Endorsements

Christina Crank — Karate — USA

Christina Crank from South Carolina is a Black Belt (in 3 styles of Karate) with six USAKF Championship Titles and over 35 other first place titles. The youngest girl ever to be inducted into the USAKF Hall of Fame. Following is what she has to say about our products.

You ask how I feel after using the MaxiGuard . In a short sentence. 'It's great!' It does the trick. It helps in my training as well as my tournaments. In my training, I spar with adults and adult black belts. When I say spar, I mean SPAR nearly full blast. I spar with 4th dan black belts with over 20 years experience. They can really hurt when they hit in some serious female places”.

“My instructor teased me by wanting to cut out a part of the Maxi that helps protect my solar plexus because his punch was not as effective when he struck me there!. In short, ' IT WORKS.' In my tournaments, the Maxi does not restrict my movements, and really protects the occasional hit or kick to the ribs. After all, no one can block 100% of the time. The Maxi also lets my body breathe better than some of the other brands I've used”.

“The 'CoolGuard Super' is the greatest. The best chest protector for training I could ever have. It is great for jogging, Goshin Do, Judo, full running, jumping, and is fantastic when I'm grappling and doing self defense moves. I don't even know I've got it on until another student accidentally elbows or hits me in the chest. Then I am sure glad that I have been wearing it all along”

Stella van Hattum — Karate — New Zealand

We are privileged to have Stella van Hattum endorse our Maxi Guards. Stella has been a major help in the testing and design of the MaxiGuard since first development started in 1994. She will not spar or coach without wearing one and insists that all girls at her two dojos are wearing a MaxiGuard at all times.

Stella gained third degree Black Belt and became Captain of the New Zealand Karate Team in 1994. She was voted Karate New Zealand Sports-person of the year in 1998. Retiring from competition in 1998, Stella is now coach and co-selector of the NZ National Karate Team.

Marie Keith-Winters — Taekwondo — USA

Marie is a member of is the American Taekwondo Association (ATA), the largest single-style martial arts organization in the United States. She is a 2002 triple crown state champion in Georgia in her divisions (Forms, Sparring, and Weapons, women ages 17-29). And also currently ranked in the top 10 in Weapons in her division in the world ranking of the World Traditional Taekwondo Union (WTTU).

I just wanted to write and let you know that I found someone to order the correct size EconoGuard chest protector from in America, Chajonshim Martial Arts Supplies. Dealing with them was a breeze and they were very helpful as well as having a very well designed web site. I ordered my EconoGuard a few weeks ago and received it in the mail on the day I was leaving for the Fall Nationals. Tournament in Orlando, Florida! I put it to good use the very next day. Wearing the chest protector gave me the added confidence to spar aggressively. This weekend at Fall Nationals I took home the 3rd place trophy, my best finish in Sparring this year!

I would recommend the EconoGuard to any woman who wants a good chest protector for martial arts or other contact sports, and I will definitely be telling my instructor and classmates about it. I like it so much that I'm thinking about ordering a second one as a backup!”

Kirsten Livingstone — Taekwon-Do — New Zealand

Kirsten Livingstone is a II Dan I.T.F.N.Z. Instructor based in New Plymouth

As an instructor, I now have a requirement that all female students wear either MaxiGuard or EconoGuard, as they are such great and safe products.”

 

Jo-Anne Redublo — Tuffgrrlz.com Webmistress — USA

This (MaxiGuard) was a wonderful product. I took this piece of equipment to a few of my boxing classes and went through my regular routine of exercises and sparring.

I really liked that the chest protector didn't restrict my movement, and it was lightweight, non-bulky and did not feel too warm. I tried it out both with my sports bra underneath and without. I found that for me, it fit well enough to wear without. This also cut down on the amount of warmth and moisture being held close to my skin.

Sparring drills were a breeze. I let my partner know I was testing out the guard, so he made sure to go for a lot of body shots and didn't worry about hitting me in the chest. The protection the guard offers is wonderful. I don't have to worry about shots to the sternum or chest so I can concentrate more on good technique.

