I hated the gloves and safety gear—or “protective equipment” as it was called back then. It limited pure technique. In the ‘60s and early ‘70s, there was no equipment in what was then called “full contact” karate, which required control. Maybe we used a cup, a mouthpiece, or taped hands, but it was bare knuckles. It required control, focus, and precision—what we called kime. It was exciting, as real as it could get, and safe for those with proper technique and discipline. Sure, sometimes things got out of hand. To the public, it may have appeared brutal at times. Perhaps this was why someone eventually introduced safety gear, which has
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