Shoes/Being flat footed & Kali

[efumaguy]

Hey.. all. I was wondering what kind of shoes/soles you use for your stickfighting?
and if anyone else has flat feet (flexible kind) and if it affected the development of their footwork
negatively like it did with me.

I'm currently using TKD-style shoes but they dont feel like the best option.
does anyone use fencing shoes or anything like that? or is it just chucks/nike shox as the standard.

[maija]

I like wrestling shoes, also favored by my training partners - light weight, split sole for flexibility and a bit of ankle support. Asics, Nike etc all make them, and most big sports stores carry them.
Also www.Eastbay.com has a good selection.
Now my teacher .... he'd sometimes wear sharp-looking, leather dancing shoes, but he was unusual .....

[Kaju Dog]

 
I like my steel toed combat boots.   

(just kidding, or am I) 


Advise;

Find a pair of shoes that you like the most and PM me your mailing address and foot/shoe size.  (I'll send you some insoles to try out)

Woof!

"(I'll send you some insoles to try out)"....    Better yet, I'll bring em to the Aug Gathering for ya

Dog Dean

[Poidog]

I prefer the Adidas Samba model indoor soccer shoe.  Flat, thin sole with a sturdy toe for the savate kicks.  Comfortable enough for a 3-day Gathering.   

Aloha, Poi

[ryangruhn]

I like to train in bare feet.  When we used to be at the Raw gym for gatherings I ventured out once onto the mat with no shoes.    I usually however, fight with wrestling shoes.  I don't want a bulky shoe getting snagged in things when I'm grappling.

[Punyojoe]

I wonder if you could give more detail about the foot pain you experience. Since flat feet is a structural problem, a flat wrestling shoe might be the worst for you. It may feel OK at first but prolonged standing, pushing off, etc may become painful.

I don't know how tall or your weight or anything but if your feet cave inward due to fallen arches then proper footware is a must for you.

PJ

[Crafty_Dog]

Here's a different way of looking at fallen arches:

http://nymag.com/health/features/46213/

[Poidog]

I go barefoot or in slippers (flip-flops for all you mainlanders) as much as I can.  A great alternative to look at for times when you can't go barefoot - Vibram Five Fingers.  I have a pair of the Fivefingers Classic that I've started wearing when I go trail hiking or rucking.  Great minimalist footgear.  Two more sites I'd recommend are Barefoot Ted and Running Barefoot.  Evolution FTW!!

Aloha, Poi

[Hawke]

Here's an article dealing with foot pronation written in 2005.

http://www.healthandlifestyle.co.nz/e-books/footpronation.pdf

[Hawke]

*************************

I just learned about the importance of barefoot walking from reading Crafty Dog's NY Mag link.

So I did a Google search for more info and came across this Barefoot Links by mrienstra at http://www.pponline.co.uk/forum/talk-injury/please-help-re-creating-arches-for-flat-feet#comment-4242

*************************

Good Barefoot Links
Sun, 2005-05-22 22:29 by mrienstra

Some good links on going barefoot: (they may seem a bit over-the-top, but there is some good science here, and several of these articles are written by podiatrists, so just keep an open mind, and then you are welcome to try to dig up some conflicting viewpoints -- post back here if you find any)

http://www.unshod.org/pfbc/pfrossi2.htm (Why Shoes Make "Normal" Gait Impossible, By William A. Rossi, D.P.M.)

http://www.barefooters.org/key-works/case_for/3.health.html (A Case for Bare Feet, Section 3: Health. See 3.4 in particular for the disadvantages of only training in shoes)

http://www.unshod.org/pfbc/toysaw.htm (Take Off Your Shoes and Walk
by Simon J. Wikler D.S.C.)

http://www.barefooters.org/medicine/ (excerpts from published papers in medical journals)

http://www.barefooters.org/faq/ (Barefoot FAQ)