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Not all training bags are created equal. Each style serves a unique purpose and supports different aspects of striking training.

But before you install a ring or cage, do you know what goes into the setup? Have you considered the flooring, wall pads, and accessories you’ll need?

Here’s how the right training mats can elevate both safety and performance for stand-up and striking martial arts.

Duane recently took the time to share his story, how he got involved in martial arts, his approach to training, and his favorite things about ZEBRA Mats!

Punching bags have been used for boxing and martial arts training for over 150 years, with the first patent being awarded for a training bag in 1872. As the years have gone by, manufacturers of punching bags have used different types of bag filling based on availability, price, and a variety of other reasons. Some training bag fillings have been effective, others not so much. There was a time where sand was the primary bag filling option, which was not entirely easy on the hands. Nowadays, you will see a large variety of synthetic filling options when shopping for heavy bags, muay thai bags, and any other variation of punching bag. Which filling is the best? Sometimes, this comes down to a matter of preference, but there are few punching bag filling options that are objectively superior to others. These are the types of common training bag filling options.

Padded gloves were first introduced to boxing in 1867 following the acceptance of a boxing code of rules. Ever since, boxing gloves have been used in almost all striking martial arts. In the 1920s, Muay Thai adopted boxing gloves into the art, adapting the gloves to fit their striking style. Previously, Muay Thai fighters used hemp ropes as gloves. Now that Muay Thai is more mainstream in the US, and has even been adopted in mixed martial arts training regimens, Muay Thai gloves are here to stay. Looking to get into Muay Thai, MMA, or cardio boxing? These are the minor differences between boxing gloves and Muay Thai gloves. The Padding

While both can be considered types of heavy bags, there are many differences between muay thai bags and traditional heavy bags. From their design to their construction, these bags differ in the type of training they are ideal for. What's the difference between heavy bags and muay thai bags?

Bag training is essential for boxing, MMA, and many different styles of martial arts; it's also a great form of cardio for those looking to get in shape. That's why it's essential for any home gym or fitness facility to have a collection of training bags. Depending on what you train and where, the bags you need for your space will change. Whether you are training muay thai, cardio kickboxing, MMA, or anything else, one thing is for sure: you need the best bags that fit your training style. These are the training bags no facility should go without.

Back in 1997, we started our small business by bringing premium quality mat systems, designed for all martial arts disciplines, to budding gyms in the U.S. More than 25 years later, we now help gym owners all over the world build facilities that allow everyone from the newcomer to the professional athlete to train with confidence. Over time, we have expanded our product offerings to fulfil this mission. Today, we are announcing our largest product launch ever.

By Kaitlin Young There is no such thing as a black belt in Muay Thai.There may be specific schools with their own ranking system but in the sport itself, no belts or ranks exist apart from how highly ranked one is as a competitor. Muay Thai, along with boxing and kickboxing, is a ring sport.Development in Muay Thai is traditionally centered around competition, rather than competition being an aside as it is in Karate, Tae Kwon Do, or even Jiu Jitsu.Therefore, any ranking system that exists forMuay Thaiis entirely made up by whichever school or association it falls under.

By Kaitlin Young Mixed Martial Arts is growing as a sport and, as it stands, there is an entire industry centered around its appeal. It's no longer considered merely barbaric and has gained mainstream popularity. There are well-known companies sponsoring both events and fighters alike. Even people not involved with the sport know what MMA is, and are often familiar with its top stars. Like other such sports, it has generated legions of fans, analysts, reporters, and hobbyists who watch the events and find themselves very close to the sport. These developments have changed MMA significantly in the last decade. It has become a career for some and is at the very least a viable option for launching a career in an adjacent profession. The sport is growing.

It's hard to imagine that martial arts events as we once knew them may be forever different. The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered the way we train; will it also alter the way we compete? Let's take a look at the different aspects of martial arts events that may be changed moving forward.

By Kaitlin Young

By Kaitlin Young

By Kaitlin Young In countless conversations and interviews over the years, I've been asked about the difficulties I've come across in my profession, and, more specifically, the difficulties of taking on fighting as a female. There are times where blatant sexism, managing weight loss in a body with inconvenient hormone fluctuations, or finding a top that won't cause a wardrobe malfunction in the cage are monumental pains in the ass, for sure, but they can be overcome. The real answer to that question came to me while on a run yesterday afternoon, when I was thinking about the sometimes subtle and sometimes outright resistance we receive from friends, family, training partners, and even coaches. The hardest part is not the weight cut, the training, or the time away from home. The hardest part of being a female fighter is that our suffering makes other people uncomfortable

Co-founded by Ian and Pamela Cohen, Warrior Martial Arts Academy is one of the top-rated mixed martial arts schools in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area. With five locations and a team of world-class instructors, they offer a range of martial arts and MMA classes to children and adults of all experience levels. Zebra outfitted all five of their facilities with Tatami-style mats, Muay Thai bags and custom wall pads complete with their wall pads. See the results of the project:

Whether your promotion is local, regional, or international, one of the keys to success is having the right equipment. The first decision to make is whether to use a ring or a cage. Rings are more versatile and can be used for boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, and pro wrestling, but plenty of promotions still hold MMA fights in a ring as well. Cages are reserved almost exclusively for MMA, but we have seen some promotions hold grappling events and kickboxing events in cages.

By Kaitlin Young