So many feet.
February 5, 2023 1:00 PM Subscribe
I'd like to start taking martial arts classes at busy studios. I'm squicked by all the bare feet. Can you give me tips (or reassurance) about not getting plantar warts or athlete's foot or stinky foot bacteria from the shared foam mats? Thank you!
1. Can you ask prospective studios about their processes for cleaning mats between classes? I'd imagine they have one, and it might help set your mind at ease.
2. Can you keep some hand sanitizer wipes with your gear/shoes so you can give your feet a quick wipe down before you put your shoes back on?
posted by Night_owl at 1:36 PM on February 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
2. Can you keep some hand sanitizer wipes with your gear/shoes so you can give your feet a quick wipe down before you put your shoes back on?
posted by Night_owl at 1:36 PM on February 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
At our Academy we use a scrubber + cleaner before classes start, and we mop between classes. We use a special cleaner designed for purpose that is both a disinfectant and a fungicide. Our floors are also dry, which helps.
All that said, you are not the only person with this concern! We also have authorized martial arts shoes that people who prefer to wear can use; obviously they cannot be worn outdoors. You could ask if those are allowed at the place you're looking at.
As a final kind of reassuring thing - we all are walking on our mats multiple times a day and most of our instructors are on them in bare feet. None of us wants to get anything.
posted by warriorqueen at 1:44 PM on February 5, 2023 [6 favorites]
All that said, you are not the only person with this concern! We also have authorized martial arts shoes that people who prefer to wear can use; obviously they cannot be worn outdoors. You could ask if those are allowed at the place you're looking at.
As a final kind of reassuring thing - we all are walking on our mats multiple times a day and most of our instructors are on them in bare feet. None of us wants to get anything.
posted by warriorqueen at 1:44 PM on February 5, 2023 [6 favorites]
IMHO it's fair game to ask about sanitation/ hygiene procedures, especially in light of COVID.
I wouldn't go so far to say that there are any guarantees against the transmission of such nasties. However, the fact that everyone is barefoot is some ways self reinforcing. People will notice if their training partner has athletes' foot. People will especially notice if multiple training partners have athlete's foot.
That being said, you may feel more comfortable training at a location with wood floors (e.g. look for classes taught in rec centers). Or consider training in a style where folks wear shoes (e.g. Tai Chi).
posted by oceano at 1:54 PM on February 5, 2023
I wouldn't go so far to say that there are any guarantees against the transmission of such nasties. However, the fact that everyone is barefoot is some ways self reinforcing. People will notice if their training partner has athletes' foot. People will especially notice if multiple training partners have athlete's foot.
That being said, you may feel more comfortable training at a location with wood floors (e.g. look for classes taught in rec centers). Or consider training in a style where folks wear shoes (e.g. Tai Chi).
posted by oceano at 1:54 PM on February 5, 2023
I insist on only taking martial arts classes where there is either a tradition of wearing shoes, or where they're okay with wearing special shoes of some sort. All the reassurance in the world can't make me okay with a bunch of bare feet, and it's okay if you feel the same.
posted by asimplemouse at 3:09 PM on February 5, 2023
posted by asimplemouse at 3:09 PM on February 5, 2023
Best answer: If it makes you feel any less worried about this, I've had all those things at some point and my feet are fine now (and fine 99% of the time). Whatever I was doing was worth it for me and my health in the long run even if I had to deal with icky feet inconvenience for a few weeks here or there. It's treatable. And no, I never did martial arts so I didn't get it from that.
Yes, ask about cleaning practices but know that those are usually exaggerated and cleaning probably does not take place in between most classes like they claim.
posted by never.was.and.never.will.be. at 4:58 PM on February 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Yes, ask about cleaning practices but know that those are usually exaggerated and cleaning probably does not take place in between most classes like they claim.
posted by never.was.and.never.will.be. at 4:58 PM on February 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
I did this for 10+ years on wood floors with occasional mats and never had a problem, and that place got swept daily but mopped maybe once a week, if that. As an adult, though, I think any place I've seen has had students disinfecting the floors in between classes, which I know happened because I was one of the people doing it. But for sure this is a reasonable question to ask.
posted by jameaterblues at 5:03 PM on February 5, 2023
posted by jameaterblues at 5:03 PM on February 5, 2023
One thing to watch out for (and one of the reasons, in addition to COVID, that I haven't looked harder for judo classes to get back into) is developing a sensitivity to the cleaning products. That could be worse. In the years since I last did judo, I developed an allergy to a really common cleaning product that's especially used everywhere since COVID.
posted by limeonaire at 5:09 PM on February 5, 2023
posted by limeonaire at 5:09 PM on February 5, 2023
I appreciate that you are concerned about this and think it's fine for you to be concerned. Martial arts shoes are an option, and asking about cleaning practices. It is OK for this to not be something you are comfortable with.
However, I will say that I trained barefoot for approximately 20 years in various martial arts studios and did not ever, not ONCE, get a wart or athlete's foot. The mats were definitely not cleaned between classes (though they were cleaned each night).
posted by branca at 5:36 PM on February 5, 2023
However, I will say that I trained barefoot for approximately 20 years in various martial arts studios and did not ever, not ONCE, get a wart or athlete's foot. The mats were definitely not cleaned between classes (though they were cleaned each night).
posted by branca at 5:36 PM on February 5, 2023
Response by poster: “It’s ok to catch feet cooties sometimes, you won’t die” is literally the zen koan I didn’t know I needed. Thanks all!
posted by nouvelle-personne at 8:51 PM on February 5, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 8:51 PM on February 5, 2023 [5 favorites]
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