Kyokushin Karate has kicks to the head, just not hand strikes. Still, it's a pretty hardcore form of Karate, which I believe it's part of the reason it has a huge appeal in Russia. As for the gloves, they're there to protect the hands of the fighters, not the ones getting hit. The 6 to 8 oz. gloves used in professional fights do little to save a man from getting hurt. I'm sure you already know this. I'm posting more for the benefit of onlookers. That makes some pretty good sense actually. Competitive martial arts is definitely a young man's game. I'm glad to hear you're still in it. I can't wait to see what you post down the road.As for gi/no-gi, I prefer gi because it feels more technical, and it gives me an advantage over younger and more athletic training partners. I enjoy training both, though.