Unarmed combat exercise apparatus

Abstract

This invention relates to apparatus for use in training students in unarmed combat, in particular the martial arts, and in methods of self-defence. It provides equipment, that can be in the form of a kit, comprising a visual marker that is detachably attached to an item of wearing attire for wearing in an unarmed combat training exercise or competition. When the attire bearing the attached marker is worn in use, the marker identifies, by its position on the attire, a body zone of the wearer that is to be targeted, in a training exercise or competition, by an opponent of the wearer. The wearer then endeavours to remove the marker from the garment, success indicating a successful strike at the target zone of the wearer's body.

1 - 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . A training aid for use in unarmed combat training or competition, comprising:
 a set of visual markers adapted for detachable attachment to attire for wearing in such training or competition, each visual marker identifying, by its position on the attire when attached, a body zone of the wearer that is to be targeted in said training or competition by an opponent of said wearer;   wherein each visual marker is further adapted for grasping by said opponent according to a desired degree of difficulty of grasping.   
     
     
         58 . The training aid of  claim 57  in which the degree of difficulty of grasping of the visual marker is a function of at least one of the shape, configuration, size and surface texture of the visual marker. 
     
     
         59 . The training aid of  claim 57 , wherein each visual marker has a distinguishing indicium. 
     
     
         60 . The training aid of  claim 59 , wherein the indicia for the set of visual markers includes a sequence of numbers or letters from an alphabet. 
     
     
         61 . The training aid of  claim 59 , wherein the indicia are distinguishable by different colors. 
     
     
         62 . The training aid of  claim 57  comprising attachment means for detachably attaching the visual markers to the attire, said attachment means comprising an adhesive area located on the attire, and to which area the visual marker is adapted for removably adhering in use. 
     
     
         63 . An equipment in kit form for use in unarmed combat training or competition, comprising:
 an item of attire having a plurality of predetermined attachment positions for attachment of a visual marker, the attachment positions corresponding to target zones for an opponent to attack on an attire wearer's body;   a set of visual markers; and   attachment means for enabling releaseable attachment of the visual markers to the attire at the predetermined attachment positions, the attachment means having a component located on the attire at each of the predetermined attachment positions.   
     
     
         64 . The equipment of  claim 63 , wherein the predetermined attachment positions outnumber the markers. 
     
     
         65 . The equipment of  claim 63 , wherein the set of visual markers includes two or more categories of markers, each category being adapted for a different level of training or student ability. 
     
     
         66 . The equipment of  claim 65 , wherein the categories are adapted to be distinguishable from each other by a difference in ease of grasping of the visual marker. 
     
     
         67 . The equipment of  claim 66 , wherein the ease of grasping of the visual marker is a function of at least one of respective visual marker shape, configuration and surface texture. 
     
     
         68 . The equipment of  claim 63 , wherein each visual marker has a distinguishing indicium. 
     
     
         69 . The equipment of  claim 68  wherein the indicia for the set of visual markers include a sequence of numbers or letters from an alphabet. 
     
     
         70 . The equipment of  claim 63 , wherein the attire is a partial covering for wearing on or over a leg or a foot. 
     
     
         71 . A visual marker positionable on attire for wearing by a participant in a martial arts training exercise, said marker being:
 (a) adapted for releasable attachment at a preselected position on said attire for display thereon; and   (b) differentially adapted according to a desired level of training to be provided to a student opposing the wearer of said attire in a combat exercise by virtue of the ease with which the student is expected to be able to grasp it.   
     
     
         72 . The marker of  claim 71 , wherein the ease of grasping the marker is a function of at least one of the shape, configuration, size and surface texture of the marker. 
     
     
         73 . The marker of  claim 71 , wherein the marker is adapted to be detached from the attire by pulling. 
     
     
         74 . The marker of  claim 71 , wherein the marker is adapted to provide a predetermined amount of resistance to detachment. 
     
     
         75 . The marker of  claim 72 , wherein the attachment means includes adhesion means. 
     
     
         76 . The marker of  claim 75 , wherein the adhesion means includes adhesive tape.