gloved
There's a freestyle Karate circuit in England which is run chiefly by the World Karate Association (part of the World Kickboxing Association) and the World Karate Council (WKC) which broke away from the WKA.
The WKC is also allied with the FSK (Freestyle Sport Karate) which has been around for years.
In the 1980s and 1990s WAKO and WUMA were among the main governing bodies.
Competitors wear light freestyle Karate mits, headguard, gumshield, groin guard and instep guard. To the best of my knowledge shin guards are not used and definitely not chest or face protectors.
Competition is (a) Points Fighting (not shobu ippon) which is first to 15 clear points.
Sometimes there are graduated scoring, for instance 1 point for a body punch, 2 for a headkick, 4 for a jumping kick. Sweeps are allowed but low kicks and strikes to the back don't score.
Or (b) continuous which is basically semi-contact kickboxing. The competitors fight for three three-minute rounds and the judges decide a winner.
You can basically hit each other fairly hard, but there is no real benefit to hitting hard so it's semi contact.
I competed in this circuit from 1995-2000 - so I haven't done it for ten years, it may well have changed a bit.
Simon Keegan 4th Dan
www.bushinkai.org.uk