Coach Wittman: MMA training gear is not evolving, it’s all ‘branding’ and ‘cool colors’

If anyone possesses a keen insight to the ins and outs of a fighter’s training camp and the role that proper training equipment plays in the safety of the athlete, it’s 16 time world champion trainer Trevor Wittman. In Part 1 of Bloody Elbow’s interview with Wittman, the topic of discussion was his current stable of fighters. In Part 2, he focuses on fighter’s safety, exposes faulty training equipment, and hints at the need for a national commission.

Part 2 Interview: 16x world champ trainer Trevor Wittman **AUDIO ONLY**

Trevor Wittman opened up about what led him to creating his own equipment:

“Because of the issues I was having as a coach. My body was breaking down. It was hard for me to hold mitts, especially when you got guys like Shane [Carwin] hitting you. That makes you reassess everything you’re putting on. I started sewing some patterns, trying my own patterns. Making right and left mitts where mitts don’t have a right or left. So I kind of just started using all the pains that I had in the game and fighters like Shane and Duane Ludwig who are retiring because of injuries. it really made me look at what’s in the game right now for equipment.”

“Look at football gear… now the stuff, even in high school, looks like NFL gear. It’s the highest level of stuff. The technology is there and people are trying new technologies and testing it. It’s evolving. When I look at combat sport equipment, I feel like it’s just branding. Everybody’s branding these cool looks and cool colors. Everybody’s missing the …

continue reading in source www.bloodyelbow.com