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🥊 Combat Sports Athlete Approved Essentials for Training, Recovery, and Gear Maintenance

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These are the products I actually use and recommend after years in Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. What I use for training, what helps me recover, and what keeps my gear from falling apart or smelling like sweat odor. Personal and gear hygiene esp...
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đź§ş Gear Care & Laundry for Heavy, Sweaty Training

Heavy training comes with heavy laundry. These are the products I use to get sweat and odor out of my clothes, wraps, gis, and gear so they stay fresh and hold up through years of training. A little extra care goes a long way.

 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
For EVERYTHING.

I SWEAR by this product. It’s a MUST every time I do laundry now. I used to do the whole vinegar + bathtub soaks for gym clothes, wraps, and gis, but I eventually switched because… the vinegar smell on my gis just wasn’t sustainable.

I found this through TikTok and Reddit (I always trust soccer moms and wrestling parents), and it’s been INCREDIBLE.

It’s removed stubborn odor from gear I thought was permanently “stuck,” including Muay Thai shorts I’ve had for years. I use it on my gym clothes, hand wraps, gis, and belts.

Important Note: It’s a laundry additive, NOT a detergent, so you put in your regular deterget like usual and ADD this into the fabric softener compartment of your washer.

I stick to the “Tough Odor Eliminator” version, and haven't tried the Crisp Linen nor Lavender Fusion ones. I think those are less strong?
Lysol Tough Odor Eliminator Laundry Sanitizer
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
For Muay Thai Gear + Gym Bags.

This has been a repeat buy for me for YEARS.

I use this after disinfecting my gear at the gym, and then when I get home, I lightly spray on the inside and outside of my gear, and let them all air dry.

It keeps everything (gloves, shin guards, and gym bag) from holding onto that sweat smell, and sometimes you can actually smell the lavender on your gear. A lot of people at my gym actually use it too, so during drilling or sparring, you can smell th...

Once your gear breaks in after a few months/years, it doesn’t take much for it to start smelling “off,” even if it’s just that leather smell, so this helps reset it.
Vapor Fresh Sports Cleaner & Deodorizer
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
For white gis.

I used to use bleach + warm water + hang drying, but the bleach would make the material of my gis feel so dry and almost… scratchy.

I use this OxiClean for white gis, regular white clothes, and white socks.

I’ve found this powder to be SO effective, and it doesn’t dry out the material at all!
OxiClean White Revive Laundry Whitener
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
For hand wraps.

I used to not have these… because I thought they were unnecessary. But then my life got so much easier once I started using them.

My hand wraps used to get so tangled up in each other, or other clothes, or around the center of the washing machine.

I started using these bags and now they all stay in one bag, intact. Then, when I transfer the clothes into the dryer, I take the wraps out of the bag and hang them straight to dry so they stay neat and easy to roll afterward.

(No… I do not just throw my wraps in the bag unrolled. We don't do that here lol)
Mesh Laundry Bags

🤕 Injury Prevention & Skin Care for Combat Sports

One of the biggest things I've learned after years of training Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is that prevention is so much easier than recovery. Taking care of your skin, covering cuts properly, and practicing good hygiene protects not only you, ...

 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
Somehow, these are so magical.

Skin care really is important when you train body contact sports, and all kinds of germs can affect athletes.

I use these after every training session, and it at least gives me peace of mind that my skin is protected and well taken care of.

I’ve literally seen bumps go away from using this body wash. Bumps I didn’t even realize were skin issues.

I do combine it with my regular body wash when I use this because it doesn’t get very soapy or cover my whole body (I like soapy showers), and also because for me personally, it makes my skin a little dry.

But overall, really lovely, and it smells great too.
Defense Soap ® | Soaps for Athletes
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
These are insane. They have over 45k reviews on Amazon for a reason.

I had a wart on my finger that developed over a few years from a cut that turned into a wart. I didn’t know how to get rid of it and thought I would need to see a doctor.

I tried these out and wore them every day. It did sting/hurt for a few days, but after 2–3 weeks, the wart was gone. After the first try, though, it did grow back, but I think that’s because I didn’t do it correctly or wait long enough.

