Karate sparring gear

Short answer. Under WKF kumite rules you need a white gi, red or blue mitts, a gum shield, red or blue shin pads and foot protection, a body protector (chest and body protection for women) and a groin guard for men; under-14s also wear a head guard and an external body protector, and girls under 14 a chest protector. At WKF events all of it must be WKF Approved. Gis are sized by height (Blitz 4/170cm fits 170 to 179 cm); mitts by knuckle width; foot guards by shoe size. Beginners usually start in a light 6 to 7oz polycotton gi.

Shopping in the UK? See the UK picks. In the US? See the US pick.

What the kumite rules ask for

Kumite is karate sparring. Under the World Karate Federation (WKF) rules, which national federations follow, this is the compulsory kit (WKF Kumite Rules 2026, Articles 2.2.1 and 2.2.7). Club sparring is up to your instructor, so ask what your club wants before you buy the whole list.

At WKF events every piece of protection must be WKF Approved (Article 2.2.10). For 2025 to 2029 the WKF licensed 12 brands for protections and 17 for gis (WKF letter to federations, July 2024). Because the colour follows the draw, competitors need mitts, shin pads and foot guards in both red and blue.

Choosing a gi: weight and cut

Gi fabric is sold by weight in ounces. Light polycotton gis are cooler, dry faster and are what Blitz suggests for beginners, younger students and warm halls; heavier cotton canvas gis are what it pitches for regular training, gradings and competition.

From the Blitz product pages. A European cut has full-length sleeves and trousers; a Japanese cut is shorter in the sleeve and leg, leaving the wrists and ankles clear (Blitz).

For competition the WKF also sets the fit: sleeves no longer than the bend of the wrist and no shorter than halfway down the forearm, trousers covering at least two-thirds of the shin but not below the ankle bone, and no rolled-up sleeves or legs (Article 2.2.1). Many clubs also have a set colour or badge, so check before you order.

Mitts: with a thumb or without

Karate mitts are thin, fingerless gloves that pad the knuckles and back of the hand; they are not boxing gloves. Blitz sells them both ways: its Club Elite Gloves enclose the thumb, while its Club Elite and Pro Elite Mitts leave it free, which Blitz says follows traditional competition standards. Lighter mitts such as the Wuko have about 2 cm of padding and are meant for light sparring (Blitz). Mitts are sized across the knuckles, not by weight: measure across the lowest but widest part of the knuckles on the palm side (Blitz).

Shin and foot guards

The WKF lists shin pads and foot protection as two items, both in red or blue. Blitz's Elite shin guards come with a removable foot, so one set covers both, or the foot can be worn alone where a club only asks for foot guards. The Elite Foot Guards are the foot piece on its own, held on with a Velcro strap and toe loops (Blitz). For Muay Thai-style sock shin guards and shin sizing in general, see best shin guards.

Children under 14

In WKF competition, under-14s must also wear an approved head guard and an external body protector, and girls under 14 an approved chest protector (Article 2.2.7). For club sparring, body protectors are sized by height: Blitz's Intercept starts at 134 cm and its Club body armour at 120 cm (see kickboxing sparring gear). Head guards are covered, with a size check, in sparring headgear, and groin guards in best groin guard.

Sizing at a glance

Gi, by height (Blitz; kids' sizes run to 2/150cm, adult sizes from 3/160cm):

Mitts, by knuckle width (Blitz Club Elite chart):

Feet and shins (Blitz Elite charts):

From the size guides on each Blitz product page. The Wuko, Pro Elite and Shobu Ippon mitts have no published chart.

UK picks: Blitz

Blitz is a UK martial arts store and one of our partner stores. It makes karate gis, mitts, foot guards and body protectors under its own name. Blitz is not on the WKF's 2025–2029 list of approved brands, so these are for club training, gradings and competitions that accept them; for a WKF or national federation event, buy an approved brand. The order below follows the kit list. It is not a score.

The rest of the list, from Blitz:

US picks: Revgear

Revgear, a US store and one of our partner stores, does not sell karate gis or mitts. Its blue/red sparring chest guard is listed for taekwondo, karate and other striking styles, with dense foam over the chest, ribs and stomach, adjustable ties and sizes from child to extra large (Revgear).

On Amazon (US)

For other makes, check whether the listing says WKF Approved if you need it for competition, and prefer listings sold by the brand or by Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

FAQ

What gear do you need for karate sparring?

Under WKF kumite rules: a white gi, red or blue mitts, a gum shield, red or blue shin pads and foot protection, a body protector (chest and body protection for women) and a groin guard for men. Under-14s also wear a head guard and an external body protector, and girls under 14 a chest protector. Clubs set their own rules for training.

What size karate gi should I get?

Most gis are sized by height. Blitz numbers its sizes by height: 4/170cm fits 170 to 179 cm, 5/180cm fits 180 to 189 cm, and kids' sizes start at 0000/100cm for 100 to 109 cm.

What weight gi should a beginner buy?

A light 6 to 7oz polycotton gi, which Blitz suggests for beginners and younger students; its student gis come with a white belt. Heavier 10 to 14oz cotton canvas gis are for regular training, gradings and competition.

Do karate mitts have a thumb?

Both kinds exist. Blitz's Club Elite Gloves enclose the thumb, while its Club Elite and Pro Elite Mitts leave it free. For competition, use what the organiser requires; at WKF events that means WKF Approved mitts in red or blue.

Can I use Blitz mitts in WKF competition?

Not at events that require WKF Approved equipment: Blitz is not one of the 12 brands the WKF licensed for protections for 2025 to 2029. They are fine for club training and for competitions that accept them.

How do I size karate mitts?

Measure across the lowest but widest part of your knuckles on the palm side. On Blitz's Club Elite chart, 8.5 to 9.1 cm is a Medium and 9.1 to 9.5 cm a Large.

Sources

1. WKF, Kumite Competition Rules 2026 (Articles 2.2.1, 2.2.7, 2.2.10)
2. WKF, letter on approved protections and karategis 2025–2029 (July 2024)
3. Blitz, Adult Student Karate Gi
4. Blitz, Kids Student Karate Gi
5. Blitz, Adult Lightweight Karate Gi
6. Blitz, Adult Kokoro Karate Gi
7. Blitz, Adult Zanshin Karate Gi
8. Blitz, Adult Silver Tournament Kumite Karate Gi
9. Blitz, Adult Diamond Kata Karate Gi
10. Blitz, Club Elite Mitts Without Thumb
11. Blitz, Club Elite Gloves With Thumb
12. Blitz, Pro Elite Mitts Without Thumb
13. Blitz, Wuko Mitts
14. Blitz, Elite Foot Guards
15. Blitz, Elite Shin Guards With Removable Foot
16. Blitz, Intercept Reversible Body Protector
17. Revgear, Deluxe Reversible Chestguard

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