Been kickboxing for around six months now and am looking for a pair of gloves/mitts to help me improve at semi contact sparring.

There seems to be a few on the market and I was just wondering if anyone could recommend some small, lightweight ones that will absorb impact on connecting with their target.

Is there a specific/renown brand that the Michael Page's and Raymond Daniels' of the sport use? I've see a few pairs made by a company called Blitz, and quite like the look of these: http://www.combatgear.co.uk/product.php?productid=97&cat=31&page=1

Assistance from someone with a bit of experience would be greatly appreciated

I use the cage fight style Blitz padded mitts. I find they are good to absorb some impact, though a full smack to the face would still do damage, but it takes away the solid impact but you still gotts control your blows. Also due to the fingerless design you can still do detail work.

I find they are great for bag work aswell as you get good feedback when punching but again take the solid impact away from the strikes.

I like em

I prefer boxing style gloves, I have a pair of 12oz Sandee that are really great. I would check what your instructor recommends though before buying any,plus if you are using them in tournaments check their regs before you buy anything.

If you are looking for MMA style gloves, Ouano has really nice ones.

Thanks for the advice. I'm using a pair of boxing style gloves at the minute but could do with gaining the slight advantage to be had from using smaller and lighter mitts, LOL.

I appreciate that practicing with heavier gloves might not be a bad thing but its harder to find small gaps in someones guard due to the size of the things and they can be a bit cumbersum.

As recommended by Su Lin, I should really run the question past my instructor. Only problem with that is he'll want me to purchase through the franchise (PKA) and it seems to take ages for orders to arrive

Kwon used to do some dipped foam mitts that I liked. Not sure what's around now. Have you looked at the shop on this site?

For kickboxing, I've used Top Ten boxing gloves for years, though just got some Twins gloves, which are taking some getting used to as they are bit more snug. I may go back to Top Ten's.

For mma, I like the Top Ten mma sparring gloves as they well padded and don't feel like oven gloves when you get hit. I've got some Century mma gloves that they do for our association which are quite nice.

What do other people at your club use? Be careful not to buy something that your instructor considers unsafe.

We have to use closed finger gloves for general sparring which basically means boxing gloves, its for the safety of others as you don't end up with a an accidental poke in the eye. Sparring with take downs and ground work we can use MMA gloves, but have to be aware and only use light contact.

Maybe check out the nice new shop ME has set up,

I'm not afraid to give them a plug if they are too polite to do so themselves.

Magic 7 how can you be giving shameless plugs to other sites when you have one of the worlds largest online stores right under your nose!!!

You should be buying from us so we can spend more on web development!!!

Jeltz loving the plugs - any opportunity thats what I say!!!