Do you really hit each other in karate?

Im asking you this because one of the kids I sometimes train, wants(well, his father wants him to) do karate instead of taekwondo. His father sais that taekwondo is too dangerous and also that in karate, you do your move (a kick or a punch) but you dont really hit each other. Is this real?

Also, the first thing i noticed is that you dont have protections, but in a fight I saw something under your uniform (gi?). What is that?



Thank you for all answers, Im very intrested also in Karate and I think that I could take it up