Short answer. For competition, usually yes: England Boxing requires groin protection for male boxers (optional for women), and IFMA Muay Thai rules require a guard for every athlete, men and women. Choose a brief with a built-in or detachable cup, a groin and abdomen (no-foul) protector, a laced Thai steel cup or a cup in compression shorts, in a male or female cut. Size by hip circumference on the maker's chart, and measure first: opened guards usually cannot be returned for hygiene reasons.
Do you need one?
For competition, usually yes. In England Boxing bouts, groin protection is mandatory for male boxers; women may choose to wear a groin or breast protector but do not have to (England Boxing rule 8.4). In amateur Muay Thai under IFMA rules, every athlete, male and female, must wear their own groin guard, and it is inspected before the bout (IFMA rule 15.7).
For classes and sparring, follow your gym's rules: some ask for a guard from the first sparring session, others only for competition. If your sessions include kicks and knees, a guard is part of the Muay Thai starter kit; for boxing it sits with the head guard in the boxing starter kit.
The types
- Brief with a built-in cup. One piece: the cup is fixed into a padded brief with a waistband and straps, as on Blitz's Deluxe guards (Blitz).
- Brief with a detachable cup. A fabric brief with a plastic cup in a pocket; cheaper and the cup comes out, as on Blitz's Standard guard (Blitz).
- Groin and abdomen protector (no-foul). A cup inside a padded belt that covers the lower abdomen too; Revgear's No Foul version also covers the kidneys and laces up (Revgear).
- Thai steel cup. A steel shell, leather-covered and tied on with laces, the traditional Muay Thai choice (Revgear). IFMA allows men either a metal or a polycarbonate guard, with an optional jock strap (IFMA rule 15.7).
- Compression shorts with a cup pocket. The pocket holds the cup still, and the shorts go under fight shorts (Revgear).
- Female guards. Shaped for women's anatomy (Blitz, Revgear). Under IFMA rules women wear a polycarbonate or foam guard (IFMA rule 15.7).
Sizing
Blitz sizes its guards by hip circumference: measure round your hips and pick the size below (Blitz). Revgear lists sizes on each product page.
| Blitz guard | Size | Hip circumference |
|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Male | Small | 28–30 in (71–76 cm) |
| Medium | 31–34 in (79–86 cm) | |
| Large | 35–38 in (89–97 cm) | |
| X-Large | 39–42 in (99–107 cm) | |
| Standard Male | X-Small | 24–26 in (61–66 cm) |
| Junior | 27–30 in (69–76 cm) | |
| Senior | 31–36 in (79–91 cm) | |
| Deluxe Female | X-Small | 30–32 in (76–81 cm) |
| Small | 33–35 in (84–89 cm) | |
| Medium | 36–38 in (91–97 cm) | |
| Large | 39–42 in (99–107 cm) |
Source: Blitz product pages. Centimetres are converted from Blitz's inch figures and rounded.
Under or over? Blitz's guards can be worn under or over your trousers or shorts (Blitz). Whichever you choose, measure before you order, because opened guards cannot be returned.
Care
Blitz describes its leather guards as easy to maintain, and on its Standard guard the cup is detachable, so it can come out of the fabric brief for cleaning (Blitz). Either way, take the guard out of your bag after training and let it air-dry with the rest of your kit.
UK picks: Blitz
Blitz is a UK store and one of our partner stores. It makes its own guards in male and female cuts, all UKCA/CE approved (Blitz). Sizes go by hip circumference: see the size table.
Blitz Deluxe Male Groin Guard
A brief with the cup built in, which Blitz pitches at martial arts, boxing and contact sports.
- Built-in cup with a deep curve; the cup is not detachable (Blitz)
- Nama Hide leather cover, elasticated waistband and support straps (Blitz)
- Sizes S to XL by hip circumference (Blitz)
Blitz Standard Male Groin Guard
The cheap way in: a fabric brief with a plastic cup in a pocket.
- Detachable plastic cup in a layered fabric pocket with a popper opening (Blitz)
- Polyester, cotton and lycra blend; elasticated waistband and support straps (Blitz)
- X-Small, Junior and Senior sizes (Blitz)
Blitz Deluxe Female Groin Guard
A shock-absorbing guard shaped for women, for training and competition.
