Review of Combat Sports MMA Amateur Grappling Shin-Instep Guards

Combat Sports' MMA Amateur Grappling Shin-Instep Guards are a great training tool for any amateur mixed martial artist. With only a few minor drawbacks, these protective guards gives those of us who didn't grow up kicking trees in Thailand a fighting chance. You can buy these shin guards from CombatSports.com for $44.95.

These particular shin guards have a great design. Instead of using a series of straps for security, they are form fitting and slip on, with straps as secondary security. They come in three sizes, regular (up to 140 lbs.), large (140 to 185 lbs.) and XL (over 185 lbs.). The guards also deem neoprene support and an elastic foot strap, to keep them from sliding around while practicing mixed martial arts: stand up or on the ground. They are long enough to cover the top of the foot, the instep, and the entire shin, stopping just below the knee. The outside is leather, comes in red and blue, and has a hard plastic shell underneath for ultimate shin protection.

I have only found a couple of drawbacks over the course of constant use regarding this product. The first is the bleeding of color from the leather encasing. The colors of the shin guards should stay on the shin guards. The wearer will work up a sweat in these guards, especially in a martial art like Thai boxing, and for the fact that the guards have a neoprene lining. When the sweat wicks off, the dye from the leather wicks with it: onto the wearer, their clothes and fellow students, everywhere. The second drawback is the fitting. These guards are so form fitting, that they are not very adjustable for different body types, especially for women. They were designed for a flat male leg and anyone (men included) with varying size calves may have difficulty finding a perfect fit out of the three size options.