Amateur Boxing Association Article
It's Obvious That You Need A Groin For Muay Thai...But You Probably Don't Know All The Times You Should Wear It
If you're a guy you especially know the benefits of wearing a good groin guard during your muay thai sparring or fighting but you may not realize the other times it may be important to wear. If you're doing any type of partner work you should wear one and if you're getting ready for a fight you should wear one all through training.
If you're a pad holder you should be wearing a groin guard every time a muay thai fighter stands in front of you. Quite often kicks and knees go off target and catch you below. If you are holding the kicking shield be careful where you put it when training inside leg kicks...with a groin guard or not.
When you're doing clinch training you should wear a guard even if you're not throwing knees. There are some muay thai clinch defensive techniques that go near the groin area so be careful.
If you're doing clinch work with a partner and you are both throwing knees then definitely wear a guard. Even when throwing the knees soft I have seen, and felt, many mishaps during this training.
Finally, if you are training for a muay thai fight then you have to wear a groin guard from the beginning of training to the end. Not just for protection but to get used to wearing it.
Groin guards are a hassle to wear because they always feel like they are getting in the way of full movement. Especially with kicks and knees.
After wearing a guard for a few weeks you get used to it and don't let it affect your movement. In fact you should always wear what you plan to fight in so that when fight night comes you feel the most comfortable that you can.
There are different types of groin guards but the main type is the plastic cup inside a jock strap. The straps are made out of cotton and stretch quite easily over a short time. Buy one that is a bit better.
There are the boxing type of guard that have extra foam padding around the top covered in vinyl. These provide padding for the kidneys and lower stomach as well but are used only in training.
There are new groin guards now that are made from metal and covered in a tougher material than cotton. These seem to be the best one to buy for muay thai because of the very real chance of getting hit in the groin with a knee.
