APIKA Traditional Kung Fu Shoes

APIKA Traditional Kung Fu Shoes Review [2022]

This is a review of APIKAโ€™s Traditional Kung Fu Shoes.

If youโ€™ve ever seen any fighting movie, especially any movie that starred Jet Li as the leading protagonist, youโ€™ve definitely seen these shoes. So simple, so easy to wear, but in the hands of the right martial artist โ€“ absolutely powerful. These shoes are traditional wear in many Asian countries, and theyโ€™re preferred by the practitioners of martial arts.

Despite originating in Asia, these shoes have spread all around the world, and have become popular not only as training wear but as casual wear, as well. Theyโ€™re breathable and light, which makes them ideal for wearing around the house. However, weโ€™ll be taking a closer look at all that in the next part of this article.

Today, weโ€™ll be taking a deeper look at these traditional shoes, how and why are they so popular, and what are the benefits of wearing them, be it for fighting or leisure. Letโ€™s get started!

APIKA Traditional Kung Fu Shoes Overview

Iconic Design

The iconic design behind these shoes is something thatโ€™s instantly recognized by many. The black cover accompanied by white soles is a timeless design thatโ€™s become beloved by many people.

These simple canvas shoes are very comfortable to wear. Even though theyโ€™re made from simple fabric, theyโ€™re still going to offer a lot of stability for the foot. Itโ€™s important to keep your body stable when youโ€™re fighting, as youโ€™re going to want to avoid any form of injury. Staying injury-free is a very important aspect of an athleteโ€™s career.

The style of these shoes is called Old Beijing, and you wonโ€™t even feel that youโ€™re wearing them, as theyโ€™ll sort of become a part of your foot.

Foot Protection

These shoes were traditionally used in various Asian cultures, worn by trainees and masters of various martial arts, and theyโ€™re still used in that regard to this day. The reason theyโ€™re so good for this purpose is that theyโ€™re so light and donโ€™t restrict the movement of the foot in any way, but still provide stability because of the sole thatโ€™s made from rubber. This way, you can stay assured that youโ€™re always well-footed in the ground and that youโ€™re not going to lose stability when youโ€™re changing direction.

Itโ€™s often the case that a player has sprained an ankle when theyโ€™ve moved too suddenly and lost their footing. You can rest assured that this wonโ€™t happen if youโ€™re wearing shoes that are keeping you grounded.

Another great way these shoes will be protecting your feet is by keeping them clean. Wherever youโ€™re training, you wonโ€™t have to worry about the dirty floor, as you wonโ€™t be barefooted when youโ€™re walking on it. Hygiene is the first line of defense when it comes to the human body, and you should always keep it in mind.

Various Uses

These shoes are also worn for leisure by many people. Not everyone is wearing them when fighting or training, and theyโ€™re so light and breathable that theyโ€™re enjoyed by many people outside the world of martial arts, and theyโ€™re surely going to keep that popularity in the coming days.

Theyโ€™re so simple, comfortable, and light that many people prefer to wear them without any socks on, as theyโ€™re breathable enough to keep your feet fresh and keep the sweating down to a minimum.

Theyโ€™re also a favorite to many people who want to wear them indoors, as theyโ€™re light and clean. They wonโ€™t be making your home any messier, but theyโ€™ll also be keeping you clean.

Theyโ€™re available in more colors, not just black, and theyโ€™re also available in more sizes for men and women. Theyโ€™re slipped on very easily.

Itโ€™s also suggested that wearers of these shoes donโ€™t wash them in a washing machine, but rather do it by hand.

The one thing thatโ€™s not popular about these shoes is that theyโ€™re not that durable. If youโ€™re just wearing them around the house, then theyโ€™re probably going to last for a few years, but if youโ€™re wearing them outdoors, theyโ€™re probably going to fall apart after a season of wearing. The reason behind this is the simple cloth material used to make these shoes.

This makes them very simple, breathable, and light โ€“ yes. But it also makes them very easy to rip and the sole can part ways with the shoe very easily. However, these shoes are so ridiculously cheap that it shouldnโ€™t be a problem. For the price these shoes are being sold at, theyโ€™re definitely going to fulfill their purpose.

Also, it is worth to mention, that there is always the option to recycle the shoes.

Pros and Cons

ProsCons
very light โ€“ these shoes have a good grip on your foot and theyโ€™re very light, you wonโ€™t even feel them on your footdurability โ€“ the shoes arenโ€™t made of high-end materials and theyโ€™ll fall apart with time
good stability โ€“ the soles on these shoes are made of rubber, and theyโ€™re going to keep your foot very stable when youโ€™re training and moving
breathability โ€“ these shoes are very breathable, ensuring that your footโ€™s sweating is brought to a minimum and that problems, like the athleteโ€™s foot, are minimized
the price โ€“ this model of shoes is very cheap

Our Verdict

These shoes are great if youโ€™re looking for something light and simple, yet breathable and supportive. However, youโ€™re likely going to need to buy a fresh pair once a year, but at this price, that shouldnโ€™t be a problem.

Gianluca Martucci, Gianluca Martucci is a personal trainer and an athletic trainer.
Article by

Gianluca Martucci

Gianluca Martucci is a personal trainer and an athletic trainer. Since he was a kid, he has been a big fan of Martial Arts and Combat Sports: from Wrestling and now MMA to Karate and Kung Fu, for this reason he specialized in workouts for martial artistis. Our testing and reviewing method.