In Martial Arts classes, why do people have to be barefeet?

Question

I was always curious why. No shoes allowed or something?

Answer 1

It depends on the school. At my school we wear shoes. In real life you will wear shoes if you are attacked. That is unless you are attacked on the beach. Some places have you remove your shoes to protect the mats or carpeted areas of the training floor.
If you notice the Ryu of Japan and Okinawa, they don't wear shoes, just like you don't wear shoes in a Japanese or Okinawan house.

Chinese systems wear shoes. So I would guess it comes down to the customs and traditions of the respected style.

Answer 2

This is for several reasons. First a Dojo is considered holy ground. In asian culture it is a sign of respect to remove your shoes before entering another persons house. The same is true about temples and alters.

The second reason is to have connectivity to the ground below you. Even though the martial arts teach flying kicks and all kinds of acrobatics you will find the focus is on landing safely. By being bare foot you will be able to have a complete sense of the ground and how your moving over it. With shoes we could end up missing important strategic points on the floor.

Third is to show respect for your master. Wearing shoes inside your masters dojo is like saying I do not care enough about your teachings to warrent following your customs within your house.

fourth is to show respect for your fellow students. whenever you spar or fight having a shoe on will give you an extreme advantage against a sparring partner without shoes on. Shoes also are rather tough and increase hitting power. Should you choose to strike a fellow student with shoes on you will likely never have a sparring partner again. Sparring is about learning, its not a cage match or a fight to the death or anything silly like that. It is following the movements you have been tought to outwit, not outpower your sparring partner.

Something to note is that there is a shoe that is more of a sock that is allowed within ninjitsu Dojos. however it is only for within the dojo and should not be warn outside ever. I am not sure about other martial arts.

Hails to knowing peace over power,
Silence

Answer 3

Although most of the answers are partly correct, the answer is actually quite simple.
First take a look at where the style came from. Styles that came from Japan, Okinawa and Korea usually go bare footed because the terrain is soft and sandy. While Styles that came from China usually wear shoes because of the rocky terrain.
There are exceptions to this expiation, such as Ninjitsu, which is Japanese style that does wear shoes called Tabis.

Answer 4

There are many reasons. In martial arts it is important to learn to keep your body centered and to do this you need to learn how to grip the floor with your feet (toes). That can't be taught with shoes on.
You also have to learn to pull your toes back on a front kick and push them down on a roundhouse kick. It also hurts more if you are sparring and you are kicked with a big ol boot.
So teaching, training and sparring all need a bare foot.

Answer 5

because there's many different shoes. Think about this if you train in hiking boots and your instructor train in sandle, would you two be able to pull off movemet the same way?

So if everyone is barefeet then everyone can observe how their foot are suppose to pivot and everything.

Answer 6

Because (1) the Dojo is considered a holy place for asians its where by wearing nothing on your feet it shows respect.

plus also could be so you dont get knocked out by someone kicking you with their shoes on,

Answer 7

This is because it gives you more freedom to move, and if you happen to kick someone, it won't hurt as bad.

That's also the reason the robes are so loose and flowing; it gives more room to move, and you can 'feel' the movement better.

Answer 8

Not all schools do that. At our school, you wear your street clothes. If you can't perform in your street clothes, you have to rethink the way you dress, this includes shoes.

Answer 9

so when you kick, you can kick fast and move fast because wearing a shoe is like having a weight on your foot.

Answer 10

you dont have to be, who said you do. My nephew is a champion and he wore training shoes (well special) but they looked the same as the one we wear.