[OlgaBorovikovva]

Footprotectors are the wrong way to go and should only be used when absolutly necessary. On top of that, they make it easier to slip and increase the risk of groin/achillies injuries.
Blisters on the feet are easily treated with the special blister-band-aid you can get in any pharmacy. (Trust me, I've used my fair share of them). They will remove virtually any discomfort, although it wont heal quite as well as when you don't use them. (When I say, it's because you will need some level of callousness underneath your feet and the bandaids make the new surface skin very soft, making it easy to re-blister it).
Later when you get a bit more....hmm..used to blisters (yes, you do get used to them), you'll learn just to puncture them and get on with it. (Again, that was something I never imagined I would be able to do).
Of course, the best way to avoid blisters on the feet, is to do proper footwork .
Similar for the hands. You can get small sized bandaid thingies, use a bit of gel/cream before hand (once you get your own shinai!) and/or tape it up. The hands will in general get used to it very quickly and again, concentration on how you hold the shinai will also help eliminating it.

You could say that it's still a lot of hassle to go through, but pretty much anything outside the gym will require some level of discomfort before your body adapts.
(And if they're studying to be osteopaths, they should try it for themselves ).

I should for once be able to make it Thursday (the work-gods willing) so feel free to ask further questions there.


Cheers,

Jakob