually contain foams or semi-rigid materials, but still able to deform so as not to annoy the female boxer during the activity. This type of protection is already able to protect the athlete during training and match activities.
The male athlete, on the other hand, needs a genital cover made of harder and more non-deformable material. Usually it is a plastic material covered, in professional groinguards, with other anti-impact materials. This is to discharge the shock totally on the outer edges of the boxing groinguard, without letting the blow reach directly on the male sexual organs.
groinguards for men and women by type of use and experience
Athletes who start sparring or who do not fight prefer to spend little on their protection. & nbsp; The first choice always falls on the more reduced groin protection (called “panty protector” in jargon). This equipment is inexpensive but effectively protects the groin. What it does not do, however, is to reduce impacts in the adjacent area, which can be incredibly painful and impacting the boxer’s health as well. The more experienced athletes, on the other hand, use “professional” groinguards that reduce the effect of blows, not only in the groin area, but also on the pubis, lower abdomen and hips. Female boxers on the other hand tend to use “entry level” women’s groinguards for longer, sacrificing protection in exchange for better agility and less weight. This is due, not only to a choice made consciously by the female boxer, but also to the difficulty of finding professional women’s groinguards, produced only by high-level brands (Japanese and English).
Men’s-groinguards: the three different models
“Japanese” model boxing groinguards
A well-known Japanese brand was the first to produce groinguards of this kind. The pattern is very thin and light. The thickness of the men’s groinguard of this brand (and of all the brands that have tried to imitate it) is below average. This is thanks to the materials (eva and pressed polyurethanes) which considerably reduce the weight.
Pro
Very light and agile
Cons
Relatively unprotected from blows to the pubis and hips. Interior in leather or imitation leather that slips with sweat.
“Mexican” model boxing groinguard
Born in Mexico and spread widely in the USA. It is a protective boxing groinguard with usually an EVA and semi-rigid latex padding. The groinguard space is more abundant. Furthermore, the pattern of this boxing protector is particular, as the hips are also covered thanks to an extension of the groinguard along both hips.
Pro
Padded and wide
Cons
Some may feel restricted in their leg and trunk movements due to the pattern. Interior in leather or imitation leather that slips with sweat.
“Italian” model boxing groinguard
In this article we give Boxia the title of “Italian groin guards”. The difference of this boxing groin guardsfrom the others is, in addition to the type of leather used, also the internal padding. The groinguard is slightly shorter on the hips, and the pattern resembles that of Japanese boxing protectors. The groin guard, therefore, allows the movements of the trunk and legs. The difference lies in the materials used: inside the groinguard there is EVA and polyurethanes which make it very mobile and agile. The trunk has full freedom, also because the groinguard supports the movements of the boxer.
Pro
Padded, comfortable and protective. Internal anti-slip mesh.
Cons
Unprotected on the upper legs (like Mexican boxing groinguard). Slightly detached from the hips to facilitate movement of the trunk.
