There’s nothing like working up a good sweat while practicing martial arts. That is until you realize that gyms can carry up to 362 times more germs than a toilet seat due to the sweat and other bacteria left over from fitness fiends. Regardless of the specific martial art you participate in, cleaning your gear is absolutely necessary in order to prevent these types of germs from spreading in a gym, and to keep horrible odors and general bacteria at bay.
Taking Care of Your Gear After Every Class
Martial arts is hard, and we get it. Sometimes after a particularly intense class, it can be tempting to walk off the mat and throw your gear into your bag and head home to rest. However, developing a strict cleaning habit will help you out in the long run. If you can’t wash it right away, try carrying antibacterial wipes with you to at least wipe the sweat and germs away. Letting sweat sit on your gear without cleaning it will allow it to seep into the fabric and make it nearly impossible to get out. This leads to an almost musty smell that will essentially stain the fabric with the odor. Furthermore, not cleaning your gear immediately after class not only allows the smell to seep into the material but it also ensures that your martial arts clothing and gear stays damp, which is a recipe for disaster regarding bacteria.
What to Know About Bacteria in Gym Gear
One study found 25 different types of germs present in fitness centers, and while this might sound a bit scary, it’s actually easy to prevent. Seeing as some infections are caused by person-to-person contact, it’s important for each individual to engage in proper personal hygiene routines. Showering before and after your workout will not only keep bacteria from coming in contact with gym gear but also help keep your martial arts gear itself clean. BJJ Boris says it best with this handy poster on maintaining hygiene and safety.
To help mitigate the risks of spreading bacteria while working out in a class environment, it’s recommended to wear gloves, keep your hands away from your face, and wipe down any gym equipment that you use that others could come in contact with. These rules are even more important when training in exotic Thai gyms that are hot humid, and have a mix of transient students from various different walks of life, and backgrounds. Equally, in China when you might be training in large gyms with literally hundreds of other fellow students. Gyms, Martial Arts Schools and intensive training camps particularly in Asia often do not use proper bleaches or detergents. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve seen cleaners at martial arts schools in China using a toilet as a mop bucket. But that’s a story for another blog entry ‘Worst Kung fu School Practices Ever’!
How to Clean Your Martial Arts Clothing
If you’re simply training in the gym you might be able to rotate normal athletic wear every day to ensure you’re washing your clothing. If you’re wearing a gi every day, however, it can make it a little more difficult to schedule in the cleaning sessions. While the material of most gis is designed to be machine washable, it’s important not to dry it in a dryer, as it can cause most gis to shrink due to the cotton material. This goes for your belt, too, if you wear one to practice in. It might be cool to keep up the tradition and never wash your belt, but it won’t be as cool once you’re the one stinking up the gym and allowing germs to breed all over your gear.
Keep it Clean
As long as you stick to a proper personal hygiene routine that includes washing yourself and your gear before and after each training session, you’ll be able to help reduce the number of germs present in the gym. As martial arts are rooted in balance, this is just another way to craft a well-balanced schedule around your physical and emotional workout routines that can help you increase your overall health and wellbeing.
