The Care and Feeding of Mouthguards

by Mike

Ways to clean them, ways to make sure they don't get unclean.

Taking care of the mouthguard is one of those things that most people don't think about, likely because thinking about it is kind of disgusting. We won't ask Sifu Z to describe what all goes on while your mouthguard is sitting in a warm, wet, dark container in a warm, wet, dark gym bag in between workouts, but for you to properly thank me, I'd have to have him tell you.

Things you can do to keep your mouthguard from getting too gross in the first place:

1. Don't drop it on the ground. That's gross.
   
   
2. Don't put it back in your mouth after you drop it on the ground. That's even more disgusting. No matter how often your gym cleans them mats, it's never enough. Think about all the sweaty dudes that are rolling/running all over that mat. That's right, your sweaty training partners are going to end up all your your mouthguard and therefore your mouth.
   
   If you do drop it, at the very least, rinse it off. Better yet, swap out your spare (you do have a spare mouthguard, don't you?) and save the unclean one for cleaning (see below).
   
   
3. Rinse it off when you're done training. Even if you forget to do anything else to it, you'll at least retard the growth of awful things.
   
   
4. Open up the case and let it dry when you get home.
   
   
5. Don't keep taking your mouthguard out in between rounds. I'm guilty of this myself, but it's gross all the same. Especially after rolling for an hour, slapping hands, pushing off of the mat, etc. If you can't talk or breathe or drink with your mouthguard in, you need to refit it or get a new one. I've got a bulky double moutghuard and can breathe between rounds/drink just fine. I apparently always mumble, so I can't tell if I mumble as clearly as normal or not.

Things you can do to clean your mouthguard (either after you've dropped it or a couple times a month/when you remember):

1. Soak it in Listerine. Put some Listerine (or the generic versions) in a glass. You don't need a lot of the stuff, maybe enough to cover the mouthguard halfway. Add water until you totally cover the mouthguard and let it sit for a few minutes.
   
   Be sure to rinse it off with water when you're done! The Listerine gets into the little cracks and crevices and is hard to get out even with a good washing. Your mouthguard is going to have a nice minty-fresh taste the next couple of times you use it (or that weird '50s antiseptic if that's how you roll) - it's bad enough washed, it straight-up burns if you get it "uncut' as it were.
   
   
2. Brush your mouthguard. Some people like this. I understand it's very theraputic.
   
   
3. Be sure to clean the case you put it in, too. I've seen people wear mouthguards that were taken out of cases that looked like they were full of homemade penicillin. Too gross.

* As a side note, if you get a double mouthguard that has the little red thing in the air holes, take that thing out before you wear it - it's to keep you from melting the pathway when you boil it. I can't think of a nice way to tell guys that without embarrassing them. No wonder they can't breathe properly when rolling.

Keeping Boxing Gloves Dry and Smelling Good (or at least not-bad)

by Mike

Keep your gloves dry and clean. They'll last longer and won't offend your classmates. I remember after I started sparring, I forgot my gloves (airing out in the window at home) and the instructor gleefully offered to let me borrow a pair of his. "Trust me, you'll never forget your gloves again," he said.

He opened his bag and I could smell them from across the room.

Putting them on was worse, but I'll spare you that (or how it took three days for me to scrub the stench from my hands).

What are the best ways to keep your gloves nice and dry?

Wear handwraps

The handwraps will absorb a lot of the sweat that will otherwise soak into the gloves. Handwraps can also be washed (yes, you should wash your handwraps. Get one of those dollar shop washing bags to put them in).

Leave them in the window

Pretty simple really. Really the only way to let them dry and let them dry completely is to put them in front of a breeze until they're dry. During a nice Chicago summer, this is rarely more than overnight.

Please be aware that a breeze is required for this. Leaving them open and out on a table or something won't work. For those times (winter, raining sideways, etc.) when you can't leave them in the window, you'll have to do something that will wick the moisture out of the gloves and preferably something that will help cover up the smell until you can let them air out again:

Glove Dogs

You can buy these from a number of retailers online (tend to run $10/pair), or you can make your own for a lot less. You'll need over-the-calf socks and cedar chips. If you use old-ass socks like I did, you'll need tape as well. Surprisingly, cedar chips are hard to find.

The process goes something like this:

1. Put cedar chips into sock


2. Check to see how well it fits in your glove


3. Repeat until you get the right amount.


4. Tie knot in the sock and prepare to have your hands smell like wood.

Getting the cedar in the socks is a lot harder than it should be, and sizing can be tricky - make sure the socks are filled enough that they can touch the bottom of the glove and have a little bit peeking out over the top.
The homemade ones will last longer than the ones you buy. And you can put the leftover cedar in your closer to protect your clothes from moths.

This is really an imperfect solution, as the 'dogs won't reach all the way to the fingers of your boxing gloves, but it's better than nothing. You'll eventually need to supplement with:

Fabric Softener Dyer Sheets

If you've really let your gloves go and they smell like death, you can always toss a sheet in there. Won't do much to actually dry the things, but will help the stench. You can crush these into the "fingers" of the gloves, which are the hardest to get to parts. The benefit is that you'll smell nice and soft. MMMmmmm.

Of course, make sure you're not allergic to the stuff before you do this - some people break out in hives from all the chemicals.

You can also toss a sheet in your gym bag if it starts getting funky. Or get one like mine that's all ripped up and frayed - it's almost like having a mesh bag.

Febreeze may be another option. Again, it's not as good as the moving air, but it works in a pinch and given that it's mostly natural you may not have the same reaction to it that you do to the dryer sheets.

Keep your gloves dry and your partners happy.