So, I tried again and patiently waited about 3–4 weeks, and the wart was GONE. FOREVER. To this day!

After that, I took care of the skin with ointment and a bandaid, and over time the scar disappeared. I literally forgot I ever had a wart. It’s amazing.
Compound W Max Strength One Step Wart Remover
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
NEVER train with an open wound.

Bandaids aren't enough.

We need to cover the skin and make sure they don't fall off from all the sweat and rubbing during training.

These are incredible and perfect for protecting an open wound while training. The self-adhesive actually works and will stay intact, staying strong even through a full 3-hour training session.

I’ve used it for cuts on my forearm, shin, knee, and foot before, and just a couple wraps around did the job.
Self Adhesive Bandage Wrap, 2 inches x 5 Yards
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
Frickin. Clip. Your. Nails. Period. No excuses. Do it regularly. Keep your nails clean. Keep your nails short. and filed. Don't scratch your training partners. Just don't.
Nail Clippers
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Jiggy Yoon profile picture
Clipping your nails isn’t enough sometimes if you’re going to keep the edges sharp. They’re going to scratch your partners even more easily.

File them.
Nail File
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
For Muay Thai:

 I use a light layer of these on my face, especially during the fall/winter seasons before Muay Thai training, because my skin tends to get really dry during those months. I’ve had my skin cut from a punch and bleed before, so I just find these helpfu...
Vaseline® Healing Jelly
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Jiggy Yoon profile picture
My old Jiu Jitsu academy has these, and I think it’s one of the most underrated yet essential things a gym could have. 

Especially if you have guys who step off the mats and go to the bathroom barefoot (which should never happen to begin with, but it happens).

You can change into your gi and have your body protected from others, but your feet are still exposed, and they’re usually the first to get the most exposed too.

Every gym should have these, honestly.
Feet Cleaning Station | Defense Soap®
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Jiggy Yoon profile picture
If you're going to shower at your gym, I highly recommend not stepping barefoot into the shared shower. You just never know. 
Use shower slippers to protect your feet, and your training partners'.
Shower Slippers
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
I’m from South Korea, and we use these regularly. You basically use them to exfoliate and scrub off dead skin.

I personally don’t use it every single day, but every once in a while it helps to use it from neck, arms, legs, and feet.

Sometimes, it’s not the lotion that makes your skin soft… you have to get rid of all that dead skin and dried sweat layers.
Korean Exfoliating Bath Washcloth
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
Every single day use for me. I’ve used these all my life growing up in South Korea. I don’t ever shower without these, even when I travel.

One thing I don’t understand about America is the little round loofahs lol How do you get your back or clean yourself thoroughly?

Get these and exfoliate! Clean your skin properly. You’ll feel fresher than ever.
Nylon Japanese Beauty Skin Bath Wash Cloth Towel
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Jiggy Yoon profile picture
These have been easy go-to to heal open cuts!
Aquaphor Healing Ointment, Skin Protectant
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🥊 Muay Thai Training Essentials

To each their own, but these are my go-to and preferred gear for Muay Thai. I’ve been training for over 10 years, and these are the items I actually rely on in regular training and sparring. Things I've found that hold up well over time, feel good to...

 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
To each their own, but these are my top favorite hand wraps of all time.

I’ve used both the 120" and 180", and I personally prefer the 180" for the extra layers on my knuckles and around my wrist, but the 120" have also gotten me through years of training.

For kids, I'd probably recommend the 120".

These are high quality and lasted me for years. The colors don’t really fade much, the material doesn’t soften no matter how many washes, and the velcro stays intact over time.

I've tried many other brands over the last 10 years, and, for me, these are my go-to.

Of course, they're much cheaper in Thailand than in USA, so if you ever end up in Thailand or have a friend/teammate traveling, ask them to pick you up some wraps lol They're like $10 over there.

