The best knee braces for training MMA and martial arts
If you train MMA or any martial art for that matter, the chances are that you’ll get a knee injury at some point. This goes with the territory and physical combat often endangers the knees. Whether this is done by grappling or striking disciplines, the threat to your knees is real and some people can experience some pretty nasty injuries at times. As well as this, some people’s legs just start to go through wear and tear over years of training which is another reason to look out for your knees.
Because of this, it’s not uncommon to see MMA fighters or martial artists training with knee braces. In this article, we have hand-picked the best knee braces to train with which should help make things easier. Before we continue, we have also listed the things to look out for when buying a knee brace.
Table of Contents
Things to look for when buying a knee brace as a martial artist
Comfort
Perhaps the most important aspect of any knee brace is comfort. It goes without saying that if you’re uncomfortable when wearing it then it’s not doing its job. Whilst all knee braces should be designed with comfort in mind, the main issue that people fall into is buying braces that are too big or too small. Typically, a knee brace will come with sizing instructions and a size chart. From here, you can then match it to your knee and leg size accordingly.
Mobility
Another big factor in choosing a knee brace is mobility. Ideally, the perfect knee brace should allow enough movement to stay active, whilst simultaneously restricting any large movement. Ultimately, this should provide a nice balance where you’re not endangering your joints by overdoing things, whilst also allowing you the ability to perform as you normally would. For instance, if you’re throwing a kick then you should still be able to land the strike without potentially harming your knee.
Durability
When looking at knee braces, durability is another important issue. Even if your knee brace does its job, it’s still worthless if it’s not durable enough. Basically, you don’t want something that is cheaply made and will fall apart in a matter of months or weeks. In extreme cases, you may even feel small strips of metal poking out of the material if the quality is poor. With this in mind, generally it’s best to go with quality brands that have a good reputation.
Cost
Regardless of what the item is that you’re buying – cost will always play an important role. Basically, you’ll want to buy something that isn’t too expensive whilst also not sacrificing quality either. For instance, you may be tempted by a bargain price – only for the knee brace to offer little support. On the other end of the spectrum, you don’t want to overpay for something with a fancy name either. As always in life, cost is a spectrum and hopefully, you can find something that is inexpensive yet still protects your knees.
Best knee braces for martial artists and MMA
Omples hinged knee brace
The Omples hinged knee brace offers reinforced stability due to its hinges on the side. You may think that the hinges could be intrusive and stick out but thankfully they’re subtle and are wrapped in a padded coating. Basically, this means you’ll be able to train without hitting people with hinges at the same time.
It’s also protected with velcro straps so you can tighten or loosen the brace to your desires. Lastly, it’s also fitted with ventilation holes which means that your knee won’t get extra sweaty during sparring. Obviously, this is a hygienic benefit when it comes to training.
Bauerfeind knee support brace
When it comes to elite-level knee braces, the Bauerfeind is a classic and has been around for quite some time. As seen, this has an extremely tight grip that wraps around not just the knee but also the surrounding areas of the leg too. Because of this, the Bauerfeind will stay in place whilst training and creates a tight connection to your knee in the process.
Furthermore, it isn’t intrusive either – so it does the best of both worlds and keeps your knee protected whilst also feeling like it’s not even there. Also this is machine washable and highly durable, so basically there’s nothing bad to say about this brace. If you’re willing to invest in the best quality knee brace for the price then this is the one for you.
Donjoy webtech knee brace
As the name suggests, this uses web technology which acts like a spider’s web to protect your knee. In this sense, the Donjoy knee brace is quite unique and offers a different approach from most regular knee braces.
This knee brace is made from two materials. The padding is made out of spandex, whilst the web is made from silicone. Obviously, this means the silicone is durable and bends enough to throw kicks or grapple, whilst it also isn’t too obtrusive or stiff. As if this wasn’t enough, the whole structure is tied together by braces at the side to tighten everything up.
Neenca knee brace
One of the better knee braces out there, this Neenca knee brace uses a combination of memory foam for softness and tough copper hinges to make sure everything stays compact. Of course, the copper is firmly padded so you don’t have to worry about the brace feeling hard or pointy.