Shoes: To Wear or Not to Wear?

by Meredith

Unless they're specifically required to the type of martial art you're training in, then generally it's a matter of personal preference. Obviously, if you're doing wrestling, wrestling shoes would be preferable, if you're doing savate, savate shoes are a good idea. Although there is generally some flexibility. I wear my savate shoes to wrestling and I know Mike wears his wrestling shoes to savate and neither of us has been cursed yet. So far as we know.

If your options are open, generally it's up to you. Let's break it down into pros and cons.

Positives of Wearing Shoes:

• If you're a foot model or just one of those people who likes to keep their feet sandal-ready and callous free, then shoes would definitely help avoid the wear and tear you can get from pivoting on bare feet.


• Shoes can protect against some minor bumps and bruises sustained if you kickbox regularly. Generally better than the strap on foot coverings. They also help prevent frequent toe jams and mat burn.
• Shoes will stay in place better than the strap on foot coverings.


• Shoes also provide better footing for explosive movements (shooting).


• If you're a germaphobe or a hypochondriac, shoes are the way to go.


• If you've sustained any recent injury or have chronic problems with your feet or ankles, shoes may be a smart idea.


• If you have ugly feet: shoes.

Negatives of Wearing Shoes:

• If you lack control, you have a slightly greater possibility of injuring the person you're working with (if they aren't wearing shoes) as you may feel the impact of your kicks on your feet less than they will and thus kick harder.


• If you're not used to wearing shoes, then they may take a while to get used to and your form could suffer briefly, this goes the other way too, of course.


• Shoes can be expensive. Especially savate shoes if you want decent ones.


• Fitting shoes can be tricky. This again goes more for savate shoes than wrestling shoes as savate shoes generally have a less flexible toe and are generally mail-ordered from France. All shoes require some breaking in, but striking the balance between having them fit comfortably enough to wear when you get them and having them still fit when they're broken in can be irritating.


• If you become a shoe aficionado and then decide to take a new class or try a different school, you may run into problems if the new instructor doesn't allow them in his/her class. More acclimation for you, and probably blisters if you're not used to pivoting in bare feet.


• I suppose shoes may add a little weight to your feet, but this really shouldn't be significant.

My personal experience with shoes has run the gamut. I started out a barefoot person, which is the way I have always been. I was a child that hated shoes. Then I got into savate and borrowed a pair to see how I would like it. I ended up sticking with it, but only wore those shoes for savate. Then I fractured my ankle and it was wear and ankle brace and shoes or stop training. The first couple of classes were difficult. I felt it was harder to pivot and I just felt odd wearing them. But I got used to them and liked them and ordered some savate shoes of my own, returning the borrowed ones as soon as mine came in. They were too small, uncomfortably so. I started wearing them at intervals to break them in and went back to bare feet for most of my classes. It was weird to readjust. I hated those little strap on foot things and got those little bruises on top of my foot from who knows what. And one of my toes was always sore. I've readjusted and am now pretty comfortable going either way, although my preference leans towards shoes because of the lack of tiny and irritating foot bruises and the increased quickness with which I am able to suit up for kickboxing without having to worry about the footies.

As stated before, while wearing shoes is generally a personal preference, there are a few things that should be taken into consideration.

Never wear your wore out gym shoes that you use to walk to work or run outside or go to some other gym. You'll carry all of the unwanted dirt and bacteria they've picked up onto the mats that others walk on with their bare feet and occasionally make contact with using other parts of their bodies as well. In addition, running shoes usually have too much traction to be used for martial arts. You'll break your ankle trying to pivot in them. Running shoes do have one thing in common with martial arts footwear, however; just as you would never wear a new pair of running shoes during a race, you shouldn't wear a new pair of martial arts shoes during a competition or any kind of lengthy seminar. Why should you have your shoes causing you pain when you're surrounded but lots of people ready to kick you in the head?

Review: Sprawl 2005 FlexFighter XT shorts

by Mike

Overview:

The reason I mention old-ass gear is because they're currently on clearance at Sprawl and I've been very happy with my shorts for the past two years.

I know Sprawl has been changing their shorts for the past couple years and I could probably use a third pair of shorts, but haven't gotten around to getting any. I will say that I can't imagine any other shorts being as good as these.

In two years of heavy use, all the stitching is still good, there aren't any tears and everything works the way it's supposed to.

The good:

• These are made of a heavy-duty nylon, rugged and won't tear easily, even when judokas grab your shorts in lieu of a gi


• That nylon also makes them light as hell and despite holding sweat after particularly long workouts, don't get noticeably heavier


• They dry quickly, so you can wash them in the sink if you don't have enough time to go to the laundromat, but still be ready for the next day's training session


• I'm not sure that the flex-panel does anything to help with the high kicks, but that probably shows that it works the way it's supposed to!


• The slit on the side that makes them XT gives you free movement for those head shots without being constricting for rubber guard work and still stays tight on your ass to keep you from getting mat burn. The slit also highlights your sexy gams.


• Mouthguard pocket in the shorts so you don't have to hunt for a place to put it and/or let the drool run onto the mat while you're in between rounds.


• Drawstring is nice and tight - you'll never get pantsed.
  

The bad:

• During particularly long sparring sessions with multiple rotations in and out, I sometimes forget my mouthguard in the pocket and run around looking for it like a fool. That really means I need to work on my boxing defense a little more so I don't get punched in the head as often

Recommendation:

Unfortunately, they've only got larger and smaller sizes left, otherwise I'd probably pick up a couple more on my own. You can't beat the price, though. If they've got your size and you could use an extra pair of shorts, I highly recommend these.