If you\’ve spent much time around the incredible world of martial arts, you probably are already familiar with most of the karate equipment that exists, but people who have little experience with the sport probably have quite a few questions regarding a lot of the stuff they\’ve seen. It is not unlike many common people to be unfamiliar with and perplexed by some of the strange looking weapons or odd outfits that you see in martial arts, because they actually come from a different place and a different time.

It is quite likely that the first thing most people will notice when they observe someone training or participating in a martial arts match is the uniform very unusual outfit and the differently colored belts that each fighter wears. This uniform that has become a mainstay in martial arts training and competition attire is what is known as a karategi, and it consists entirely of a special loose fitting pair of pants and a shirt that overlaps in the front and is tied together with a bright belt that is also used to show what rank you are.

Something else you will see a bunch of throughout any sort of martial arts tournament or at a local dojo wear they train is the various kinds of protective gear that must be worn so that the fighters do not permanently injure each other. There are quite a few different types of padding that involve everything from headgear that protects the ears and temples to special foot and hand coverings that soften each strike a martial artist will deliver to their opponent.

Of course, few things in the world of martial arts gear is quite as incredible as all of the different kinds of weapons that the kung fu masters use, and some of them are so unusual that most people won\’t have the slightest clue what they are. Anyone who has seen an action movie could probably point out and recognize one of the swords they use, but there are things that are incredibly odd, like small blades that swing on long pieces of chord and throwing blades that are actually shaped like stars.

Of all the karate equipment, the weapons have some of the most interesting origins there are, and anyone who would like to learn a great deal about the culture behind most martial arts could learn a lot simply by researching some of the weapons. Anytime you see some crazy gear being used in a martial arts movie or at a tournament, try researching it for some very fascinating information.