Shorts and competition apparel
- Typical price
- €25–70
What you are allowed to wear is a ruleset question like everything else. American full-contact competition historically used long trousers, precisely because no strikes below the waist were legal and the leg needed no exposure. Muay Thai and modern kickboxing use short shorts because a kicking leg needs an unobstructed hip.
What to look for
Thai-style shorts with a wide waistband and high-cut leg give the most kicking range and are the safe default for K-1, GLORY, low-kick and Muay Thai training. Board-short styles restrict the high kick and are best avoided. If you compete, check the promotion’s rules on branding and colour, which are stricter than most people expect.
At a glance
- American full contact used long trousers — no legal leg strikes
- Thai-cut shorts give the hip clearance a head kick needs
- Board shorts restrict high kicks
- Promotions regulate colour and branding for competition