The 12 best headbands for martial arts

Over the years, headbands have featured often in martial arts and are used mostly in Karate, Kung Fu, as well as other more traditional arts. Originally, the headband was probably made for those with long hair, so it didn’t get in front of their eyes and block vision. They’re also used to soak up sweat when sparring and represent your martial art. However, since then the headband has become something of a fashion statement and looks pretty cool.

Perhaps the most famous use of headbands in martial arts was originally from Ralph Macchio in The Karate Kid movies. Since then, the headband was also popularized by the legendary UFC and MMA fighter Georges St Pierre. He would wear his Karate headband proudly whilst doing his ring walk, also wearing his Karate gi and black belt.

So, if you want to represent your martial arts lifestyle or whether it’s just to have something that is practical with your hair whilst training, the martial arts headband may be something to consider.

These headbands have been picked on the following criteria:

• Cost and affordability
• Style and look
• Comfort and material
• Practical use and durability

‘Victory’ black headband

This headband has the red Japanese circle in the middle and Japanese text on either side. The text roughly translates as ‘victory’, which is an appropriate saying if you’re training and fighting martial arts. The dimensions of this headband are 2 inches wide by 38 inches in length. In short, this will fit around your forehead and look good whilst training.

‘Kamikaze’ white headband

If you’re a fan of GSP’s headband then this is the ideal product to look at. The writing spells out Kamikaze, which apparently translates to ‘Divine wind’ in English. This is similar to the ‘Victory’ headband but has a white color instead of black and looks strikingly similar to the one that GSP wore in the UFC. It’s also made out of polyester so won’t itch or cause irritation. The dimensions of this headband are 3 inches wide by 33 inches in length, so once again it will easily fit. Weighing 0.32 ounces, it’s also very lightweight and won’t impact your training.

Tie headband

Available in various colors, this headband is a budget option and is very affordable, coming in at under $7. So, if you’re after something a bit more subtle with less patterns that can also be worn outside of a martial arts setting, then the Tie headband may be a good consideration. Unlike other headbands, this one also contains 5% spandex. As a result, it’s very stretchy which is only a good thing. This will benefit you whilst wearing it, but also makes it highly durable meaning it will last for some time.

Tanaka headband

Made from 100% cotton, the Tanaka headband is probably the most comfortable headband on our list. It also uses the Japanese ‘Rising sun’ logo on the front in red which looks pretty cool. This headband is also thicker than most, meaning it’s really effective if you’re someone that sweats a lot as the material will help soak up water.

Suddora Daniel-San Lotus headband

As the title suggests, this headband is a homage piece that is dedicated to Ralph Macchio’s character in The Karate Kid. All jokes aside, this genuinely is a nice looking headband as the Lotus symbol and navy dots clash nicely with the white background. At 2.5 inches in width and 6 inches wide, it’s not the biggest but should fit most people. It’s also very comfortable and eats up sweat nicely. If ever you’ve wanted to re-live your fantasies of being the next Daniel-San then this headband is perfect!

Nike Dry Wide headband

Made from 88% polyester and 12% spandex, the main point of this headband is that it absorbs sweat and isn’t just useful for martial arts, it’s also good for all kinds of other sports. As you may have seen by the design, it’s not really martial arts-inspired either but still does the job. You’re also guaranteed quality with Nike involved as they have the technology to make sure their products really do what they’re meant to.

Ninja x Redbull headband

Yes, even Redbull have gotten in on the act. In fairness, they do have lots of ties with various sports these days. This headband is great for extroverts and is based primarily on its look and style. Featured bold blue, yellow, and red colors it looks striking and has a picture of a ninja as well as the classic Redbull bull symbols. Made from polyester, this is 39 inches in length and looks awesome.

Shihan Tenugui Flower headband

This headband is similar to the Karate Kid headband but uses inverse colors. Instead, the logo is white with white dots, and the headband is black. Once again, this looks great and is quite eye catching. Made from neoprene, it’s also quite stretchy and measures 100cm long so there’s plenty of material. If you’re looking for a combination of style and substance, then this headband may be a good choice.

Mens headband

As the name suggests, this is very basic but also at under $7, it’s highly affordable too. Even though it’s called a men’s headband, women can also wear this too. Made from polyester and spandex, this is yet another stretchy headband and is designed to last. Although this is a cheap price, it also comes in multiple designs. From plain grey to the USA flag, there’s plenty of options to choose from. Ultimately though, it keeps sweat and hair from interpreting your training which is the main thing.

Martial Arts headbands

For those that want a headband to specifically suit their own martial art, this may be the perfect headband to choose from. It has designs for Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai, Taekwondo, Tai Chi, and Wing Chun. In other words, there’s plenty of choices. Made from polyester, this once again guarantees durability and is also priced competitively as well, costing under $10. If you want a custom headband for your martial art, this is probably your only choice.

5Chaos headband

In terms of versatility, the 5Chaos headband designs are probably up there in providing the most designs. From dragons to samurai, and tigers and everything in between, they have it covered. The dimensions are 2 inches wide by 38 inches in length, so it’s also a standard fit and has reversible colors in black and white.

Dragon headband

This headband has the Japanese flag (red circle with white) which is surrounded by two dragons. Its dimensions are 2 inches wide by 38 inches in length and weighs 0.5 pounds. It’s also ideal for keeping sweat out of your eyes so comes in handy during a tough training session. Ideal for Karate and other Japanese martial arts, this is a statement piece that also has practical use too.