Great Gifts for Martial Artists

The Way is in training

-Miyamoto Musashi, Japan's greatest swordsman.

Most martial artists are a practical bunch. If you want to make them smile, buy something they can use to get better in their training.

Here are some gift ideas for the martial artist in your life.

Combat Sports MMA gloves are the gold standard for serious competitors. Anyone who practices a martial art that combines punching with grappling needs a pair of these. Cheaper gloves will fall apart faster - and they can even cut your training partner. MMA gloves protect your knuckles while leaving your fingers free for takedowns and submissions.

The best way to develop knockout punches is to train with a heavy bag. A heavy bag can also be used for power and conditioning exercises.

Be sure you have a place to hang it before you buy it though!

You can buy these bags in many different weights. For smaller people and beginners, start with the lighter weight bags. An advanced martial artist will appreciate a heavier bag.

If you don't want to shell out the cash for a 100 pound heavy bag, consider buying wrist wraps and bag gloves - two essentials for any martial artist who trains on a heavy punching bag.

Most martial arts have some elements of self defense training. Quality training tools can help create realistic scenarios, without the risk of injury.

Training knives are available in many shapes and sizes, from soft rubber to solid wood. Someone who practices traditional Japanese martial arts might want a tanto shaped wooden knife, while a Filipino MA practitioner might want a durable rubber bladed knife for the added protection it gives to training partners.

A more advanced student might prefer a metal training knife with no edge for the most realism possible.

Don't forget about a training handgun!

Bunbu Ichi: The pen and the sword are the same.

If a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, a martial artist with a little knowledge is truly fearsome. A well rounded martial artist must have a well trained body and a well trained mind. For centuries warriors have studied the writings of the masters.

Written 2600 years ago, Sun Tzu's Art of War should be on every warrior's shelf. It's filled with ageless wisdom on victory and defeat.

Miyamoto Musashi, Japan's greatest swordsman, defeated 60 opponents in single combat. He recorded his strategy in Go Rin No Sho, The Book of Five Rings.

And, to balance out the Art of War, Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido, wrote the Art of Peace to guide martial artists in the 20th century.

Those are classic texts, but there are many other books out there with specific and valuable information on various martial arts.