- Female-specific anatomical design (Blitz)
- Nama Hide leather, elasticated waistband and support straps (Blitz)
- Sizes XS to L by hip circumference (Blitz)
For hygiene reasons Blitz cannot take a groin guard back once the packaging is opened (Blitz), so measure before you order. Stock and colours vary by size.
US picks: Revgear
Revgear, a US store and one of our partner stores, makes guards for each style below. Like Blitz, it does not accept returns on them for hygiene reasons (Revgear), so check the size chart on the product page first.
Revgear Groin and Abdomen Protector
A curved guard on an elastic waistband, made for boxing, Muay Thai, kickboxing and other martial arts (Revgear).
- Curved design to follow the body; elastic waistband (Revgear)
- Protects the groin and abdominal areas; sizes S to XL (Revgear)
Revgear Boxing No Foul Protector
The boxing-style protector that also covers the lower abdomen and kidneys.
- Molded cup and shell with double-layered foam (Revgear)
- Lace-up closure on wide elastic, leg straps, vinyl cover, about 1.5 lb (Revgear)
- Sizes S to XXL (Revgear)
Revgear Steel Cup for Muay Thai and Kickboxing
The traditional Thai cup: a steel shell tied on with laces.
- Steel inner shell covered in leather, with closed-cell padding on the rim (Revgear)
- Traditional three-string lace strap; Regular and Large (Revgear)
Revgear Women's Groin and Ab Protector
Revgear's women's cut of its groin and abdomen protector.
- Contoured to the female anatomy; elastic waistband (Revgear)
- Covers the groin and abdomen; sizes S to XL (Revgear)
Revgear X13 Compression Short with Cup
Compression shorts with a hidden pocket that holds a cup in place.
- Cup included; the pocket also takes most standard cups (Revgear)
- Worn alone or under Muay Thai or MMA shorts; sizes XS to XXL (Revgear)
On Amazon (US)
If you are in the US and want other brands, search by type and compare the listing with the maker's own page and size chart.
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Next
The rest of the sparring kit: shin guards for Muay Thai, a head guard if your gym asks for one, and the Muay Thai and boxing starter kits for the full list.
FAQ
Do I need a groin guard for boxing?
For England Boxing competition, men must wear groin protection; for women it is optional (England Boxing rule 8.4). For classes and sparring, follow your club's rules.
Do I need a groin guard for Muay Thai?
Under IFMA competition rules, yes, for men and women: each athlete wears their own guard and it is inspected before the bout. Men may use a metal or polycarbonate guard, women a polycarbonate or foam guard (IFMA rule 15.7). Gyms set their own rules for sparring.
Do women wear groin guards?
Many do. IFMA makes them mandatory for women in Muay Thai competition; England Boxing leaves it to the boxer. Blitz and Revgear both make guards shaped for women.
What size groin guard should I get?
Blitz sizes by hip circumference: for example its Deluxe Male guard is Medium for 31–34 in (79–86 cm) hips and Large for 35–38 in (89–97 cm). Use the chart for the exact guard you buy.
Steel cup or plastic cup?
Both are allowed for men under IFMA rules (metal or polycarbonate). A Thai steel cup is laced on; a plastic cup usually sits in a brief or compression shorts. Pick the one your gym accepts and that stays in place for you.
Can I return a groin guard?
Usually not once opened: Blitz and Revgear both exclude them from returns for hygiene reasons. Measure your hips and check the size chart before ordering.
Sources
- England Boxing, Technical and Competition Rules 2026 (8.4 Groin and Breast Protection)
- IFMA, Rules and Regulations for International Competition v3.057 (15.7 Groin Guard)
- Blitz, Deluxe Male Groin Guard (size table)
- Blitz, Standard Male Groin Guard (size table)
- Blitz, Deluxe Female Groin Guard (size table)
- Revgear, Groin and Abdomen Protector
- Revgear, Boxing No Foul Protector
- Revgear, Steel Cup for Muay Thai and Kickboxing
- Revgear, Women's Groin and Ab Protector
- Revgear, X13 Compression Short with Cup
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