T-shirt in place of gi top?

[The Pred]

I say, train in as many different gi/no gi options and the like, if at all possible to do so, because one never knows where one will be when a situation arises; better familiarize oneself in every possible way clothing option.

Completely agreed. I genuinely wonder why most traditional striking arts still practice without shoes. I understand the Japanese/Asian culture of no shoes in the house. We don't have that custom engrained in us here. Wearing shoes while kicking changes a ton of things. The front kick using the ball of the foot becomes quite different in a pair of sneakers. Pivoting becomes different.

I think we should wear shoes that are only worn in the dojo. Possibly wrestling shoes. I'm not trying to break tradition, but some traditions shouldn't be done for the sole sake of tradition when there's a more logical and beneficial approach.

Not sure about ground fighting heavy systems. Wrestling shoes make sense too, but that's my former wrestling background.

Back to my original thought for this post - if you can't pull off a technique in a no gi/t-shirt situation, how functional is that technique truly? If a t-shirt is too light to be able to grab it as part of a throw or choke, how would you use that technique when a t-shirt wearing attacker comes at you? How many attackers are wearing something that a gi would approximate on the 4th of July (or New Year's Day in the Southern Hemisphere)? I have no judo nor jujitsu experience, so don't take that the wrong way; just trying to learn.

I agree, when I was younger I ended up with a planters wart on my foot, so I had to start wearing shoes. After which I never looked back. One I believe it to be more sanitary and two, it makes pivoting a lot harder. After all on the street you will be wearing shoes.

[DWx]

Check out my feet man, I almost always wear kung fu shoes in the dojo, no other shoes allowed. My last place did it this way as do I now. They are very flexible and soft. You can still use the ball of your foot for front kicks and such.

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Tbj0RhRqXJ4/Ve_hV_zkREI/AAAAAAABAQI/6Wz6mSQw_Bc/s1024-no/IMG_0508.JPG

I was thinking of something like these:

http://www.blackbeltshop.com/adidas_low_cut_white_sneaker.htm

Casual street wear, but still with enough flex for kicking.............

These type are pretty common in TKD and I have a pair for casual use too. Flex pretty well and are comfortable for training in. The only thing is, for beginner students they're not great as you don't learn to grip the floor with your feet. IMHO better to begin in barefoot then choose shoes if you wish at a later date.

Though from a realistic perspective, whabout boots like Krav Maga or similar arts use.