Martial arts retail covers a wide range of disciplines — BJJ, karate, judo, kickboxing, MMA, boxing, kendo, and traditional weapons arts. Each discipline has specific equipment needs. A significant portion of customers are affiliated with clubs and dojos, making wholesale and grading supply a meaningful revenue stream alongside individual retail.

Product categories

Gi and uniforms: Karate gi, judo gi, BJJ gi, hapkido uniform. Weight (GSM), cut, weave, colour, and size.
Striking equipment: Boxing gloves, MMA gloves, focus mitts, pads. Weight (oz), padding type, wrist support.
Protective gear: Shin guards, head guards, body protectors, groin guards, mouthguards. Competition grade vs training grade.
Weapons: Bo staff, nunchaku, sai, katana, bokken, kendo shinai. Restricted items — age verification required.
Training equipment: Heavy bags, speed balls, grappling dummies, pull-up bars, resistance bands.
Belts and grading supplies: Coloured belts, embroidered belts, exam fees (as a product), certificates.
Apparel: Rash guards, compression shorts, board shorts. Fabric, compression level, sleeve length.
Footwear: Martial arts shoes, wrestling shoes, boxing boots. Sole type, ankle support.

Gi and uniform specifications

product.metafields.martialarts.discipline = "Karate / Judo / BJJ / Hapkido"
product.metafields.martialarts.gi_weight_gsm = "450"          // fabric weight (light 250, medium 350, heavy 550)
product.metafields.martialarts.gi_weave = "Single / Double / Pearl weave / Gold weave"
product.metafields.martialarts.gi_cut = "Slim / Regular / Comp"
product.metafields.martialarts.gi_colour = "White / Blue / Black"
product.metafields.martialarts.ibjjf_approved = "true"        // BJJ: IBJJF competition legal
product.metafields.martialarts.wkf_approved = "true"          // Karate: WKF competition approved
product.metafields.martialarts.fabric_composition = "100% Cotton / Cotton-poly blend"
product.metafields.martialarts.shrinkage_note = "Pre-shrunk / Allow 5% shrinkage on first wash"

Glove specifications

product.metafields.martialarts.glove_weight_oz = "12"         // 8-10oz competition, 12-16oz training
product.metafields.martialarts.glove_type = "Boxing / MMA / Sparring / Bag"
product.metafields.martialarts.padding_type = "Foam / Gel / Multi-layer foam"
product.metafields.martialarts.closure = "Lace / Velcro"
product.metafields.martialarts.competition_approved = "true"  // AIBA, WBC, etc.
product.metafields.martialarts.inner_lining = "Moisture-wicking / Satin"

Weapons — age verification and legal restrictions

Many martial arts weapons are offensive weapons under UK law. The Offensive Weapons Act 2019 and existing legislation restrict the sale of various items:

Prohibited weapons: Nunchaku (flails) are prohibited weapons under Section 141 Criminal Justice Act 1988 in England, Wales, and Scotland — cannot be sold to members of the public (though training exemptions exist for martial arts clubs)
Bladed articles: Katana, swords, and other bladed weapons: blades over 3 inches — age verification required (18+); curved swords over 50cm are prohibited unless with certain exemptions
Imitation firearms: Some training weapons resemble firearms — check VCRA requirements
Age verification at checkout for all bladed or restricted items — use a third-party age verification app
Do not ship prohibited weapons (nunchaku, zombie knives, etc.) regardless of stated purpose
Consider restricting weapon sales to verified clubs/dojos with appropriate liability waivers

product.metafields.martialarts.age_restricted = "true"       // 18+ required
product.metafields.martialarts.weapon_type = "Bokken / Shinai / Bo staff / Sai"
product.metafields.martialarts.blade_length_cm = "73"
product.metafields.martialarts.legal_use = "Training / Iaido practice"

Grading supplies and club orders

Martial arts schools order grading supplies in bulk for student examinations:

Belt sets: full colour sequence (white through black) sold to schools as bulk orders
Embroidered belts: custom embroidery with student name or grade — use a product customiser or contact form for custom orders
Grading certificates: often printed and supplied by the governing body, but some retailers offer custom certificate printing
Club discounts: dojo and club accounts with 15–25% discount — verify via affiliated governing body (SKC, BJJA, etc.)
Uniform packs: school-branded or generic uniform packs for new starters — standard bundle at beginner price

Competition and regulation compliance

IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation): strict gi requirements — logo placement, weave type, collar thickness
WKF (World Karate Federation): approved gi list for international competition
British Judo Association: approved judogi list for national competition
Note competition approval status prominently on product pages — search intent often includes "IBJJF approved gi"

Post-migration checklist for martial arts stores

Gi: weight (GSM), weave, cut, and competition approval (IBJJF, WKF) as metafields
Gloves: weight (oz), type, and competition approval as metafields
Weapons: age verification app configured; prohibited weapons (nunchaku) removed from sale
Club wholesale: trade account tag system or B2B app configured
Custom embroidery: product customiser or contact form for belt embroidery
Grading bundle packs: belt colour sets listed as bundles
Sizing: gi size guide published — A0–A6 sizing with height/weight recommendations

Migrating a martial arts store from WooCommerce to Shopify (2026)