I found that the sizing on the product was pretty generous so one cup size smaller than my usual brassier size fit perfectly. The protective insert was easy to insert into and remove from the fabric cover, which made cool downs really quick.

I would definitely recommend this chest protector to any woman worried about taking shots to the sternum and chest.”

Soccer (Association Football) — New Zealand

Many female soccer players in New Zealand wear our products and the three High Schools in the Taranaki province have made our MaxiGuard compulsory.

The New Plymouth Girls High School first 11 have been particularly successful, and their Coach Tam McInally and Captain, Aimee Mason both attribute this in part to the added confidence that the girls gain when wearing chest protection in competition. Achievements include Taranaki Women's Soccer Championship, Duchess of Cornwall Challenge Cup and 3rd in Secondary Schools National Tournament. Aimee Mason and Denbigh O'Keefe were chosen to represent New Zealand in a secondary schools tournament in Australia.

Photo shows Aimee (left) and Denbigh.

Sara Evans — Paintball — USA

My name is Sara Evans. I've been using the Super CoolGuard for a year now and absolutely love it. It is so comfortable. Sometimes I even forget I have it on. I play paintball all over the US and have been shot in the chest several times while wearing the Super CoolGuard. Not once did I get a bruise under this chest protector. And the new Super (the soft version) is even better for paintball players because I have even taken several bounces. :)

I also have an extra vested interest. I have had breast implants for three years now. I was worried when I first started playing paintball. So, I took extra precaution. I am fully confident that I have nothing to worry about now that I have the Super CoolGuard.

Massey University Maidens — Rugby — New Zealand

Rugby is New Zealand's most popular sport. The Massey University Maidens have adopted CoolGuard for their chest protector. They have been competing in Rugby competitions for 10 years and are currently ranked second best team from all Universities. Five of the team players have been selected for the National University Team (year 2000) and captain Ngawai Smith has been selected as captain of the combined New Zealand Universities team.

Kestelle Herrick — Basketball — NZ

Kestelle Herrick plays in the Taranaki Tigers Premier team, also NGC Tigers Men's Team, and in summer she plays in Sparx 1st Division team. Previously she wore two bras to gain support and protection, but now wears and recommends CoolGuard for all the sports she is involved in.

Daniella Smith — Boxing — New Zealand

A woman's place is in the ring”, states new Auckland boxing captain Daniella Smith, whose fighting name is “Dandy Lion — The Huntress”. The top ranked New Zealander has just won her fourth national title at the New Zealand (2004) boxing championships.

• Taiwan International — Bronze medal 70kg
• Oceania Championships — Gold medal 66kg
• Tasman Cup (NZ Vs Australia international) — Gold medal 70kg
• New Zealand Championship — Gold medal 70kg

She wears CoolGuard Super for protection.

Inline (roller blade) Hockey — New Zealand

Pictured are Awhina Kaa (top), Nicole Wypych, (left) and Paula Rowe. All play for the Kapiti Rangers and Awhina also plays for the Senior Men's Team. Women's team manager Lisa Lolesio sent this report:— All of the girls have said that they would not play without wearing a CoolGuard chest protector.

Nicole, who also plays with the Kapiti boys (under 16s) says that she needs to be fully protected and the CoolGuard protects her at the same time as being totally non-restrictive. She also says that while she is playing she doesn't even notice that she is wearing it, because it is so comfortable.

Paula agrees that the CoolGuard is a great product and says that she feels fully supported and confident while wearing it. Since she has been wearing CoolGuard she has fielded a lot of interest in the product from other women inline hockey players. The women members of the Kapiti Rangers have trialled and tested the CoolGuard and have been thoroughly sold on this product.

We recommend CoolGuard to any members of women's sport, be it hockey or any other sport where a woman needs to feel protected. CoolGuard does it best!