Karate Equipment for Children

Karate is a form of martial arts taught at professional martial arts schools or by a private instructor. Karate is frequently recommended for children as a way to improve self-esteem, lose weight, build muscle strength, learn self-defense and improve academic performance. Children's karate equipment is designed to protect and assist children while practicing karate.

  1. Uniform

    • Your child's karate uniform should be comfortable but not too tight. Your child should have unrestricted movement while wearing his uniform. A child's karate uniform consists of a white jacket, matching pants and a belt. Your child's belt color varies based on his level of karate achievement. Purchase a uniform from your child's karate school, at sporting goods stores or online.

    Bag

    • Your child should have a duffel bag to transport his karate gear between home and class.

    Gloves

    • Purchase child-sized gloves for karate practice. Appropriate sized gloves will protect your child's hands and wrists from injury. Avoid purchasing gloves that are too big in the hopes that your child will grow. Children need gloves that fit snugly at each practice in order to protect their fragile bones.

    Shoes

    • Specialty karate shoes protect small feet during practices. Select shoes that are snug but comfortable for your child. He should wear his shoes each time he goes to karate class to protect his feet when he kicks or is kicked.

    Foam-Padded Weapons

    • For weapons practice, select foam-padded items for your child. Some states prohibit certain weapons in karate for children, but if your child partakes in weapons training, foam covering protects your child from painful injury.

    Padded Flooring

    • Children who take karate practice kicking and throwing and may fall or be pushed down. Padded flooring protects the child from severe injury when falling.

    Shield

    • Foam-padded shields protect your child during weapons training. These are sometimes provided by your child's martial arts school, but some teachers require each child to purchase a shield for at-home practice.