Karate Mitts

Karate mitts are the gloves worn for kumite (sparring) in club training and at events run under WKF rules. Clubs and organisers that don't use WKF rules can set their own kit rules, so ask your club what it uses before you buy.

Check how the mitt fastens (finger loops, a strap or both), how it is sized and whether it covers the thumb. Makers size mitts differently: Blitz, for example, publishes knuckle-width bands, while other sellers list letter sizes.

Under WKF rules, mitts must be WKF Approved, and one athlete wears red mitts and the other blue (WKF Kumite Competition Rules 2026, Art. 2.2.7(a) and 2.2.10). Corners are decided by the draw (Art. 2.2.1(a) and (c)), so if you compete you may need a pair in each colour: check which colours your events ask for.

WKF's specification for the mitts it approves describes a mitt that is open on the inner side, so open-hand blocks are still possible. It covers mitts made with or without thumb protection (WKF Sport Items Homologation Process 2025-2028). adidas is on WKF's approved list for karate mitts, and the list names the brand, not the model. Approved items carry the WKF logo. Blitz and Bytomic are not on the list, so their mitts are club mitts for training and sparring.