SpacemanCraig

You should mix it up a bit. Getting all geared up to beat on each other every now and then is a blast and i love it. But that's not a fight. You're never going to get into a street fight and say "Time out! Let me put on my head gear!" Training with it does restrict your ability to move and see. So you need to get used to fighting without it. I would prefer to throw on just gloves with guys who are regulars at the gym. I trust them and they trust me. Protective gear is a very good guy when you get new members. Before taking off the gear with anyone new, first they have to understand something. Training isn't about proving anything to anyone. It's about practicing and getting better. Not beating up your training partners.