Hand Gear

• Taekwondo hand gear resembles boxing gloves but are open at the palms. They are designed to protect the person being hit by a fist. They are often worn during practice sparring, but are not always used during taekwondo tournament fights.
  
  

Foot and Shin Gear

• Foot gear and shin gear are primarily worn to protect the feet and shins of the taekwondo student doing the kicking. Striking a hard part of your opponent's body can cause quite a bit of pain on a shin or instep. Taekwondo shin gear resembles soccer shin gear and provides padding on the front of the lower leg. Taekwondo foot gear provides padding for the front of the foot and sometimes the sole. Foot and shin gear is not always worn during taekwondo tournaments.
  
  

Headgear

• Taekwondo headgear is usually worn in tournaments to protect fighters. The headgear covers both ears and most of the head. Some headgear also covers the cheek bones and much of the face while others are open-faced.
  
  

Mouth Gear

• All taekwondo fighters should wear mouth gear at all times while sparring or fighting. Mouth gear protects the teeth. It is quite easy to knock out a tooth if it is hit at the right angle.
  
  

Protective Cup

• All males should wear a protective cup while sparring or fighting in taekwondo. Accidental strikes to the groin are a common occurrence. Severe pain and injury can result if a man is not wearing a protective cup when this happens.
  
  

Chest Gear

• Chest gear is often worn during taekwondo tournaments. It serves two purposes. Chest gear provides some protection from strikes to the body. It also helps judges with scoring. Points are awarded for strikes to particular parts of the chest gear.