Kick pads

Although nothing replaces a sparring session, kick pads training is undoubtedly the most effective accessory to progress. It allows you to work on each gesture as technically as possible, and to repeat it endlessly. Working on the kick pads also allows you to fine-tune your sequences as close as possible to reality as well as to work on power, speed and cardio.

What is a kick pads ?

The kick pads is a target that allows you to work on boxing sequences, and particularly foot-fist boxing (kickboxing, Thai boxing, k1 or even Karate). Practitioners of English boxing will tend to use bear paws. A pao being thicker and larger, it allows you to take strikes with your legs much more powerfully than a direct or hook given with arm strength alone.

Some models are sold individually, and others in pairs, refer to the item description sheet.

Why train with kick pads ?

Kick pads work has many advantages. It allows you to work on moving targets and thus improve sight and precision, as close as possible to real combat.

Kick pads work also allows you to greatly develop your power, your cardio and your reaction speed.

The mobility of the paos allows you to work on a large number of sequences and different blows, so thanks to their repetition you develop automatisms essential to progression in boxing.

It is also one of the best tools for interval work, which is an essential part of the development of cardio in combat sports. You can thus vary the time of work, of rest, but also the intensity, to specify that the work at the pao is one of the best for burning fats and calories thanks to its intensity and its diversity, because the entire muscular chain is solicited .

How to use a pair of kick pads ?
A kick pads is worn around the arm and is attached with a Velcro closure system provided for this purpose. Before starting the session, make sure that the pao is fixed correctly around your forearms, while having mobility in your hands.

The work is done with a partner, it is the coach who sets the pace and the different sequences to be performed. For hard strikes, prefer a heavy paos, preferably in leather, with dense foam, like the Twins kick pads, or the Fairtex kick pads for example.

It is important that during the strikes, the coach provides good resistance to the blows so that your partner can work on the effectiveness of his gesture. You can also diversify the sequences by adding dodges or even discounts in the sequences.

Little advice: Don’t hesitate to set the pace and add movements!

Maintenance is very simple, just clean your pair of paos from time to time with a damp cloth.

Boxing Pao Brands
Métal boxe kick pads : The famous French brand Métal boxe offers a range of Thai kick pads, from inexpensive paos to very good quality leather paos for intense sessions. Discover the entire collection in the Metal boxing pao and bear paws category.

Fairtex kick pads : The Fairtex brand has been manufacturing Thai boxing equipment since 1958, the quality of their equipment is simply above average. Each piece is handcrafted in their factories located in Thailand from high-end Skyntex leather. Fairtex muay thai kick pads have a great shock absorption capacity, they are also strong and easy to handle.

Adidas kick pads : Discover the range of Adidas boxing kick pads, a very technical range for everyone and at all prices to discover.

Twins kick pads : The Twins brand, like the Fairtex brand, is known for the quality of the Thai boxing equipment they manufacture. Everything is handmade in Thailand from full grain leather. The resistance and shock absorption capacity of their pao is unbeatable.

Find the best current brands: Fairtex, Twins, Venum, Adidas, Metal boxe, and many others... a wide choice of equipment for combat sports as well as for martial arts.

Choosing a kick pads 
When choosing your kick pads, you must take into consideration the material, shape and size.

The material: For sustained use, more than 2 to 3 times a week, you should choose a leather pao preferably, PU models could wear out prematurely. Although good quality Pu is more resistant than poor quality leather.
The shape: Prefer a curved pao rather than a flat shape, in order to better match the shape of the forearms and better absorb blows. In fact, a curved kick pads will be able to receive blows with the legs more easily, especially low kicks, than a flat pao. You will benefit from more comfort.

Small kick pads have the advantage of being much lighter and therefore much more manageable, on the other hand they have the disadvantage of absorbing shocks much less than a larger kick pads which will be able to cushion hard hits but will be more tiring to handle. In most cases, M or L size kick pads remain more versatile.