What is the purpose of being barefoot while studying martial arts?

Question

I was thinking about taking a karate class but I am uncomfortable walking around barefoot. Does being barefoot in the class serve a purpose? If so I would rather comply with the study of the art. Why is this the case?

Answer 1

1. So the instructor can be sure your moving your feet correclty, there are advanced stances that are very close to one another and I wouldn't be able to tell if youre doing it correctly with shoes on.
2. Its easier to teach you to grip the floor with your foot instead of standing in a pair of shoes.
3. It helps with balance if everyone doesn't have different sized soles on.
4. We have to see that you are pulling your toes back on My Geri's (front kicks) and pointing them on Mawashi Geri (roundhouse kicks).
5. It would hurt like crazy to be kicked with boots, hard shoes on.

Answer 2

Dagfinn, txmapitbull, and Wallstreeter all bring up good points. I practice Chinese martial arts, known collectively as kung fu, but I did start off in Korean and Japanese systems. There, we went barefoot, to comply with tradition. When I first started kung fu, though, I went barefoot because, as Dagfinn mentions, foot position plays a role in how a kick is done correctly with minimal injury to the kicker. Once this is known, shoes are worn.

Answer 3

Consider that you can buy martial art shoes for about $16 on the web. My wife wears them while I go bearfoot.
Where it comes from -- I believe the previous answer was correct that it is because of removing ones shoes before entering a home. This is done to stop dirt from being tracked into the homes and prevent the often iorn rich dirt from staining the floors etc.
Kung fu often is taught with shoes...

Answer 4

I would suggest for grip. I usually wore socks when I took a martial arts class, and often times this would make the floor slippery. I am told that most martial arts floors are mopped after use, which would kill off the foot fungus germs. I asked because I was uncomfortable also, and then began going sockless.

Answer 5

In traditional martial arts, being barefoot during practice comes from the Oriental tradition of removing your shoes before entering a house.

Answer 6

Yeah, in some martial arts the way you bend the joints of your feet and toes play a role in kicking. Also for grip and saftey for yourself and others when in a friendly match with another student. Alot of times socks are accepted though

Answer 7

I hate practicing Muay Thai with shoes on. It's damn near impossible to be as coordinated and as fast as you are bare foot. The only cool thing is you get a wicked grip if you are in like grass or on blacktop and you are just demonstrating to somone, but in the dojo there is no reason to have shoes on, plus it's terrible for many types of mats, not to mention that you have your dirty shoe where someone's face might be if they have a jiu jitsu or judo or wrestling class later on in the day.

Answer 8

i totally get you.
before & after each class i wipe my feet down with antibacterial baby wipes or sometimes i use the Purell waterless hand saniter on my feet also, instead of wearing socks, it's okay to wear knee high stockings, yes, even if you are a guy

Answer 9

It's the difference between being kicked by someone with shoes on and being kicked by someone without. Being kicked without doesn't hurt quite so much.

Answer 10

This is best for comfort and practice, for training purposes.