MMA Shoes Punching is great but you will also need to learn how to use your legs and feet. This is where the martial arts shoes and boots, Muay Thai kicking pads, and kicking shields prove so helpful. They give you an excellent target which can be hit full force with no chance of harm. It also is wise to wear a pair of heavy duty shin guards since this will reduce injury rates as well. Shin guards allow for contact sparring with the added benefit is that the contact will be absorbed by the pads. Speaking of absorbing contact, headgear is most definitely advisable for those that like to spar.