It also uses a ‘x’ strap around the back of the brace for mobility which further strengthens everything. Lastly, it has an open patella and air holes that allows for your knee to breathe. Overall, it ticks all the boxes and is competitively priced too. Generally speaking, there are not many around that can top this.
Shock Doctor knee brace
Another big name knee brace brand is Shock Doctor who also makes mouthguards for MMA as well. What sets this apart from many other knee braces out there is its pre-curved design. This means when your knee bends – the brace will follow with it. At the same time, it’s well-created so it offers both protection and core mobility.
As you’d expect, this also comes with soft padding and plenty of straps to hold it in place. Therefore, you can do all sorts of athletic movements with your legs and this won’t slip off either. It also has a slightly raised bit of padding around the knee cap. This is actually common with many braces and is quite handy if you happen to land on this part of your knee or hit it off something, as it literally gives you another layer of protection.
Seitaku knee brace (budget option)
This knee brace comes in at under $10 which means it’s great if you’re on a budget. However, some may be put off by this price as it seems a little too cheap. Worry not, even though it lacks the technology of the Bauerfeind or Donjoy – this is good if your knee isn’t completely ruined. In other words, it would be ideal for someone to wear with a bit of a sore knee, without rehabbing from ligament surgery or something similar.
Basically, it does the job and if you slightly pull your knee then this is better than nothing. Like many of the big-name brands, it also comes with an anti-slip design and extra padding around the kneecap. Overall, it’s a good choice so long as your knee isn’t heavily damaged to begin with.
McDavid 429 Ps knee stabilizer
If you’ve used knee braces before then you may have heard of the McDavid brand and this is because they have a top reputation. The 429 Ps is no different and is made from neoprene which apparently helps with compression and heat retention. Obviously, these are two great things to consider when it comes to knee braces which should hopefully keep you injury free.
Arguably, this is one of the most sturdy knee braces around which means it won’t just break and fall apart either. So, if you want to continue training martial arts then the 429 is a solid solution and is built to last.
What’s the difference between a knee brace and a knee pad?
When it comes to a knee brace, they’re typically designed to tighten the movement of your knee and the surrounding ligaments. This means they may not even have much in terms of padding but they still act to keep everything tight. The reason behind this is that if your knee suddenly moves then you could seriously injure your tendons or ligaments.
This differs from a knee pad which typically covers less of the surrounding areas of the knee and is instead fitted with more foam padding. As a result, your knee may move easier whilst wearing padding, as opposed to a brace. Although knee pads aren’t bad and do provide protection, arguably knee braces are more effective in protecting the knee, especially if you’ve come back from injury and want to take things slowly.
Why martial artists wear knee braces
As mentioned earlier, martial arts can be tough on your body. If you train martial arts for a couple of months then you’ll probably fine. However, if you train a worthwhile martial art for years then you’ll probably run into injuries. Often, these can be caused by blunt trauma or weight falling onto your leg from an angle.
In terms of martial arts – you can divide them into grappling and striking.
Here are the knee injuries associated with grappling martial arts:
- Injuries from takedowns
- Injuries from submissions
- Injuries from people landing on your knee
Here are the knee injuries associated with striking martial arts:
- Injuries from hitting an object against the knee
- Injuries from landing on your foot at a funny angle
- Injuries from others hitting or landing on your knee
Remember to rest knee injuries when training MMA
Arguably, knee injuries are one of the most serious types of body injuries that you can get. This is because the knee ligaments are very small and fragile, compared to ligaments in other areas of the body. This means that if you do get a serious knee injury then it’s best to consult with a specialist and have some well-needed recovery. In extreme cases, you may even need surgery if you’ve snapped or ACL or similar ligaments.
The aid of a knee brace should be used when you’re declared fit and ready to train again. You may not want to go hard upon your return so it’s best to ease into things which is where a knee brace helps. As well, if you do pick up minor strains and aches that aren’t too serious then training with a knee brace can similarly stop them from developing into more serious issues.
