The big shoe thread we had going dissapeared so here’s another.
Just today I received my pair of size 12, lowtop, white, Discipline martial arts shoes and I must say they are the most comfortable MA shoe I have ever used.
I tested them out on a hardwood floor and they slid when I wanted them to slide and they stayed put when I wanted them to stay put.
Has anyone with wide feet used these shoes? I chew my normal cloth shoes to shreds every couple of months, and so I asked my Sifu about going to these shoes. He has a wide foot, and actually discouraged me from buying these, claiming that they are actually less forgiving on a wide foot. Obviously, they are made of a higher grade of material, so they won’t stretch out as easily as cloth, and from what I read, they have said “For wide feet or a more traditional athletic shoe fit, go up a half size.” I can fit into a pair of 11 wide dress shoes with comfort, but normally I wear size 12 atheletic shoes.
Yeah, good question about wide sizes. I haven’t found an athletic shoe that fits me correctly yet. I buy 1/2 to 1 size larger and it helps somewhat, but it’s still not right. I can buy a quality dress shoe or hiking boot in a 3-5 E depending on who’s measuring and have them fit right. My problem is also that my feet are a whole size different. I have yet to find anyone that will sell me two different sized shoes without charging me for both pairs exept for custom made. Talk about being in it for the money. How difficult would it be for the factory that mass produces shoes to simply ship some packaged individually or loose? Not very! But don’t get me started on beancounters!
They are used mainly by wushu practioners. They are by far the best training shoe, I’ve ever used.
They allow you to feel the floor. They force you to have better control of your feet and weight distribution, in terms of where the pressure is placed. In other words, it forces you to place your foot in the proper position, without relying on the thick sole of a “runner”. It allows the instructor to see more obviously the mistakes in your stance.
To sum, it gives you a more realistic perspective of your balance.
I have the black low-tops. They are the best MA shoe I have owned. The handle well while still enabling you to grab solid root.
And they are very light, and seem well constructed and durable so far.
I have wide flat feet and sometimes have trouble finding comfortable shoes because of this, and these still fit comfortably.
The leather is fairly suptle. I ordered my girlfriend a pair of these and they were a little too small for her, so I suggested to soak them wet and then wear them working out while they dried (learned that trick back in my soccer days) and that did the trick, stretched slightly to fit her feet, now she wears them all the time and really likes them.
I use an Adidas “Samba”. I have found that all indoor soccer shoes have used so far work. I reason I use them is that they have very good support. They lace all the way up. Plenty of grip, yet will still slide. Thanks, LIZ
I saw there add in the magaize a few months ago and they seemed all right, rather give them my $ than Nike.
However, I have wide feet and the underside was not wide enough making a wierd, unnatural pivot point. I called them and they exchnaged them back no problem. They were very cool. I told them them issue, and if they make them more Fred Flinstone foot-friendly, I’d buy a pair in a second.
Now I’m back to traditional Chinese Slippers. I prefer sneaks, but don’t want to scuff up Sifu’s floor.
Originally posted by whippinghand
[B]They are used mainly by wushu practioners. They are by far the best training shoe, I’ve ever used.
They allow you to feel the floor. They force you to have better control of your feet and weight distribution, in terms of where the pressure is placed. In other words, it forces you to place your foot in the proper position, without relying on the thick sole of a “runner”. It allows the instructor to see more obviously the mistakes in your stance.
To sum, it gives you a more realistic perspective of your balance. [/B]
Seconded.
I bought a pair of Feivue’s last year, and they are very nice. That or a pair of Asics wrestling shoes. And Sambas.
Something about the Feivue’s is nice though, and they are wide as well.
I have a pair of disciplines on right now. Addidas are ok, if your a weekend warrior. Ottomix are second best. Disciples last, have lateral support, don’t scuff the floor, are great for wrestling or boxing, but give you the flexebility to actually kick. I would wear them everywhere if I could. They are worth every penny, better than buying 5 pars of pine trees. or , three pair of addidias or 1.5 pair of Ottomix.
Oh and the real laces actually stop you from sliding around in your shoe, giving you the support you need when little things like balance are at stake.
They are less thin than the others on the bottom and don’t compromise your balance. Your breath has far more to do with balance.
I found a pair in Shanghai called New McMasters. Best shoe I’ve ever owned. Kind of a cross between the Feivue’s and Adida indoor soccor shoes. I bouaght them from some guy with a little shack set up in an alley. He had one pair of those and two of the Feivues all exactly in my size
Excellent thread, I have really been needing to invest in new shoes. I’ve seen one person who had Otomix at our school, but he switched back to the cheap cloth shoes. Would you say in your experience, that a good set of shoes has positively impacted your training?
Where can I find Feivues? I have not seen anything about these shoes besides on here.
"We don’t want to overstate the case, but this may be the biggest thing that’s happened to martial arts since Kato kicked Robin’s butt in the Green Hornet Vs Batman grudge match. This shoe has got SUPERHERO written all over it. "
Actually contrary to popular belief, a tai chi master of fifty years of practice with improper shoes will easily be defeated by a 15 year old pimple faced kid wearing elite martial arts shoes. It’s a fact!
I’ve gone through two pairs of Disciplines in a year.
They are very comfortable and you can move and sweep like a cat… but as I said, I’ve gone through two pairs in a year. (after having my old Asics wrestling shoes last almost five years.)
The problem seems to be the glue that attaches the soul to the upper. In both cases it gave out and peeled away. The soul itself and the upper were still like new… quality stuff. They market the glue (as opposed to stitching) as a plus, but in my eyes it is a huge weakness of their shoe.
I’ve gone back to my Asics wrestling shoes. I’ll try Disciplines again in a few years after they’ve worked out what I believe is a major bug.
FYI, I have wide feet, and the soul IS a tad narrow. You can notice it in crane stances when you feel your feet wrap around the soul. But they’re not terribly bad. It’s a minor problem. Their durability at the price they are is a large issue though.
Brett, when the soles on my old Masters peeled away (similar shoe to Pinetrees), i fixed them with superglue and the glue has held them together pretty well, better than the original glue on them. My Disciplines soles are just starting to separate a little and I will try that same fix, I would recommend trying it on yours, you might get a few more kicks out of them.
