Should females fight without head guards?

Lately, fitness and a healthy lifestyle overall is the craze! Everyone wants to be in the best shape in their lives. Now more than ever people have the means, both financial, technological, as well as access to knowledge, to gain the level of fitness one sees on television. More so, the body type that is sought after most is not one of a supermodel or an actress but athletes instead. Specifically boxers and MMA fighters are the body type to mold one's own body into. 

With the most inspiring and successful face of MMA, and fighting in general, being that of a woman, it is no surprise that more and more women are driven to athletic workouts and fitness regimes.  More women are taking on boxing and learning MMA as their next big challenge because you don’t really add bulk by lifting weights but instead use calisthenics to supercharge your existing muscle mass and shred fat. 

One of the most necessary resources to make use of as one works out in sports like MMA and boxing is using the proper safety gears, such as a head guard. Many often ask, should females fight without head guards? Let's not forget that the end of the day these sports are more than sports such as soccer or track. These sports involve you beating down some to a point where they are unable to continue in order for you to win. As such, your training will require you to practice the moves needed to do exactly that. Although gears such as head guards are not allowed in actual competition, it is an absolute must during training when you are still learning and practicing. A time when mistakes can easily be made and lead to disastrous results. So the question as to should female fight without head guards is like asking should females drive without seatbelts. Gender is not prejudiced by injury. Women are just as prone, if not more so, to injury as their male counterparts.

There is a lot of criticism out there for head guards by men and women both such as how it makes your head a bigger target, how it limits your field of vision, or how it makes them feel claustrophobic by wearing one. Many argue that it really does not protect you from brain injury when getting hit hard so it may drive you to take more risks in a fight by giving you a false sense of security.

When you are sparring in training, you may not have to worry about getting hit too hard so you may not have to worry about brain injury. Because mistakes happen! Your opponent may inadvertently land a punch, breaking your nose or giving you a bruised eye. What about the possibility of cuts and gashes from the slip of the leather glove off of your face!? So the next time someone asks, should female fight without head guards? ABSOLUTELY!