Kung fu shoe

Women's

Men's

Kung fu shoes at a shop inHaikou,Hainan, China

Thekung fu shoe,also known as a "tai chishoe "or as a"martial artsslipper ", is a type and style of clothslip-on shoethat is traditionally made in China, and was originally worn while practicingkung fuand other martial arts, and also while performing tai chi.

Variants of this shoe are now mass-produced for general-purpose wear, and there are several slightly different styles. These shoes are inexpensive and are available worldwide.

Kung fu shoes once owned byBruce Lee

One common kind is cheaply produced and is typically black, with minimal lining; it has a low-sided cloth upper, and a pale brown hard plastic sole. One variant is made as a lace-up shoe rather than a slip-on shoe. A version of the shoe for girls and women has a buckle strap and resembles theMary Janeshoe. Some varieties of the kung fu shoe have reinforced cotton soles instead of plastic ones, and some have rubber soles.

Military use

Kung fu shoes were used by the low-ranking troops of theNational Revolutionary Armyduring theNorthern ExpeditionandEncirclement Campaigns.Following theresumed allianceof theKMTand theChinese communists,the Kung fu shoes was widely worn by the troops from autonomous Communist formations (such as theNew Fourth Armyand theEighth Route Army) of NRA. While straw slippers were issued as a stop-gap especially for new recruits, troops fromGerman-trained NRA Divisionsrather used leather shoes while their officers used leather boots.

See also

• Espadrille,a similar kind of shoe originating from thePyrenees.
• Japanesetabi,one variety of which issoft cloth shoes.
• Jutti,North Indian shoes.