| Martial arts training shoes are not generally worn | | | | preventative measure is for the students to train |
| by practitioners, especially those who train the | | | | wearing martial arts shoes. |
| various Japanese martial arts. It is much more | | | | 2. Self-Protection |
| common to see people training barefoot in the | | | | Many martial arts classes meet up to train in a |
| dojo while doing karate or judo. There are two | | | | hired room which may not be part of a |
| main reasons. Firstly, removing outside or training | | | | professional school, or even in a sports complex. |
| shoes shows respect for the martial art and its | | | | Instead, the room could be in a church hall or |
| traditions. The second reason is purely practical. In | | | | some other local building not used exclusively for |
| throwing arts such as judo, jujitsu and aikido, | | | | martial arts. If the room is not normally used for |
| matted training areas are used. So outside | | | | any kind of sport or exercise activity (such as |
| footwear is removed to prevent dirt from ruining | | | | yoga or pilates) then the floor may not be ideal |
| the mats, and also to protect them from | | | | for training barefoot. It might be a simple, cold |
| damage, so they do not need replacing too often. | | | | concrete floor, or a rough wooden one with |
| Chinese Martial Arts Versus the Others | | | | damaged or uneven boards. These kinds of floor |
| The Japanese art of ninjutsu is different to other | | | | can pose an unnecessarily high risk of injury. Even |
| Japanese martial arts in that footwear is worn. | | | | proper matted judo surfaces have been known |
| This footwear is called tabi, and can consist of | | | | to cause broken toes, as it is easy to trap a toe |
| both tabi boots and tabi socks, both of which are | | | | between the mats if you end up on the receiving |
| characterized by having the big toe separated | | | | end of a sweep kick. Light training shoes are |
| from the other ones. | | | | imperative in cases like this to prevent needless |
| In Chinese martial arts it is fairly standard for | | | | injuries from occurring. |
| shoes to be worn, whether they are of the kung | | | | 3. Protection During Sparring |
| fu slipper style that Bruce Lee was known for, or | | | | Most martial arts include sparring as an integral |
| simple black plimsolls or sneakers. However, if | | | | part of the training, so that students can practise |
| training in a dojo, especially if they are using a | | | | techniques against a real opponent. Some |
| matted area, the Chinese kung fu practitioners will | | | | commercially available martial arts training shoes |
| train without their shoes, both as a sign of | | | | are elasticated slip-on type shoes, which |
| respect to the martial art normally practised | | | | incorporate thin padding across the top and instep. |
| there, and also to assist in protecting the mats. | | | | These can be helpful to both students when |
| Reasons to Wear Martial Arts Training Shoes | | | | practising during light sparring. They are also |
| The question to consider is whether martial arts | | | | normally light-weight and thin enough that proper |
| shoes should be worn by all martial artists in the | | | | shin guards and foot padding can be worn over |
| twenty-first century, or whether it is better to | | | | the top of them for more intense, full-contact |
| respect the traditions of our martial ancestors. | | | | sparring. |
| Here are four compelling reasons to at least | | | | 4. Authenticity in Real Self-Defence Situations |
| schedule some training sessions using footwear. | | | | The most obvious reason for doing part of any |
| 1. Hygiene | | | | martial arts training wearing shoes is that it is |
| It is very common in areas where lots of people | | | | extremely unlikely that you will be attacked while |
| go barefoot, for skin and fungal infections to | | | | you happen to be barefooted. It does pay to train |
| spread. This problem is particularly prevalent in | | | | for this eventuality, but in general, any need to |
| locker rooms and sports changing rooms. For | | | | use self-defence techniques will occur outside the |
| martial artists who train barefoot, this poses two | | | | home and while you are wearing shoes or |
| potential problems. Firstly, if the student is | | | | sneakers. If you are not familiar with executing |
| respectful of his fellow classmates, he will not | | | | your martial arts techniques while wearing shoes, |
| train while suffering from a skin condition. This of | | | | the you will be at an automatic disadvantage in |
| course is detrimental to the student's training | | | | any physically dangerous situation. |
| regime. | | | | So even if your martial art normally trains |
| The other potential problem is if the student | | | | barefoot, it is certainly advisable to do some |
| ignores a skin health problem and trains anyway. | | | | occasional practice sessions wearing everyday |
| This is not pleasant for the other students and | | | | clothes and shoes, in order to make your |
| the infection can then rapidly spread. An easy | | | | self-defence training as realistic as possible. |