Kicks

[The BB of C]

No, this is not misplaced. I'm just not using the phrase "kicks" in the way that first comes to mind. I'm talking about shoes.

Since I moved to Florida and chose to study karate on my own instead of paying for dojo lessons, I've had only one place to train - the apartment complex's tennis court. It's very hot and very spacious and the predominantly college-aged spectators play "Everybody Was Kung-Fu Fighting" very loudly from their balconies and scream like Bruce Lee. But I'm digressing (was in the mood for a rant).

Another thing I decided to do shortly after I moved was buy some new sneakers. The pair of sneakers I had before this lasted me a year and a half. I've had these for four months and they have a hole in the bottom. Maybe because it's an inferior brand? But it also might be because of the extremely course pavement on the outdoor tennis court.

Another problem I have is because of the type of traction that sneakers offer, combined with the friction of the tennis court, it makes pivoting properly for kicks extremely difficult. Then factor in exhaustion after 1 & 1/2 hours of doing this during an Orlando summer. I've pulled my hamstring a couple of times because I couldn't pivot properly.

So keeping in mind the surface that I'm training on, can anyone suggest a type of shoe that will have less traction and/or not wear out as quickly? The first thing that came to my mind was a kung-fu shoe but I'm not sure.

[Kevin Wilson]

Adidas Taekwondo shoes are great and look good to. Dont want to sound like a self promotor or spam but ..... they have sole supports and pivot points on heel and ball fo the foot. If its like the the ones over here tennis courts are fairly abrasive to all shoes. The Adidas are about £68 though. If it was me I would just buy cheapest Taekwondo shoes out there as although adidas may last longer and have comfort in the long run you may be cheaper buying new cheap shoes every couple of months ?

[DWx]

Adidas TKD shoes (or similar) are great, but they're really only for indoor training as you'll tear them up pretty fast on a tennis court. Having said that, I have a pair of their Adi-Luxe shoes which I use whenever we train outside. I had bought them for indoor training but they grip too much for wooden flooring so I bought a pair of Adidas TKD 2000s (now discontinued?). The Adi-Luxe are alright on paved carparks so I guess they'd be ok for grip etc. on a tennis court. I don't use mine that much for outside as I'll still go barefoot if I can but I've had them for 2-3 years and they're still ok.

How about actual tennis trainers? Surely their built so tennis players can pivot on their feet.

[yamesu]

I agree with the tennis shoe assertion.

I train on concrete at home also and personally use basketball shoes or skatebording shoes (AndOnes or Airwalks), and they have lasted me a lot longer than my Puma/Nike or Fila shoes ever did. Problem is they dont have great mobility at the ankle or toes for foot technique like extending the instep or pulling the toes back for ball of foot kicks.