So what do you guys think of training in those traditional kung fu shoes that are slippery on tiled floor vs. running shoes vs. barefeet?
Do you see any benefit for either one?
I started training in the kung fu slippers for about 2 years and then went to indoor soccer shoes. I’m just wondering if you guys think that the slippers could make your horse stronger because you’re not relying on the grip from other soles.
J
hmmm let me see what year is this 2004 right
train in what you walk around in 
if you live in the 1800 and in china the i guess you have wear whats out there
while were at bring back the horse and buggy 
I personally agree with Ernie. Train in what you normally wear.
However, for the sake of not destroying the mat and costing even more money for upkeep, we compromise with softer soled shoes that won’t destroy the mat at my school.
-Levi
Even the Wu Shu guys in China wear modern running shoes and workout clothes while some on this continent try to immitate the people from old day China with slippery slippers and silk pajamas.
Wear what you might fight with is best unless you expect to get attacked mostly while you are having a shower or a bath. In that case train by taking a bath fully clothed and with steel toe boots. If you are studying some African art should you dress up like Tarzan did?
Ray
We have no uniform at my place and we wear normal shoes.I would hate to disguise as an old times chinese guy to practice Gung Fu.
Hey guys,
Basically that was my opinion and why I switched to indoor soccer shoes. Plus they’re black and match my kung fu pants
I DETEST “Kung Fu” shoes. IMO only stillettos and roller skates would be worse to train in. I often wondered if they was some cruel joke foisted on clueless Gwailos by Asian teachers of last century.
Same with the pants and those jackets with the frog buttons, which used to rip ALL the time at the schools where I was forced to wear them. Why is this practical training apparel? At least jiu jitsu gis have practical value.
Let us not forget that one of the 1986 Cologne antagonists blamed his poor performance on this very footwear.
I don’t particularly care for TKD type “martial arts” shoes either, though they are light years ahead of the kung fu slipper. Wrestling boots IMO are the bomb, though I always go barefoot for BJJ to promote foot sensitivity.
Old time kung fu shoes? UGH!
Indoor soccer shoes, wrestling shoes, fairly flat bottomed light
racketball, hand ball, tennis shoes are good too.
Adapting to available equipmment and making mish mash of wing chun principles are quite differnt things. Dont have to use teak for a kwan either. T shirt, sweat pants are great for working out too.
Boxers can use their fists on the street-grapplers can take care of themeselves too withour working out in street clothes. We constantly tend to confuse development training with the multitude of possibilities in application. if the mind is devloped- adaptation follows.
I am flat footed, with high instep, and extremely wide feet- as wide as long almost— from climbing coconout trees asa kid. So fiitting shoes is quite a challenge. Whoever models clothes and shoes forgot aboout me- so individuation is the key. Uptoa point…
old paroclialism though-- change your gi and belt please to something else before class.
I am flat footed, with high instep, and extremely wide feet- as wide as long almost–
ah ha Joy is part duck thus his grounding power is so great
I’m with the idea of ‘train in what you wear’.
I like indoor soccer shoes but I normally wear ‘skate’ shoes, like vans or etines, etc.
But I am fond of my recently purchased Asiacs.
http://www.onlineonair.com/savate/listings/20.html
here is a fun ugly shoe
savate shoes have a re enforced to so you can kick people full power in the nuts
Gung-fu (girly) slippers
Just like every thing in life, there are always swings and roundabouts…
The old gungfu slippers are very comfortable for training your kicking and footwork – especially chum-kil with all the twisting and turning. It allows you to kick faster and more importantly if you are training on adhesive type of floors it helps prevent damage to your joints because it doesn’t grip as much as modern day trainers. This is the same reason why many sport centres have wooden floors – by reducing the friction of the floor it lessens the risk of damage to the joints when people are running around and changing directions quickly when playing a sport.
The down side to the slippers is when you change back to your normal shoes \ trainers, you will find that you can’t kick as fast due to the increase in weight of your footwear. Also, as Willy Cheung found to his cost, because the slippers has very little grip, you can’t stand very well when someone is trying to wrestle you down.
Re: Kung Fu Shoes
Originally posted by Jeff Bussey
[B]So what do you guys think of training in those traditional kung fu shoes that are slippery on tiled floor vs. running shoes vs. barefeet?
Do you see any benefit for either one?
I started training in the kung fu slippers for about 2 years and then went to indoor soccer shoes. I’m just wondering if you guys think that the slippers could make your horse stronger because you’re not relying on the grip from other soles.
J [/B]
They are very unpopular, and as usual I’m odd man out. Yes, we wear them, yes there is benefit, and yes they challenge and develop the horse and stability in different ways than street or popular athletic shoes. They also better facilitate our grueling flavor of stepping and footwork exercises. The shoes are consistent with and benefit our way of practice, so we wear them for functional reasons, not because they are part of some “costume.” 
With the cotton soled ones, I can even get by on some tougher types of surfaces, sometimes even carpeting without undue compromise in the exercises.
Having said that, I also practice in street or business footwear sometimes. There’s a reasonable chance that’s what I’d be wearing if, God forbid, ever called upon to utilize my kung fu outside the training hall. If I were still of an age and concern to wear high heels (and I am not), I’d practice in those too now and again just to cover the practical ranges. Different footwear can dramatically impact my posture, stability, mobility, and can even change my tolerances and limitations so, IMHO, it’s important to learn how to adapt.
Granted too, not everyone practices in the same fashion that we (me and mine) do; on that account I agree that kung fu shoes would not be appropriate for everyone. Unlike Red Ball Jets, they weren’t designed to make you run faster and jump higher.
Since it is so compelling to label people I guess this makes me an confounding blend of traditional and non-traditional. 
Regards,
P.S. Kung fu shoes also make terrific, lightweight travel slippers.
Originally posted by Ernie
[B]http://www.onlineonair.com/savate/listings/20.html
here is a fun ugly shoe
savate shoes have a re enforced to so you can kick people full power in the nuts [/B]
What do you mean “ugly shoe”? That is what I wear for buisness casual.
Regards,
lets all wear loose socks on a waxed floor yeeeaaaaaaa
or better yet brand new dress shoes on ice whooooopieee
sorry just being silly:)
Originally posted by kj
[B]What do you mean “ugly shoe”? That is what I wear for buisness casual.
Regards,
but it looks better in the high heel version:p
I wouldn’t want to take those laces to my braces
Originally posted by Ernie
[B]lets all wear loose socks on a waxed floor yeeeaaaaaaa
or better yet brand new dress shoes on ice whooooopieee
sorry just being silly:) [/B]
Works for me. In my part of the country you need to be capable and confident on ice.
Regards,
Originally posted by kj
[B]Works for me. In my part of the country you need to be capable and confident on ice.
Regards,
you need to move , wear non polar bears live ha ha
Hi Kathy Jo,
Appreciate the honest answer.
There probably is something to those shoes cause you constently have to squeeze inwards to just stand up straight.
BTW, I do have a pair for slippers
J