One of my best *ever* sparring experiences was to spar with one of our instructors who just happens to have placed number 4 in the world Kyokushin champs a few years ago.

It was an awesome experience and one I'll never forget!

I learnt a lot from sparring him, mainly that keeping your guard up at all times is vital!

- not that I have ever had any problem keeping my guard up, he is the only person to date who has managed to get through my guard more than once.

and good footwork is vital too ...

I'd leave it for a year or two before you think about tackling these guys. Perhaps join up with their dojo and train first!

Well, this has to do with the fact that they insist on fighting bare knuckle. And we can surely agree that a bare knuckle tournament with punches to the head wouldn't be safe.

It's obviously way easier to defend against kicks to the head than punches, so that's why kicks are still allowed.

I don't really see what's so watered down about it?

I will however admit that the rules at times make the fights sort of silly to look at, when two fighters are standing almost with their faces next to each other, but still not allowed to punch.

I said watered down because of the fact that there is no face punching,(because of gloves) and no throws sweeps or clinch work. Punching to the head is, despite the risks, a huge role in fighting. Also, when the fighters are so close, like the video, clinh, knees and elbows would be perfect. As would throwing or sweping. Are these all not elements of Karate? It would seem to me that the competition falls far short of the training, thus being watered down.

I admit that I think competition should include head punching, but then you have to put on gloves for safety reasons, so there's a tradeoff. I'm sure the Kyokushin guys do well in competitions where head punching is allowed too though, they tend to be pretty tough.

Why even use tradtional gloves? Use MMA glovs. Then you could punch the head and clinch,sweep, or throw still.

Suppose so, but even MMA gloves change the way you fight. If you're ok with that then by all means. Many people aren't. I would agree with you though, the benefits definitely outweigh the costs.

k guys ive asked about it, you were right, no head punches, but otherwise full contact. No gloves. Mrmoyer I actually agree with you lol, but still....nationals!!!! i must go. Anyway thanks for the info. And is kyokushin terminology the same as shotokan? because im worried that i might not know when to bow and stuff... or who to