ShorinRyuSensei said: In the 30+ years since I started karate training, I've yet to wear head, hand or foot pads except in full contact sparring. Then I use traditional Okinawan bogu, which is a lot different than what most people use. heck, I don't even wear a groin cup! Yeah! There's nothing like shorin ryu conditioning. I've got a few sore spots right now from last night.