Mr. Author, please, make him buy AT LEAST some gauntlets or gloves and greaves.
A fist fighter like a Karate practitioner also has weapons and armor options.
Both protect the hands and feet allowing to defend melee weapon and ranged weapon attacks while increasing attack damage.
Just because he is a Karate fighter does not mean that he can't have equipment that helps him fight.
When your enemies use sword and you don't even have gauntlets while fighting with your fists, you are pretty stupid, even if you are strong.
That actually bothers me quite a bit, since he obviously has the money to purchase equipment.