On gloves - different dojos do different things, and sometimes on different occasions. One thing I've noticed about some people new to karate is that they need time to get in the swing of full-on impulse control. It's definitely an empowering sport! However, kyu ranks do not need to be beating the tar out of each other - gloves are a nice cushion. It also takes time to learn to punch in a way that won't trash your joints. Like it's been said, sparing in-dojo doesn't always mean gloveless, especially with lower ranks. I enjoy lots of padding myself - I'm mostly in it for the self-discipline - but a lot of folks will wear gloves that just cover the knuckles and tops of hands. Protection while allowing lots of movement. Another thing - different dojos use differing levels of contact. Some don't mind a few bruises and a little blood *wink*, others keep it mellow, and some try to go along with the student's disposition (and rank, of course). Happy kicking! Shotakan is great.