** Hang dry them so they dry straight, which makes it way easier to roll them back up instead of dealing with wrinkles.
Fairtex HW2 Elastic Cotton Handwraps, 120' & 180'
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
Haven’t trained without these! I prefer lace-up gloves over Velcro gloves, but who has the time to lace them up every single time you have to put gloves on, especially if you’re training Muay Thai and you and your partner have to switch between glove...

Just one of these can last years. In the span of 7 years, I’ve only had to replace them ONCE so far.
Lace N Loop — Lace Up Your Own Gloves!
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
I personally don’t use the boil-and-mold mouth guards because they didn’t last long, didn’t fit comfortably, or didn’t protect me enough, especially since I train both BJJ and Muay Thai.

I got my mouth guard customized from MouthPieceGuy almost 5 years ago now, and mine is still in great condition.

He also gives you your mold with your mouthpiece in case you want to order again in the future!
Mouthguards for Boxing, MMA, Jiu Jitsu & more | Mouthpiece Guy
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
Pretty standard Muay Thai gloves.

I have 10oz in lace-ups for pad/bag work and 14oz for sparring.

As a woman, I have smaller hands and these gloves fit my hands really well, but most of my guy friends use Fairtex gloves too.

They’re just solid, standard Muay Thai gloves.

My only note is that some other Muay Thai gloves offer higher wrist protection, so I might consider Primo next.

Other than Fairtex, I also really love my Twins gloves.

If you have a local fight shop, you can also go try gloves on in person to find the right fit for you!
Fairtex BGV1 Muay Thai Training Gloves
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
To each their own, but these are my favorite shin guards.

The SP5 is Fairtex’s best-selling shin guard because of how comfortable and effective it is.

I can almost guarantee several people at your gym have these.

If you’re going to train Muay Thai, you’re going to need shin guards. Especially if you’re new, the SP5s are a great place to start.

Of course, if you or your teammates are ever traveling to Thailand, pick these up there for almost half the price than in the U.S. lol
Fairtex SP5 Muay Thai Shin Guards

🥋 BJJ Training Essentials

 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
Hyperlyte gis are the lightweight gis that are also comp legal.

They’re Hyperfly’s best-selling gis because they’re so comfortable, fit really well, and have a smooth material, while still being super light, which is also great for summer training or comp day with weigh-ins.

I’ve literally had all of the Hyperfly collections, and Hyperlytes are probably my favorite, especially because of how light and comfortable they are.

They’ve also upgraded their design over the years so that even though the gi is a lighter layer, the grips are thicker like “regular” gis, so it’s not easy for opponents to hang on to the sleeves and pants.

Hyperfly also provides various sizing options, including S (short) and L (long) for shorter or longer limbs, women’s sizes, kids’ sizes, and tailored-fit sizes, as well as just pants for those who need extra pants or differently sized pants.
Hyperlyte 3.5 BJJ Gi - Hyperfly
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
The ProComp. The tuxedo of gis, I say.

This collection is Hyperfly’s tailor-fit line and is also competition legal.

This is my absolute second favorite line from Hyperfly because I look and feel so good in them. They fit so well and look so sharp.

This gi also updated throughout the years and now introduces HyperHeat technology, which is “engineered to help with thermoregulation between rounds—you stay warm while waiting for your match, and cool and steady during the fight.”

Again, Hyperfly also provides various sizing options, including S (short) and L (long) for shorter or longer limbs, women’s sizes, kids’ sizes, and tailored-fit sizes, as well as just pants for those who need extra pants or differently sized pants.
The ProComp 4 - Hyperfly
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
1. You/your students need a belt.
2. You need to wash your belt.
3. I order one size up from my gi size (for example, I wear an A0S gi, so my belt is an A1).
Hyperfly Comp Belt
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
I personally don’t use the boil-and-mold mouth guards because they didn’t last long, didn’t fit comfortably, or didn’t protect me enough, especially since I train both BJJ and Muay Thai.

I got my mouth guard customized from MouthPieceGuy almost 5 years ago now, and mine is still in great condition.

