Hey All,
I was hoping someone might be able to help me out or advise me please?
I’ve been doing kickboxing on and off for a while, however because of a change in circumstances I had to move clubs recently. My old club pretty much focussed on technique (padwork) and cardio, however the new club has light/controlled sparring every lesson (I go twice a week) which I’ve never really done previously.
I’m not looking to get into the sport competitively, my main priority is fitness, then just having a bit of defensive knowledge (helpful in this day and age). I tried a bunch of other fitness training but it just got too boring, I enjoy kickboxing because not only is it a good workout but it’s something helpful and something you can progress in (I like working towards things, the grading system does that for me).
Now where my problem is is my nose. I was hit by a car a few years back and it messed it up. Seemed ok but then it got progressively worse, early this year I had to have an operation to sort it out because it had pretty much collapsed internally. Post op I asked about my kickboxing (non-sparring at the time) and he gave me a stark warning that, due the internal damage to my nose from the accident and subsequent surgery, I could pretty much end up with permanent breathing issues if it got hit/broken/damaged (because the problem is with the tissue, not just the cartilage/bone).

On the advice of one of the club members I picked up one of these:
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http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Large-Leather-Boxing-Head-Guard-Bar-Protection-Halmet-/380145107351?pt=UK_Protective_Equipment&hash=item58826a0197
It does what it says on the tin but due to the size of it it restricts my peripheral vision, it messes up my technique (can’t drop my chin because it blocks my vision, I have to lift my hear to see properly), it opens up my defence (can’t really tuck my elbows in or close my guard around my face) and so on and so forth. It’s also, in my opinion, too protected, you almost become complacent and take unnecessary risks because it’s so large and padded.
So I’m looking for something else that I could use, I was thinking of something like these:
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mueller-Nose-Guard/dp/B003JM8NM8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=sports&qid=1283787873&sr=8-3
I know it’s not the most padded thing in the world but it is light sparring we do, not full contact, so I don’t think that’s an issue, I’m just looking for something that will deflect the occasional blow. And at least with that I’d be able to “tuck in” and it increases the necessity to actively/intelligently defend.

Now I suspect there are probably a lot of “real” (i.e. competitive) fighters on here who will frown on me for using something like this but the fact is, for the reasons I’m actually taking part in the sport, I don’t want to risk a lifetime breathing issues just to be “manly”. Pride comes before a fall as they say. I’m not afraid to get punched in the head and I would prefer to not wear these (I feel like a plonker already cause I’m the only one in the class with it) but the long term risks are not worth what really boils down to nothing more than an ego issue!

Could anyone please provide any insight or assistance on what my best course of actions would be please?

Cheers