The outsole is the fancy name for the rubber bottom. For years people have been stitching thin rubber bottoms onto their shoes and selling them to martial artists only to have them chip off after a few workouts. At Discipline we start with an outsole that is 5mm wider than our competitors and 2mm thicker. This gives us a more stable shoe and a longer lasting one as well. Our two-colored bottom is not only unique looking but exceptionally functional. The last thing any martial artist needs is a shoe that over grips during kicks or you can kiss your knees goodbye, so we have incorporated an oblong pivot point into our “sandpaper like” textured finish to allow just the right amount of grip during kicks. Great performance, great looks and serious durability, makes you wish we built cars.
 

Until now, martial arts shoes have come without any thought given to arch support. Companies cut a flat, thin piece of material and glue it to the bottom of the shoe and send you on your way. We use the same type of pre-molded sockliner that you find in expensive running shoes (the kind you pay an extra $15.00 for at a footwear retailer). It is contoured to ride higher in the arch area offering much needed comfort and support. It is crucial that the support you receive begins with your arch. Man has been walking upright for a few years now and it seems like a trend that will continue, hopefully someday the other martial arts companies will get wise to that.
 

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.

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.

What in Gods name did you do? That was the usual first reaction people had upon seeing our Jaewoo Mid for the first time. Where is the back? That was usually the second. Our Jaewoo Mid looks like no other shoe on the planet for a reason. This shoe was designed as a high top shoe for martial artists, martial artists who not only do forms, grapple on the mat and throw punches, but also must execute kicks. Martial artists who need the extra support of a high top have been forced to wear wrestling shoes for far too long.

The extra support from our high top Jaewoo Mid comes from the raised ankle collar as well as our contoured midsole that wraps around the outside of your foot. By removing the entire achilles area of the Jaewoo Mid, any kick can be executed and full extension of your foot will be reached and there will be no loss of support.

Let’s be very honest, this is not exactly Jarvik’s heart technology, but it is common sense. If you have ever tried kicking in a basketball shoe or wrestling shoe you know what we’re talking about. Achilles pressure hinders performance, allowing your foot to fully extend on all kicks helps your performance. The better you perform, the better we look.

The upper of the Disciple Low needs to serve a few masters. First of all it must be comfortable. We use a softer man-made leather to eliminate any break-in period. Right out of the box our shoes must feel as if you have been wearing them for weeks. This pre-softened leather accomplishes that goal. The shoes must also breathe. After long workouts with the collection of sweat, shoes will begin to reek if not ventilated correctly. We have incorporated ballistic, breathable mesh side panels into our shoes to help ventilate your foot during even the most strenuous workouts. This keeps your feet dry and comfy and keeps your nose happy as well.

If you look at the top of the heel of our Disciple Low you will see a slight V-Notch has been cut. This V-Notch is cut into the heel area so when you kick you will feel no pressure on your achilles tendon. It is a much smaller version of the V-notch that we have incorporated into our Jaewoo Mid.

If you feel the laces we use in our Discipline Footwear you will see that they are made of a filament that collapses when you put pressure on them. Why? We use this type of lace to prevent any pressure on the top of your foot. If you are kicking a bag or paddle you will never feel the laces digging into your foot when wearing our shoes. These laces sit on top of a leather tongue that will absorb all the impact of your kicks.

The Jaewoo Mid has a very unique looking upper for a reason and we’re not just talking about our low cut V-Notch achilles area. Someone who needs a high top shoe for support should not have to suffer the consequences of a heavy shoe. We knew that we wanted to keep this shoe as light and versatile as possible, so we decided a breathable, ballistic mesh upper, reinforced in certain stress areas was the best way to go. By covering the toe and heel and parts of the boot with some reinforced leather, we could offer a combination of lightweight mesh as well as a durable leather.

Even our laces have been thought out; our filament laces flatten out on impact if you’re hitting a bag or paddle to keep your foot protected from any discomfort while working out.