Taekwondo Shoes You Wish You Have
Each taekwondo shoe is made of up three parts; the upper, midsole and outsole. While all three components contribute to the overall performance of the shoe, the midsole is probably the most crucial.
Why is this so? Simply because it is the cushion between your foot and the cold, hard and unforgiving floor. If you skimp on the midsole your knees, shins, ankles and feet pick up the tab.
Wearing specially-designed taekwondo shoes help a student in a number of different ways. Most martial arts students make the mistake of practicing at home or at the gym using regular workout shoes that have thick soles.
These practically force the foot into an improper kicking position while the thick ties can cause incorrect roundhouse kicks.
Wearing the proper martial art clothing is very important, especially when a student is starting or is in the midst of training. Achieving proper balance and learning the best way to complete drills is best done wearing the right martial arts uniform and footwear.
Because taekwondo uses a number of kicking techniques, a martial arts student would do better to purchase the proper taekwondo shoes than use their normal workout gear.
Taekwondo shoe design.
A good example of this shoe style is the Adidas TKD-2000 shoes. They are made of leather with a tongue of elastic, allowing for them to be slipped over the foot easily and comfortably.
There are no laces to deal with and the upper foot area is flat to allow full contact when practicing kicks.
Flex grooves are embedded into the sides of this taekwondo shoes to allow for full mobility of the toes. They are lighter than your average gym shoes and allow a lot of freedom and balance. They also protect the foot from calluses and strained toe bones.
Most modern-day martial arts shoes have a special pivot point designed into the sole on the medial ball of the foot.
This is because karate and taekwondo emphasize movements from the ball of the foot, where these arts tend to focus their pivot and power.
In contrast, Chinese styles tend to be more "heel" based, so that pivot point does not really help the person wearing it.
The kind of taekwondo shoe that is perfect for a practitioner should have superior design to suit the demand of the sport.
It should also be suitable for training and all kinds of indoor sports. Having rigid rubber sole can help stop movement more easily when stepping backward.
The pivot point should increase speed and mobility when turning. During sparring, the midsole should also add softness and stability
Work out on a soft floor and wear good taekwondo shoes.
Practicing high-impact drills on a hard floor is one of the worst things you can do to your body. The high impact wears the cartilage in your joints down to nothing, and the damage is irreversible.
Only invasive surgery can fix it. The best way to prevent this is to play on a soft surface and wear fully cushioned shoes that have arch support.
Unfortunately, shoes are not allowed in most traditional Do Jangs, and if shoes are allowed they are only the Taekwondo shoes that have no arch support or cushioning in the soles.
However, you can control your personal workouts, so at least take good care of your feet in those workouts.
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