Shin, Knee & Elbow Guards

Strap-on models, such as Venum Elite Standup, have shaped foam padding over the shin and instep, with fastenings around the calf and foot. They are designed for stand-up training, such as kickboxing or Muay Thai.

Fabric sleeve-style guards, such as Venum Kontact, fit around the leg with stretch fabric and have a more compact construction. For MMA, check whether the fastening stays secure during transitions to the ground. A sleeve design alone does not determine cushioning or approval for a particular class or competition.

If the model has a size chart, follow it to measure shin length and, where required, calf circumference; your height alone may not be enough. The shin section should cover the front of the shin, and its upper edge should not hit your knee when you bend it. On a model with instep protection, the lower section should sit over the instep without blocking ankle movement.

Try your stance, raise a knee and practise a slow kick. The guard should not slide down or rotate. If measurements are missing, email the model name and your measurements to info@bjp-store.cz; shoe size alone does not determine the size of the whole guard.

Check that it is correctly positioned; if the manufacturer marks left and right sides, follow those markings. Centre the padding over your shin and secure all the straps for that design, including straps under the foot or behind the heel if fitted.

Then repeat the movement. If the guard still slips, it may be the wrong size, too wide for your calf, or have stretched fastenings. Do not tighten it to the point of pain or tingling. Resolve the sizing or strap issue before training with a partner.

The padded section should stay over the area it protects, even when you bend the joint. For knee pads, try a squat and gently kneel on a soft surface; for elbow pads, bend and straighten your arm several times. The sleeve should not slip, bunch in the crease or painfully constrict the limb.

Choose a product intended for the contact involved: for example, Venum recommends Kontact Knee Pads for BJJ and MMA, and Kontact elbow pads for Muay Thai and MMA drills. A shin guard does not also cover your knee, and an ordinary unpadded ankle sleeve does not replace shin or instep protection.

Follow the individual model's instructions. Venum specifies machine washing at 30 °C for Kontact Shin Guards Black/Gold. Do not apply that instruction to every Kontact product or to shaped guards with an outer material such as Skintex.

For wipe-clean models, use a lightly damp cloth and let them air-dry. Take guards out of your bag after training, open the straps and dry away from direct heat. Only wash, tumble-dry or soak them if the manufacturer explicitly allows it.

Before each session, inspect the padding, seams and fastenings. Permanently compressed or displaced padding, tears or straps that no longer hold mean the guard may no longer fit or function correctly. The same applies when a sleeve has stretched and the padding slips away from the area it should cover.

Condition and fit matter, not a fixed number of months. Stop using a damaged item for contact training. New or thicker guards are not, by themselves, a reason to increase the force of punches or kicks.