Barefoot Training and the Role of Shoes in Karate Practice: Tradition and Practicality.

 

Posted by ADAM CARTER on MAR 22, 2025

Barefoot Training and the Role of Shoes in Karate Practice: Tradition and Practicality.

(Approx 1 minute 55 second read)

Step into a traditional karate dojo, and the first thing you’ll do is take off your shoes (hopefully).

Like most Japanese budo – with the exception of kyudo (Japanese archery) – karate is traditionally practiced hadashi (裸足), barefoot. There are plenty of reasons for this, some cultural, some practical, and some tied directly to how we move and feel the ground beneath us.

In Japan, it’s customary to remove shoes when entering homes, traditional buildings, and some indoor spaces. This practice carries over to the dojo, where training is typically done barefoot as a sign of respect and to maintain cleanliness.

Traditional footwear like geta (wooden clogs) and zori (straw sandals) were designed to be slipped on and off easily, and in feudal Japan and Okinawa, many common people – farmers, fishermen, and laborers – went barefoot as part of daily life.

Then there’s the dojo itself. Whether floored with tatami mats or polished wood, shoes would quickly damage the surface. But the idea of barefoot training goes deeper than just preserving the floor.

Along with this tradition, it’s also important to wear shoes before arriving at the dojo. Walking barefoot outside and then stepping onto the dojo floor is no different from tracking in dirt with shoes. Always wear shoes when coming to the dojo and remove them before stepping inside.

Historically, Okinawan karate wasn’t practiced in pristine indoor dojo – it was trained outside, on dirt, sand, stone, or uneven terrain. This shaped not just footwork but movement itself.

Karate was never about holding rigid stances; it was about fluidity – moving efficiently from one position to the next. Training barefoot allows practitioners to feel how their weight shifts, how their feet grip the ground, and how to adjust dynamically.

Beyond history, barefoot training has practical benefits too. Feeling direct contact with the floor improves balance, weight distribution, and power transmission. It can also help to strengthen the small muscles and tendons in the feet and ankles, which contributes to better movement.

But let’s be realistic, if your interest is in self-defense it doesn’t happen in a dojo. You won’t always be barefoot on a clean floor. That’s why the pragmatic amongst us make it a point to train in shoes as well.

Different footwear – whether trainers, boots, or dress shoes – affects movement, and if you’ve never practiced in them, you’ll be in for a surprise if you have to fight wearing them.

As I’ve said many times before, understanding why we do something is key. Training barefoot connects us to tradition, improves control, and develops better movement. But training in shoes ensures we can actually apply what we learn when it matters. A well-rounded pragmatic karateka should be comfortable in both.

Written by Adam Carter.