Women Muay Thai Fighting Article
If You Have Seen Amateur Muay Thai Then You Have Seen The Full Torso Protectors...These Are Sometimes Used In Training As Well
You may have seen or competeted in amateur muay thai fights where they are padded up from head to toe. One of the pieces of protection is the chest or torso guard which resembles the vests they wear in olympic Tae Kwon Do competition.
They are made from dense foam rubber and provide protection from shoulders to lower abdomen. They take some of the sting away from body kicks and punches.
Just like the concept of wearing shin guards to make sure a muay thai fighters goes in to a fight without any injuries, the chest guards make sure that you have no bumps and bruises before a comptition.
I personally haven't worn one or come across anyone who trains with one. I have only spoken to people who have worn them in competition. They say that it takes away some of the sting and bruises but you still feel it inside.
This means you can't get away without conditioning your midsection for impact even if competing in amateur muay thai. Most amateur muay thai here in Australia doesn't require you wear these chest guards anyway.
I would only buy one if you were going into an official muay thai tournement where this protection was manditory. And most tournements would supply them anyway.

