Multi-purpose indoor training shoes?

GreenieMeanie

Black Belt
I’m looking to get one proper shoe pair, that I can use for the gym, the dojo, and dancing classes.

I’ve generally used ASICS running shoes for anything athletic, but I feel like this provides too much padding, little tactile feedback, and not enough ankle support.

Any suggestions on brands/models? Hopefully ASICS, because I know those fit me?
 
I’m looking to get one proper shoe pair, that I can use for the gym, the dojo, and dancing classes.

I’ve generally used ASICS running shoes for anything athletic, but I feel like this provides too much padding, little tactile feedback, and not enough ankle support.

Any suggestions on brands/models? Hopefully ASICS, because I know those fit me?

I don’t know shoes anymore, I wish I did. I used to know every shoe there was, at least those that were available to us, especially in their relationship to martial arts in real life.

Because they can be WAY important. Or at the very least…give you the maximum advantage to what you’re wearing on your feet if you ever get into the nasty.
 
Once I have gotten used to not wearing shoes in the dojo, whenever I know try to make a spinkick outdoors when wearing my normal shoes, it feels swampy and imbalanced and it is easy to wiggle and hurt your ankle when spinning in asic type shoes. I feel I loose contact to the ground. It's alsmost like I feel that if I end up in a fight I better kick off my shoes first so i can have ground contact!

i would then opt for shoes with minimal padding and minimal sole. Or perhaps simply wear high friction socks?
 
Once I have gotten used to not wearing shoes in the dojo, whenever I know try to make a spinkick outdoors when wearing my normal shoes, it feels swampy and imbalanced and it is easy to wiggle and hurt your ankle when spinning in asic type shoes. I feel I loose contact to the ground. It's alsmost like I feel that if I end up in a fight I better kick off my shoes first so i can have ground contact!

i would then opt for shoes with minimal padding and minimal sole. Or perhaps simply wear high friction socks?
Anything that requires technical movement you want minimum padding. I don’t like going barefoot in the dojo, because depending on the mat, it’s easy to develop friction burns. Socks have no structural integrity. They’re not designed for that.
 
Anything that requires technical movement you want minimum padding. I don’t like going barefoot in the dojo, because depending on the mat, it’s easy to develop friction burns.
Not sure why, but so far I have never encountered burns, and we train both on wooden floor and on tatami mats. But I don't hop alot nor slide, perhaps if you can slide, you get used to that habit.

Socks have no structural integrity. They’re not designed for that.
Indeed, but the bare feets have all the required structural integrity?
 
Not sure why, but so far I have never encountered burns, and we train both on wooden floor and on tatami mats. But I don't hop alot nor slide, perhaps if you can slide, you get used to that habit.


Indeed, but the bare feets have all the required structural integrity?
Sure—but this is a gear thread. I didn’t ask for a comparison between feet and shoes.
 
Sure—but this is a gear thread. I didn’t ask for a comparison between feet and shoes.
Fair enough

I do have a pair of shoes in my training bag - just in case i need it, but I never used them, I tried them on and I do not like them. When i bought them i thought it would be nice with shoes, but i changed my mind
shoes

I would use them if we need to say train outside on gravel or so (in the summer the training is sometimes outdoors, and just to avoid stepping into something sharp these are what I would use)

They are like asics but with minimal sole, minmal damping, so they aren't designed for running or anything they are designed as MA shoes.
 
probably similar to this one in design...
 
probably similar to this one in design...
Your recs fit like ASICS? I gotta order these online, so I can’t just put them back.
 
Consider buying some disposable ‘overshoes’ in that case; there’s nothing worse than finding outdoor detritus (grit, gravel, grass clippings, dog excrement) in the dojo/dance studio.

A lot of research goes into making modern footwear for sports. For what you’re requiring, Vibram Five finger Evo ‘barefoot’ running shoes might fit the bill. They look cool and provide full tactile feedback to your nervous system, unrivalled grip (so difficult to slide about if that’s important in your system) and strengthen your intrinsic foot muscles over time (be prepared for foot pain until your foot muscles get stronger).
5F41EB4A-0EE3-447E-9A2C-CC638D0C757F.webp
 
Consider buying some disposable ‘overshoes’ in that case; there’s nothing worse than finding outdoor detritus (grit, gravel, grass clippings, dog excrement) in the dojo/dance studio.

A lot of research goes into making modern footwear for sports. For what you’re requiring, Vibram Five finger Evo ‘barefoot’ running shoes might fit the bill. They look cool and provide full tactile feedback to your nervous system, unrivalled grip (so difficult to slide about if that’s important in your system) and strengthen your intrinsic foot muscles over time (be prepared for foot pain until your foot muscles get stronger).
View attachment 32545
And if primarily flat-footed?
 
Consider buying some disposable ‘overshoes’ in that case; there’s nothing worse than finding outdoor detritus (grit, gravel, grass clippings, dog excrement) in the dojo/dance studio.

A lot of research goes into making modern footwear for sports. For what you’re requiring, Vibram Five finger Evo ‘barefoot’ running shoes might fit the bill. They look cool and provide full tactile feedback to your nervous system, unrivalled grip (so difficult to slide about if that’s important in your system) and strengthen your intrinsic foot muscles over time (be prepared for foot pain until your foot muscles get stronger).
View attachment 32545
I second something like this. I buy cheap neoprene water shoes from a big box store for outdoor training. All the benefits gyakuto described but cost around $15.00 a pair.
 
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