Karate Protective Equipment

Karate sparring protection covers three areas: your hands, your shins and insteps, and your torso. Here is how to pick each one.

• Hands: the WKF Karate Mitt 2.0 (about $36) is the approved version for WKF-rules competition. The white Karate Mitt (about $36) is the non-approved version for everyday dojo training.
• Shins and insteps: the WKF-approved Shin and Instep Protector (about $56) is one fixed piece. The detachable non-WKF version (about $56) lets you remove the instep, which some fighters prefer for drilling.
• Torso: the WKF-approved Karate Chest Guard (about $75) is the body protector in this collection, built for kumite body contact.
• Competing under WKF rules: choose the approved models, which carry the World Karate Federation approval mark. Training or club sparring: the non-approved versions cover the same areas, usually at the same price.

Protective gear should sit snug without cutting off your movement.

• Mitts: the karate mitt slips over the hand for partner drills and light contact. Check the product page for the sizes in stock.
• Shin and instep guards: these wrap the shin and should stay put when you kick. The detachable version runs the shin guard with or without the instep piece.
• Chest guard: sized to cover the torso for kumite body contact. See the product page for the size range.
• Between sizes: size to the snugger fit for sparring so the gear does not shift on contact.

Match the gear to where you spar.

• WKF competition: pair the WKF-approved mitt, shin and instep protector, and chest guard for a kumite setup that carries the approval mark.
• Dojo and club training: the non-approved white mitt and the detachable shin and instep guard give you the same coverage for regular practice.
• Drilling and pad work: the detachable shin and instep guard runs with or without the instep piece, so you can lighten it for fast footwork drills.