Changing rooms?

[aleon515]

I'm thinking of taking a tai chi or kung fu class. One thing that is making me a little nervous is there is the changing room. In most schools (not sure the Chinese word here), I took karate a long time ago, there was not a locker room with showers or anything but a little changing room where you go in and changed your street clothes into uniform and back again.
So I gather I would not have to take off my underwear.

I'm wondering what folks do to make this less awkward, or maybe I could just change in the bathroom if there was one stall?


--Jay

[overdrive]

I've taken different martial arts and always has been a small changing room, even if there were showers (which I've never seen in a dojo) you don't have to take one and not everyone would anyways. If you've had top surgery already then just change and dont worry about it. I think I read somewhere you haven't had bottom surgery and unable to pack, if thats true then just turn away before changing your pants nobody will wonder why you're turning  certain way.

[aleon515]

I'm thinking ill pack for class.
Which leads me to another question, what's a good brand of jock strap? Seems like the only way to pack.

Jay

[Adam (birkin)]

I wear these:

http://www.amazon.com/Papi-Cotton-Stretch-2-Pack-Jockstrap/dp/B003D08WBS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1390857120&sr=8-4&keywords=jock+strap

They give me a lot of space "down there" to breathe. The only real downside is that unless you sew a hole in the front, the packer is smooshed against your body. I prefer when the shaft hangs naturally.

edit: and yes I know that they come off as pretty "gay porn" lol, but they're super comfy.

[overdrive]

A lot of martial arts (other than MMA, BJJ or other grappling disciplines), many guys don't wear cups because of the type of contact being points based and classes have more form and drills than actually sparring (unless you go to a sparring specific class which it seems like a little better than half wear cups then). I personally prefer getting the boxer-jocks when doing a lot of physical activity as I have just as big of fear of odor as I do looking out of place if seen in the changing room. They're like boxer briefs with a pouch built into them. Most brands are moisture wicking too so you don't need to worry about the "female odor" from sweating down there. Since they look just like boxer briefs, offer odor control and hold your junk place you don't look like the weird guy out of place at a form class where cis guys don't wear cups either. You get a 3 in 1 and still blend in. Under Armour makes several styles including different length legs, different material compositions, compression levels from compressed to looser fit, etc. Heres a link to one review done to give you an idea what they're like. Theres a few other brands that offer the same thing as well.

http://www.underwearexpert.com/2012/04/review-under-armour-boxerjock-6/

[aleon515]

I believe that Thai Chi is almost always only forms and Kung Fu is going to be a bit of a mix. Actually when I took karate it was about 1/3 forms and not as much sparring. I don't really like sparring. I don't care what they say, I think I got more "beat" up. I haven't gotten so far to find this out.

Most of the time, I don't think I would use a cup. I was under the impression that you could use a jock strap to hold a packer and it would hold it securely. I'm really more looking for a strap that I'd wear underneath, versus a cup. I think I'd really stand out with a cup! I don't want to look happy to see everybody. LOL
The underwear is a nice alternative. I obviously don't want it next to my skin in the slightest.

--Jay

[overdrive]

Most of the time, I don't think I would use a cup. I was under the impression that you could use a jock strap to hold a packer and it would hold it securely. I'm really more looking for a strap that I'd wear underneath, versus a cup. I think I'd really stand out with a cup! I don't want to look happy to see everybody. LOL
The underwear is a nice alternative. I obviously don't want it next to my skin in the slightest.

--Jay

You are correct you can use the straps or the underwear mentioned to hold a packet in place. I only mentioned the cup to point out they are rarely worn in most martial arts disciplines (other than whats mentioned) just in case you were considering one.