He also gives you your mold with your mouthpiece in case you want to order again in the future!
Mouthguards for Boxing, MMA, Jiu Jitsu & more | Mouthpiece Guy

🔋 Post-Training & Recovery

 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
Don’t… sleep on these. I didn’t even know what a psoas was until my favorite MMA fighter was promoting these during the pandemic. I got one and haven’t looked back since. It’s been 6 years now and I still use it every week.

For my psoas, legs, back, neck, traps, calves, just lying on these has made a world of difference, especially when there are knots in my quads or tightness in my hamstrings.

Beware, they’re extremely painful at first, but over time you kind of start to love the pain… lol
PSO-RITE | PSOAS MUSCLE RELEASE
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
Basic but very important need.

I prefer the longer ones over the shorter ones because I like to lay down comfortably when I roll out my back as well.

While I do have a rumble roller (the foam rollers with spikes on them), I love these as well because it feels calmer, more gentle, and less painful, but still effective when I’m rolling out knots and need a massage.

I’ve learned that just because something is painful doesn’t mean it’s more effective for smoothing out knots or releasing tight muscles.
High Density Foam Roller for Stretching & Recovery
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
More power to ya if you can afford having these of your own lol My gym has them, so I use them on my recovery days or after a hard leg workout.

These have become an essential part of my training and recovery routine. Between Muay Thai, BJJ, training for a half marathon, and strength and conditioning training, I started using these multiple times a week to help me feel relief and stay ready f...

Especially now that I’m getting older and really learning to prioritize self-care for sustainable high performance training and my health, equipment like these leg compression tools have helped a ton in preventing injury, avoiding weak training sessi...
Normatec 3 Leg Compression
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
Resistance bands are one of the most underrated pieces of equipment you can own. I use them for warming up before training, activating my glutes and shoulders, and improving mobility.

I also use them regularly for my physical therapy exercises.

They're such a simple tool, but they've helped me stay consistent with rehab and work on the smaller stabilizing muscles that are easy to neglect.

I just always keep one in my gym bags. They're so handy and so helpful!
Resistance Bands
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Jiggy Yoon profile picture
To each their own, but this is the protein powder I've been coming back to. I've tried plenty over the years, Ghost used to my favorite, but TL is the one that consistently tastes good, mixes well, and doesn't leave me feeling heavy afterward, with i...

I drink it daily to help hit my protein goals, especially on busy days or after a hard training session.

So smooth and easy to drink, and quite delicious!

At the end of the day, the "best" protein powder is the one you'll actually drink consistently, and for me, this is it.
Protein | Transparent Labs
 
Jiggy Yoon profile picture
This is probably the cleanest, smoothest pre-workout I've ever had.

I personally use stim-free because I don’t like feeling jittery or like I need to bounce off the walls just to have a good session. Even half a scoop gives me enough energy, focus, and hype to get a really solid workout in — whether it’s lifting or t...

It’s become my go-to because it supports my training without overstimulating me or messing with how my body feels during the session, and I can still go to sleep at night!
Stim-Free Pre-Workout | Transparent Labs
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Jiggy Yoon profile picture
As I always say, to each their own… but this is just my preference when it comes to creatine.

I like this one because it’s simple, clean, and easy to add into my routine. I take one scoop every morning and then one scoop before training to support recovery, especially with how much I train between Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu, lifting, and running.

It’s one of those basics that helps me feel a little more recovered and ready for the next session. It's nothing fancy, just a solid staple that I notice when I’m not taking it.
Creatine | Transparent Labs
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Jiggy Yoon profile picture
So, I used to be a devoted fan of LMNT, but I made a personal decision to switch after the founders took stances I don’t agree with.

But I sweat a lot every single day from training, especially with LA heat and double training sessions, so electrolytes are a daily non-negotiable for me.

I wanted something that felt light, clean, and easy to drink, and Hydrate has been exactly that.

It keeps me hydrated without feeling overly salty or heavy, and it’s been an easy staple in my routine. It's super delicious too. I'll be sticking with this one for a while.
Hydrate | Clean Electrolyte Powder | Transparent Labs
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