Why do the majority of martial artists train in bare foot?

Question

In a real situation you won't stop and take your shoes off first!!

Answer 1

It is a tradition. I do believe there is a justification on a more subtle level with respect to the direct contact with the surface and the transmission of ki, but I do not feel, in the least, qualified to speak on this subject.
The most down to earth explanation could be the Japanese tradition of taking your shoes off before going in to a home.
Another could be to strengthen your feet, thicken the skin and minimize the striking area while striking with the feet.

Answer 2

Quite true I most certainly would not be stopping to remove my shoes before defending myself. However, I have no wish to maim my training partners, it's bad manners! After all, we are only practising together, not having a real fight. If you have ever been kicked by someone or had your toe stood on by someone wearing even light trainers, you will know how painful and damaging it can be especially if done with some skill behind it.

Having bare feet hardens the soles of your feet which will make even barefoot kicks more devestating. Also it prevents training mats from being damaged so easily.

In Ninjutsu and Kung Fu tabi or Kung Fu slippers respectively are sometimes used.

Answer 3

I think its just a tradition. It also hardens your feet, when I did Karate before there was an annual bare foot run for six miles on roads, grass, kerbs etc. Completing these is something I will always be proud of, because I met the challenge. Any kind of martial art involves some element of pain, and the barefoot run taught me to deal with pain.

Answer 4

I think its a matter of tradition, certainly where Japanese martial arts are concerned. Removal of shoes when entering someone's home/dojo is customary in Japan as a sign of respect. If you want to look at it from an esoteric angle, your bare feet being in contact with the earth lets your chi/ki flow throughout your body, forming a connection with the planet. Or maybe all martial artists are foot fetishists... who knows!

Answer 5

Mostly what Jimmy said. It's a respect thing. Even though you probably won't take off your shoes before you fight someone on the streets. Also though, I think it might have something to do with the poor citizens who invented most Asian martial arts not having shoes.

Answer 6

Although these answers are all good, the true reason is due to tradition. the arts that train barefoot are primarly japanese and korean. first the japanese. the japanese are a very respectful group . and it was in bad taste (and still is) to enter someones house without removing your shoes. because most instructors taught from out of there homes, it was only respect for the master to remove ones shoes before training. Now the koreans. Korea was controlled by japan during WWII and many if not all the korean masters were killed. and as a mititary effort against the americans the japanese used korean soilders to keep japanese death down. so if they are going to fight they must be trained. but there masters were all killed, so the japanese taught the koreans and many of their customs were passed on to them. one being to remove the shoes. also people say it to harden the feet, but talk to a wing chun student and ask him if you need to go barefoot to harden your feet.

Answer 7

I train with shoes on, but some people do it bare foot to make sure that they've got the correct foot positions.

Answer 8

It's mostly for balance - try standing barefoot and lifting your big toe, it's surprisingly difficult. Barefoot gives you better control and during sparring matches it's better (less damaging) to be kicked by a bare foot that a shoe or boot.

Answer 9

training on foot gives the martial artist a sense on security as they belive "their foot is on the ground". furthermore training barefooted also allows the foot to be trained to be accustomed to the rough floors. training with shoes give the foot a stench too!

Answer 10

its tradition but martial arts were developed hundreds of years ago its time to change the set up of all martial arts, the fancy high kicks are no good if your in a really crowded place with tight clothes on, im not knocking the arts ive a black belt in two of them but the have to teach people how defend themselves properly like boxing does, hope i have annoyed anyone