Hello, In the old days of Kempo kumite...NO pads were ever around and they train with bare fists.
This is consider the "old ways"....and your body and spirit really got "tuff".
You would see lots of bloody nose's, black eyes, black and blues on the body.
Today NO one likes to get hurt or injury....also you would lose lots of your students too!
Today their is gloves,knee pads,elbow pads, body pads, helmets/headgears and shields too! Still NO full contact...most times a light contact only.
Very few schools go thru "full contact training" on a regular basis. Those who do learns faster, handles the adrenline factor better, and have better reaction times, also learns how to handle being hit, kick, punch, and so on! .......and really learns what works.
Aloha (from someone who do not like full contact) unless it is for real?