Protecting the family jewels...

[Hebrew Hammer]

I was watching a show on Fight Science or something...they had this guy kick the holy crap out of this guy's jewels..and he hardly flinched, it was part of his body conditioning during martial arts training.

I haven't had full contact sparring in a while but never used to wear a cup (not that I'm a sadist) when I did during Kempo or CLF sparring. I figured that if I ever got in a fight for real, I'd wouldn't be wearing one. I was wondering if those of you who train or spar for self defense wear protective cups as part of your training?

[Frost]

I was watching a show on Fight Science or something...they had this guy kick the holy crap out of this guy's jewels..and he hardly flinched, it was part of his body conditioning during martial arts training.

I haven't had full contact sparring in a while but never used to wear a cup (not that I'm a sadist) when I did during Kempo or CLF sparring. I figured that if I ever got in a fight for real, I'd wouldn't be wearing one. I was wondering if those of you who train or spar for self defense wear protective cups as part of your training?

yes why wouldnt you :eek:

i have warn then all through sparring in kung fu and now in MMA, can you take a shot there and keep going? yep i have at time forgotten my cup and sods law says the guy you are sparring lands on them.....with adrenaline you keep going, but its not something i would actually do on purpose!

[mooyingmantis]

42 years of training, 32 years of teaching, never wore a cup. Still had two children and still sexually fit in my 50s. :D
BTW, kicking to the groin during sparring has always been allowed in my schools. We also wear eye protection and allow finger strikes to the eyes. We try to adopt a street-fighting mentality as much as possible.
If you know its a possibility, you stay aware. Just a thought.

[GeneChing]

For insurance reasons, I'd officially say to always were proper protection. That's the professional perspective. Get your Groin protectors here. (http://www.martialartsmart.com/sparring-gear-groin-protectors.html)

[Oso]

Gene, you guys need to pick up Under Armour so i don't feel bad saying the UA jock strap is the most comfortable and long lasting I've ever used.



...and, wear a frakking cup...and a mouthguard...just plain stupid not to.
a hard enough kick to the nads still hurts even with a cup...but probably won't rupture anything.

[Drake]

With the adrenaline and intensity that comes with real fights, groin strikes actually don't do a whole heck of a lot.

Sort of an urban legend.

[KC Elbows]

Slightly OT, but I've seen not one, but two people get scrap lumber they were pushing through an old table saw shot into their nutsack.

I've been kicked there, but I don't recommend anyone believe for one second that, if a rupture, or worse, stabbing with pointed scrap lumber occurred there, that their response would be at all the same.

Everyone's stoic until a pine splinter is dangling from their jewels. Remember that.

[Oso]

effectiveness in a fight is one thing, training smart and safe is a another.

train safe and smart.

[GeneChing]

We couldn't undercut the price if we offered it. It would just take up space on our shelves and that's no way to do business.

ouch, KC Elbows OUCH! I've always hated table saws. I used to have to work one when I made swords. Once I was cutting handle blanks, which are basically short chunks of wood that we'd hand-rasp into sword handles. I was using push sticks because they are pretty small, 4 inches or so, and the saw grabbed one and tossed it into the fluorescent shop lights above. Suddenly, I was showed with broken glass, in the dark, with the saw grinding, and wondering if I still had all my fingers.

[Oso]

true...but, since UA is the same price everywhere...wouldn't you gain sales simply because "I" would buy UA from you because I already buy stuff from you and I like you?

[GeneChing]

...but you'd have to buy hundreds of units in all different sizes to justify the shelf space, Oso. That's just basic retail. Merchandise that doesn't move fast enough costs you in storage.

On the upside (and back OT) MAM just added Shock Doctor protective gear. Check out these new items for groin protection.
Core Compression Short W/Bioflex Cup (http://www.martialartsmart.com/sd-221.html)
Ultra Carbon Flex Cup (http://www.martialartsmart.com/sd-202.html)
TITAN ALLOY Flex Cup (http://www.martialartsmart.com/sd-203.html)
Ultra Martial Arts Padded Short (http://www.martialartsmart.com/sd-291.html)