"Martial Arts is all about footwork. Our feet are connected to the hips, and our hips are connected to the ‘Hara’, it’s the vital force. If you move from this specific point, your whole body is connected and it's evenly distributed. So, the feet are connected to the source of our Vital force.
I started making shoes that can mimic this feeling of perceiving with your feet like if it would be hands. If you are wearing Barefoot shoes, there's less material less, interference between the ground yourself. So, in a way, it's kind of like a sandwich in between the heavens and the Earth. And that very thin layer is your soul/sole.
For 40 000 years, all human-kind were wearing barefoot shoes. Since medieval times, the Renaissance, people started wearing high heel, pointy, narrow type of footwear. But in a way, it's like we inherit this aesthetic and this idea of how our shoes should be. But then, you look at the newborn and you see the foot open, like a sort of fan, right? It has a very open shape. And that is Human shape. That's our shape.
Why then we want constrict it, narrow it and suppress it. Why do you have to sacrifice health, or even being comfortable just for the sake of acceptance?
This is one of the reasons I love what I'm doing, because I want to be able to make you wear something that you would be comfortable the whole day, but you don't have any pain and that at the same time is formal."
Lisandro Serra Delmar,
Martial Artist and Shoemaker at Gaucho Ninja
photos by Finn
Barefoot shoes, designed to offer a close-to-natural experience as if walking barefoot, have several distinctive features. Here are three key features:
Thin, Flexible Sole: Barefoot shoes typically have very thin soles. This feature enhances the wearer's ability to feel the terrain underfoot, contributing to better natural foot movement and a heightened sense of contact with the ground. The soles are also highly flexible and lightweight, allowing the foot to bend and move freely, promoting natural foot mechanics and more comfortable moving experience.
Zero Drop: This term refers to the heel-to-toe drop in the shoe, which in the case of barefoot shoes is zero. This means the heel and toe are at the same level, which helps to maintain a natural alignment of the spine and promotes a more natural midfoot or forefoot stride, as opposed to the heel strike often encouraged by conventional shoes with elevated heels. Encouraging natural stride reduces the risk of injury when walking or running.
Wide Toe Box: Barefoot shoes are designed with a wide toe box that provides enough room for the toes to spread naturally. This design is crucial for enhancing balance and stability, and for enabling the natural, unimpeded movement of the toes, which is often restricted in traditional shoes.
These features collectively support the foot's natural anatomy and walking mechanics, offering a barefoot-like experience while providing protection from the environment. Other benefits include:
Natural Foot Mechanics: Barefoot shoes allow your feet to move as if you were walking barefoot, helping the foot muscles, tendons, and ligaments to work more effectively and naturally. This natural movement can help in strengthening foot muscles and improve foot mechanics.
Improved Proprioception: Wearing barefoot shoes increases proprioception, which is your body's ability to sense its position, motion, and equilibrium. Essentially, as you feel the ground more acutely, your body can make more precise adjustments to your stride, balance, and posture.
Better Alignment: Walking or running in barefoot shoes often promotes better alignment of the spine and improved posture. This can further contribute to reducing back, hip, and knee pain associated with misalignment and improper gait patterns.
