Fall is all about the layers. And that goes for martial arts as well as fashion.
Layering at this time of year is the perfect combination of form and function. Layers look cozy and stylish, but they also help you dress for the wide range of temperatures you can encounter in a typical fall day. If it warms up during the day, you can take a few of those layers off. If it gets cools back down when the sun disappears, you can bundle back up again.
The same idea can apply to martial arts training. If you’re going outside for a run or other cross-training workout, layers can help you adjust to whatever temperature is in the air—and how hot you get when you start to work up a sweat. Layers can also help you warm up at a dojo or gym that hasn’t cranked its winter heat up just yet.
Here 5 ways that ProForce can help you layer up so that you can feel and do your best this fall.
Double Up
Pair a base layer like a rash guard with an outer layer like a long sleeve t-shirt or sweatshirt. The base layer will help to keep you warm by absorbing excess sweat. The top layer provides an extra barrier between your body and colder air. And if they’re too effective together, you can always take off the top layer to help moderate your temperature as you get going and warm up.
This is a great option for outdoor fall training like runs and shadowboxing. But it can also help you regulate your temperature and overall comfort in gyms and dojos that run a little cooler.
Wear a pump cover.
A pump cover is an oversize top like a long sleeve t-shirt or sweatshirt that you wear over your regular fitness clothing. The idea is that this extra layer helps to keep your body warmer and more comfortable in colder temperatures. Once you’ve properly warmed up, you can put the pump cover aside and get to the meat of your workout.
Pump covers are mostly used by weight lifters and runners, but you can apply the basic principle behind it to almost any type of physical movement, including martial arts training.
Wear a beanie.
The latest science suggests that we don’t actually lose most of our body heat through our heads. But wearing a beanie during workouts in chillier weather can still do its part to keep you more comfortable. It provides an extra layer of warmth and helps to wick away excess sweat.
Wear an extra layer under your gi.
It’s not easy to add layers on top of the average martial arts uniform. You can’t just throw a pump cover over your gi top—unless you have an extremely oversized sweatshirt on hand. And gyms that have more strict dress codes probably wouldn’t allow it, anyway.
What you can do is take a page from anyone who has ever dressed up for Halloween in a colder climate. If you can’t add layers over your outfit, put something on under it instead. A large portion of martial artists who train in martial arts uniforms already do this to some extent. You might wear a rash guard under your gi top, or a pair of martial arts shorts or bike shorts under your gi pants. So you already have the basic concept down.
To make your gear setup a little warmer, you have two basic options. The first is to wear different layers underneath your gi. If you usually train with a short sleeve rash guard under your gi, try a long sleeve one rash guard or t-shirt instead. If you’re still feeling chilly, trade your shorts for 3/4 length or full-length tights. The second option is to add another layer on top of your usual base layer. Pop a long sleeve tee on over your regular rash guard. Or even add tights over your usual shorts.
One option is a little less bulky. The other gives you more flexibility in terms of adjusting to find the perfect amount of layers during training. Try them out and see which one works best for you.
Switch up your gi weight.
Layering up under your gi might not be the perfect solution for everyone. Some martial artists might find the fit uncomfortable or distracting. Others might not find it warm enough.
If you fall into any of those categories, you are not doomed to a freezing fall. There are other ways that you can apply layering techniques to your training gear. Like mixing and matching. Pairing a heavier weight gi top with lighter weight pants or vice versa is an easy and comfortable way to adjust your training gear to the temperature.
