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Every martial arts shoe — ours, theirs, anybody’s — is a three part deal: Upper (the boot; you know, where your foot goes), midsole and outsole. And while all three components contribute to the overall performance of the shoe, the midsole is probably the most crucial. Why? Because it’s the cushion between your foot and the cold, hard, unforgiving floor. If you skimp on the midsole your knees, shins, ankles, feet pick up the tab. Midsoles are traditionally made from EVA (sponge) rubber. They’re die-cut (think ‘cookie cutter’) and bonded to the upper. But we don’t do it that way. Because if you heat EVA and inject it into a mold — a more complex, time consuming process — you create a stronger cushion. Your midsole retains its shape. You keep that spring in your step. |
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So that’s what we did. And we could have stopped right there and still gone to market with a breakthrough martial arts shoe. Instead, we wrapped the midsole around your foot for unprecedented lateral support. And why do you need lateral support? Think about where a horse stance places your weight. That pressure against the outside of your foot? That’s lateral pressure. Our wrapped midsole supports that pressure. Injection molding is complex and difficult at the production level, but more than any single feature it’s what separates Discipline from the pack. We do it. They don't. Let’s take a look at the outsole... |
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If you’re wearing an athletic shoe, and there’s an excellent chance you are, take a look at the bottom — the outsole. See any stitching? Nope. Why? Because shortly after the dinosaurs called it quits, shoe guys began experimenting with glues and bonding chemicals, an alternative they’ve pretty much perfected. Stitching is an anachronism, like black-and-white television. So is old necessarily bad? Not always, but in this case, yes. Because when you puncture holes in the outsole you weaken the rubber. Take a look at this light colored sole. See the little ‘moat’ that runs along the outside? That’s the stitch groove. As you work the shoe harder and harder the rubber outside the stitching will chip and fall off. |
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So we left it out and attached our sole with a state-of-the-art bonding process. And why aren’t all martial art shoes made this way? Because any change in the way you make your shoe costs money at the production level, and the other guys just don’t want to spend it. The Discipline outsole is 5mm wider for increased stability. It’s thicker for longer life and better shock absorption. We incorporated a pivot point at the ball of the foot into a radical tread design, then we roughed up the sole, gave it a sandpaper-like texture. And it’s non-marking, so your sweeps won’t leave those little arcs all over the floor. It’s a better outsole but is it a better shoe? |
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OK, the boot. We started with a naturally soft, lightweight leather. As in NO break-in period. As in a full 15% lighter than any full grain leather on any martial arts shoe anywhere on the planet. We added breathable mesh side panels to give it a distinctive look, sure, but they also keep your feet dry and knock off another couple of ounces. We’re introducing, and this is a first for martial arts shoes, a removable, pre-molded sock liner for superior arch support. If you’re wearing an orthotic, ours slides out, yours slides in. And we replaced that cheesy vinyl lining in those other shoes you may have seen with a plush, durable, woven lining that holds your foot about a million times better and works with the side panels to provide additional ventilation. |
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We notched the heel. That little ‘V’ in back. And maybe this won’t be listed under quantum leaps of the 20th century, but that means less pressure on your Achilles tendon. And up till now you’ve had to deal with that spandex thing that fifteen or twenty years ago probably seemed like a good idea. It’s called a fit sleeve but who does it actually fit? It’s unstable. It stretches. The tongue slides around. You never really feel anchored. So we yanked it, replaced it with a conventional lacing system and a no-slip lace. The difference is immediate and obvious. The performance benefits are huge. That’s the Discipline Shoe. |
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