Day Two included another walk and a martial arts workout. It was hot around here last week, but the mesh ventilation keep my feet reasonably cool–about the same as normal sneakers. The pavement was probably raidiating some heat, but it didn’t bother me either.

The martials arts workout consisted of katas (forms) and bagwork. As I moved more slowly through the katas, I immediately felt the grip of the shoes. (Think karate barefoot on a wood floor on a really humid day.) It took a little while to adjust to the feel. While I could flex and grab the floor with my toes, it was a little tricky to turn or pivot at first. If you train on a rough or uneven surface though, FiveFingers will definitely increase grip and mobility while protecting your feet.

Moving faster through a few rounds of bagwork was pretty nice. Having become more acustomed to the shoe’s tackiness, I could move well, and I liked the little power boost I got when digging my feet into each hand strike. If you like to kick with your toes, these are the shoes for you! I always lose this ability in the winter when my garage gets to cold to go barefoot, forcing me into wrestling boots. My toe strikes penetrated the bag instead of sliding around in my shoe.

So far, so good! On Day Three I did a strength workout with plyometrics. Check back when you can.