That said I have even worn those boxerjocks in the summer time under board shorts as those tend to cling and make it obvious you have no junk. Because of the moisture wicking the dry quickly too. I was out with a group of cis guys and they were active then jumped in the lake. I was in a position I had to hold back and stay out of the water for fear of losing my junk. I decided then and there I would never again allow myself to be in that position again. So underwear like those or cycling shorts with the pad cut out are always worn under board shorts for me now. I wear almost solely board shorts in the summer as i live in an area where I may go boating, swimming, etc with next to no notice.

[aleon515]

I'll only get a cup if they recommend one. I think they wear uniforms, at least the schools I am looked up do. Although I think in the summer some of the schools only use the pants and wear a t-shirt.

--Jay

[overdrive]

I'll only get a cup if they recommend one. I think they wear uniforms, at least the schools I am looked up do. Although I think in the summer some of the schools only use the pants and wear a t-shirt.

--Jay

Every dojo I've been a part of wears a gi and they do have specific style and color which they'll go over with you when you sign up. They don't bring up wearing a cup because guys typically can figure that stuff out on your own. Once in a while you'll see a newbie putting a new one on but after a few lessons they typical stop as they see theres no need. Also its very common for dojos to allow wearing a specific tshirt (sold by them) during warmer months though the rest of the uniform is standard. Pants are always looser fitting so I see no reason to wear a cup at all even of they were to recommend it unless of course you were into a grappling discipline which isn't the case here, since they can't be noticed under the looser pants and you aren't going to get knee'd in the groin by accident. Cups just add another level of something to get used to and discomfort a lot of times so id say just steer clear of them for what you'll be doing.

[aleon515]

Obviously it won't really hurt getting kicked in the packer. But might hurt the packer.
--Jay

[Ryan D]

Obviously it won't really hurt getting kicked in the packer. But might hurt the packer.
--Jay

Might be a good idea to act a bit though  haha. It would be a bit suspicious if someone hit you square in the groin and you're completely unfazed

[aleon515]

Might be a good idea to act a bit though  haha. It would be a bit suspicious if someone hit you square in the groin and you're completely unfazed

My thought exactly!!!

--Jay

[Jack_M]

Change in the changing room, to not do so will draw more attention. I wear my tee for under dobok at Taekwon-do and strip to boxers then put on my dobok pants and jacket in changing room. I strongly advise against turning around or do anything suspicious like that when changing, just go for it. Guys tend to have that whole scared to be considered homosexual vibe and so they won't try to look at your junk. I'm stealth in most places and guys avert their gaze when you're in just underwear. I don't pack for Taekwon-do, no one has ever noticed!

You wouldn't need to wear a cup, that's true. We don't wear them in class, but seeing as I compete, I do have to wear one in competitions. However, if you've had any significant growth down there, cups are bloody useful! Lol.

[aleon515]

Change in the changing room, to not do so will draw more attention. I wear my tee for under dobok at Taekwon-do and strip to boxers then put on my dobok pants and jacket in changing room. I strongly advise against turning around or do anything suspicious like that when changing, just go for it. Guys tend to have that whole scared to be considered homosexual vibe and so they won't try to look at your junk. I'm stealth in most places and guys avert their gaze when you're in just underwear. I don't pack for Taekwon-do, no one has ever noticed!

You wouldn't need to wear a cup, that's true. We don't wear them in class, but seeing as I compete, I do have to wear one in competitions. However, if you've had any significant growth down there, cups are bloody useful! Lol.

Yeah sadly not much growth down there. A kick in the groin doesn't feel too great. But I got a jockstrap with a place to put a cup. Not sure if I would compete or who the heck I'd compete with. 

I wore a t-shirt under my gi. Doesn't sound too scary.

Do guys talk in a changing room? Or is it more like they are in men's RR?

--Jay

[overdrive]

Do guys talk in a changing room? Or is it more like they are in men's RR?

--Jay

Depends a lot. The sport I currently compete in, we talk all the time. One martial arts studio was a very small locker room so guys got in and out. I find it has more to do with locker room size actually. Large like at a gym, guys usually talk. Small like restroom size is usually silent.