Karate
Research-based guidance on karate kit - choosing a gi, what to add before kumite (sparring), and what World Karate Federation (WKF) rules and its approved list mean for what you buy. Other organisations can set their own kit rules, so check with your club too.
The catalogue
Equipment categories
Every karate category we research, with what it covers and how many products we've assessed.
Gis for first classes, regular training, kata and kumite, which differ in fabric weight, cut and height sizing.
4 products researched
Mitts for kumite (sparring), for club training or for WKF events, where they must be WKF Approved and red or blue.
3 products researched
Strap-on and slip-on shin and instep guards for kumite; WKF events need WKF Approved guards in red or blue.
4 products researched
Body protectors and women's chest protection for kumite; under WKF rules, under-14s need different kit.
3 products researched
Gum shields for kumite, compulsory under WKF rules, with what to check if you wear braces.
4 products researched
Guided journeys
Where to start
Pick the journey that sounds most like you - each one leads with the kit that matters first.
Starting karate classes
Ask your club what to wear and whether it sells its own gi before you buy. A light student gi is the inexpensive first option, and some come with a white belt. Gis are sized by height, so check the maker's chart before you buy for a child.
Start with
Starting kumite (sparring)
Ask your club what it wears for class sparring. For events run under WKF rules, the compulsory kit is mitts, a gum shield, shin and instep guards, a body protector and, for men, a groin guard; under-14s need extra kit, which our karate guide explains.
Kata
In WKF kata competition you wear a white, WKF Approved gi and a WKF Approved red or blue belt; WKF's kata rules list no protective equipment. For kata training, Blitz makes a heavyweight Japanese-cut gi with shorter sleeves and trouser legs, which it tailors for kata. Blitz is not on WKF's approved list, so it is not a gi for WKF competition.
Start with
Competing under WKF rules
At events run under WKF rules, the gi, the red or blue belt and the mitts, pads and protectors must be WKF Approved, and corner colours are red and blue. Before you buy, check that WKF lists the brand for that item and that the seller is on WKF's dealer list; for some brands, adidas among them, WKF names the brand, not the model. Check for the WKF logo on what you receive, and check which rules your event uses.
Equipment guide
Protective equipment
WKF's kumite rules require WKF Approved mitts, shin pads, foot protection and body protector, a gum shield and, for men, a WKF Approved groin guard. Under-14s also need a WKF Approved helmet and an external body protector, and girls under 14 a chest protector. Below is the kit we cover, with what to check before you buy for training and sparring.
Karate Mitts
Compulsory in WKF kumite, red for one athlete and blue for the other, and WKF Approved. WKF approves mitts with and without thumb protection.
Mouthguards
A gum shield is compulsory in WKF kumite, and the rule names no particular type. WKF's approved-equipment list has no mouthguard category, though its rules say all protective equipment must be WKF Approved, so ask the event organiser if you're unsure what it accepts. If you wear metal braces, WKF rules require the referee and tournament doctor to approve them.
Shin and Instep Guards
WKF kumite requires both shin pads and foot protection, WKF Approved, in red or blue. Guards with a removable foot let you wear the pieces together or apart.
Body Protectors
Under WKF rules men wear a WKF Approved body protector; women use a chest and body protector or an integrated one. WKF's specification for these is a protector worn under the gi. Under-14s also need a WKF Approved helmet and an external body protector, and girls under 14 a chest protector.
Reading
Karate guides
Longer, research-based reading on choosing and using the kit.
Guide
Karate kit for beginners and kumite
What to buy for your first karate classes, what to add before kumite (sparring), and what the World Karate Federation's competition rules ask for. This guide is research-based: we have not tested the kit ourselves, and we quote makers' and retailers' claims as theirs.
Updated 22 October 2026