Gear file for martial arts.

Martial arts has more styles than almost any other activity in youth sports, and the gear is not interchangeable between them. The gi for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is not the same as the gi for karate. The dobok for taekwondo is different from both. Before buying anything, know what style your kid is doing and what the school requires.

One more thing first: many schools include a beginner gi in the enrollment fee. Ask before you buy. You may not need to purchase one at all for the first few months.

Ages 5–9 (Beginner classes, white and yellow belt)

The early levels are about body awareness, listening skills, coordination, and basic technique. The gear list is minimal.

The gi or dobok — ask the school first

The uniform. Each style has its own:

Karate uses a lightweight cotton gi, usually white. Simple construction. These are inexpensive ($20–40) and many schools include them.

Taekwondo uses a dobok — lighter than a karate gi, with a V-neck collar instead of the lapel. Many taekwondo schools have their own branded doboks required for testing and competition. Buy through the school.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu uses a heavier weave gi designed for gripping and grappling. A basic BJJ gi costs $50–80 new. The heavier weave takes more abuse without tearing.

Don’t mix them up. A lightweight karate gi in a BJJ class gets destroyed. A BJJ gi in a karate class is unnecessarily heavy and may not meet the school’s uniform standards.

A mouthguard

Required in most sparring programs. Not all martial arts involve sparring at the beginner level, but most do within the first year.

Ages 10–14 (Intermediate, brown belt / purple belt)

Sparring becomes regular. The school will specify what sparring gear is required.

Sparring gear set

Helmet, chest protector, forearm/shin guards, instep pads, and gloves. Taekwondo sparring gear is different from karate sparring gear — don’t buy one for the other.

Ages 15+ (Advanced belts, competitive)

Competitive martial arts adds tournament fees, a team uniform, and travel. The gear costs are fixed. The variable is how much competition your kid pursues.

A few honest notes

Belt progression fees are common. Many schools charge a testing fee for each belt rank. Know what the full progression costs before committing.

The instructor matters more than the gear. A great instructor with basic equipment beats a bad instructor with premium gear every time.

A gear bag

A duffel large enough to fit the gi, sparring gear, water bottle, and mouthguard case. Any athletic duffel works.

Rash guard (BJJ)

Under the gi in BJJ, a rash guard is the standard base layer. It reduces friction, keeps the gi from clinging to the skin, and is the norm at every level. Any athletic compression shirt works; BJJ-specific rash guards are more durable and often look better. In no-gi BJJ classes, the rash guard becomes the top.

Ages 14+ (Advanced belts, tournament competition)

At this level, the student knows their style well and has developed preferences. The instructor is the right person to consult on equipment upgrades.

A second gi

Serious students training five to six days a week go through laundry fast. A second gi means you always have a clean, dry one ready. For BJJ specifically, a wet gi that doesn’t dry overnight is a real problem — the fabric is dense and holds moisture.

Belt tracking

In most styles, higher belts are awarded by the school and purchased through them. Budget $15–30 per belt promotion. The belt is the only gear item in martial arts that carries real meaning — it’s proof of work done, not a product you choose.

What the school provides

The school provides: mat space, instruction, and usually the first gi for beginner students. Sparring equipment is sometimes available to borrow during class.

What you’re always on your own for: your gi (after the first one), mouthguard, and sparring gear once you reach the level that requires it.

Used gear notes

Used gis are fine — check the stitching at the collar and sleeve seams, which take the most stress in grappling arts. Mouthguards should be new. Headgear and gloves used from a family member or teammate are acceptable; from a stranger at a resale shop, less so — check for cracked foam inside the headgear. Belts should be earned, not bought secondhand.

What you can skip

Skip sparring gear before the school tells you it’s needed. Skip expensive branded gis for the first six months — cheap ones train the same. Skip training weapons (bo staff, nunchucks, foam swords) until the instructor specifically assigns them. Skip belt certificates and display cases. The practice is the point, not the paper.

Rules and citations

• USA Martial Arts
• USA Taekwondo
• USA Judo
• IBJJF (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)