Recommendations for sparring shoes?

Question

I've been getting into martial arts more seriously than I have before and realized that it would be a good idea to get some foot gear. If been looking through a lot of stuff but not sure what I want to get. I looked at some adidas TKD shoes, but while they may give protection to my own feet, they don't look like they'll do much for my sparring partner. I want to find something that is a good medium between my own protection and my sparring partner's. Of course, comfort is also a factor.

Answer 1

You wear those kind of shoes when working out not when sparring generally.  They are designed to help give you some cushion and support so that you are not always in your bare feet which over a long period can cause things like fallen arches, knee and ankle problems as well as lower back problems.  The soles are such that you can even do a lot of spinning techniques without having a lot of friction and resulting stress from torsion on your knee and ankle.  I don't use them myself but started teaching most of my classes in running shoes twenty-five years ago with the idea of extending my martial arts career.  I go through a set of decent cross-training or running shoes every eight to ten months and it makes a big difference when you are teaching several classes a day or teaching four to six days per week.  People  use them usually because they are training so much and on their feet and it makes it easier for them to avoid some of the problems like those above and continue training.

Answer 2

These are the best of the best when it comes to sparring shoes, you can even use them in most competitions.

Answer 3

Personally, I prefer Century's P2 gear.  I have a tendancy to kick elbows, and the extra 3/4" of padding on the instep reduces the goose eggs.

www.centuryma.com

Answer 4

I have a pair of karate shin guards, that come down over the top of my feet  they provide a little protection. But the best foot gear imo would be no foot gear for martial arts sparring. I mean if your gonna be martial artists ya gotta know how to take a hit :p.