1. Do you use protective gear? If so what? - Yes, hand guards and mouthpiece. Other protective equipment is optional. 2. How hard contact do you use? Do you KO each other often? Injuries? - Contact is usally 40% to 60%. No KOs are allowed. I am, it seems, constantly recovering from some injury. 3. What rules do you use? Punch the face? Groin? Grabbing? Wrestling? Submissions? - Contact is allowed only between the shoulders and the belt;no elbows or knees to the head and no ground fighting. 4. Don't forget to mention your style! - Shito-Ryu Hayashi-Ha Karate _________________