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IKF
APPROVES RINGSTAR
Maxx SHOES FOR IKF PRO &
AMATEUR "FULL CONTACT RULES' BOUTS
NO RESTRICTIONS... Both Fighters DO NOT
have to agree to wear Ringstar Shoes. If one wants to wear them, it does not
matter if his/her opponent wants to. If one fighter chooses to wear the
Ringstar MAXX shoes, the other fighter does not have to.
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FRIDAY,
June 22nd, 2007, AT 8:00 PM,
PT
IKF
Approves RINGSTAR Fight Shoes For
Competition!
Earlier today the IKF
Officials Board approved the Ringstar®
Sparring shoe known as
The Maxx (Right) for both IKF Point Kickboxing and IKF
Full Contact Rules Kickboxing. If you have never tried these shoes, you need to
get a pair because it will literally change the way you fight!
"I find the shoes as a great source of comfort and
protection for my feet." Said IKF
Point Kickboxing Director and former two time Professional (FCR) World
Champion Johnny
Davis. (Left) "As I sparred with the shoe, I
felt the padding was exceptional because as I made contact, I didn't feel much
shock at all on my foot that delivered the strike. When you get hit with this
shoe its more like being hit with a pad than a shoe and that's a good thing."
Those who have tested the
shoes here at the IKF have come to the
same conclusions such as, If two fighters doing IKF
Point Kickboxing or IKF Full Contact (American
Kickboxing) style fighting wanted to wear the shoes it would be interesting
and perhaps may add some excitement and intrigue to some of the fights as well
as an added safety factor for both competitors.
It is true that the shoe protects the foot better than the
currently accepted kick footpads. However, although the impact was safe and
padded, the impact of the kick is harder with the shoe on than the foot pads due
to the confidence in the use of the shoe as compared to the non stability of the
foot pad.
"The protection of the shoe in sparring to the person
wearing them is far better than the old style pads." Said former
Kickboxing Champion, co-founder of
the IKF and now head of Officials for the
IKF, Dan Stell. (Right) "I no
longer worried about jamming my toes, the pad coming off, and the padded instep
was a major addition as well. I would without a doubt highly suggest them for
serious fighters."
The first Kickboxing Fighter to use them in actual competition
was former IKF World Champion
Don "The Dragon" Wilson (Right)
"I loved them!" Said Wilson. "I used the very
first pair, (-which has been greatly improved upon since then-) in a real
kickboxing fight in Atlantic City at the Tropicana. The shoe gave me better
footing and the safety on that first shoe was easily comparable to a regular
foot pad."
The shoes have greatly improved since then, but back then, the
shoes worked great in that bout which was Wilson's last kickboxing bout
(So far...) as Don won by KO in the 10th round over Eddie
Butcher.
Some other well known IKF
Champions that have been using the shoes are Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson
and Peyton Russell. "We have been
working out in them and sparring with them a lot and tall my students love them,
both full contact kickboxers as well as regular martial artists." Said
their coach Ray Thompson.
(Right). "These shoes are a major addition for safety in the
sport, not to mention the added hygiene issues fighters had to deal with walking
around in bare feet while
working out."
This was a point Wilson
made as well. "How many fighters pick up germs from the floors of gyms,
athletes foot or whatever. Wearing these shoes while working out takes away the
worry of this." Said Wilson.
"This is a great shoe that will without a doubt
promote safety to the Full Contact Kickboxing arena." Said IKF Chief Medical Advisor Dr.
Allen Fields. (Left) "We have been watching
Steve (Shepard's) progress with the shoe and I must say, the outcome of what he
has produced is outstanding!"
Like in any new product, IKF
will closely monitor the use of the shoes in regards to the decline of foot
injuries as well as impact and contact feedback of this full contact Kickboxers
that use the shoe. I think the fact that the shoes form to the foot better than
the old foot pads, they offer a lot more affective kicking potential.
This is the second alignment deal that the IKF has made with Ringstar
Products®. Previously the IKF announced they, along with their sister
organization for MMA, the ISCF. had come
to a sponsorship agreement with Ringstar Products® to be the official sponsor for Officials
Shoes for all IKF & ISCF
Certified Referees for ALL IKF & ISCF Events with their Flexx Pro Trainer Martial
Arts Training Shoe. The sparring or "Competition" shoe is
a different shoe itself.
"Making ailments such as this one for us here at the
IKF are a 'Win-Win'" Said IKF President Steve
Fossum. (Left) I don't just mean for both companies,
which it is of course, but what I mean is when you find a good product like the
Ringstar Shoes and you are dealing with a Martial Arts and Kickboxing Icon who
is as successful yet as humble as Steve Shepard, this is what we look at
as a big 'Win-Win' for the IKF
organization."
The founder and President and CEO of Ringstar Products® is
Former Professional Kickboxer
Steve Shepherd.
"Making our relationship with the IKF
has been one of the best moves for our connection with the sport of Kickboxing."
says Sheppard. "All of us here
at Ringstar are excited about the future of this relationship as well as the
future of the sport. Together, Ringstar and the IKF
have some great things planned."
As we have already pointed out to you readers here a few weeks
back, Steve is a legend in the world of kickboxing. He is a 5 time, 4
weight division Professional Kickboxing World Champion who ended his career with
a record of 49 wins, 4 losses and 2 no contest. He defeated International
Champions from Canada, Japan, Australia, Europe, and Asia, and defeated World
Champions in 7 separate weight divisions and was voted
pound for pound the
greatest fighter in the world in 1980, 1981, 1982 by Official Karate Magazine.
He along with fighters like Jean-Yves Theriault, Brad Hefton, Jerry Trimble
and others were the first stars of kickboxing when it became a new regulated
sport and helped revolutionized the sport, taking it from small market special
interest, to international recognition. To read more about Steve, click
Here.
- Here are some bullet point thoughts about the Ringstar Shoes:
- POWER:
- More freedom to kick much harder with the shoes on rather than off. They
are comfortable to lounge around in ...very good support on the feet and ankles.
- STRETCHING:
- Even during warm-up drills the shoe is very comfortable as they allow you
to slide into your stretch.
- LIGHTWEIGHT:
- The shoes are very comfortable lightweight and don't take away from the
speed in your kicks and they allow easy and quick movement.
- COMBINATION KICKS:
- Combination kicks and a variety of kicks from one leg combos to jump kicks
with the shoes on feel pretty normal and did not take away from the
effectiveness of the technique.
VARIATIONS:
- The IKF does not get a kickback for
each pair of Ringstar shoes sold, so this is not a sales pitch. However, some
may want to have a pair to workout in and a pair to spar or compete in. This
way, you don't cause unnecessary wear on your competition shoes during a workout
when doing other aspects such as running, jumping etc. etc.. That is, unless you
like to wear them all the time.
- BOXING:
- We feel that these shoes would be great for boxing as well, but boxing
doesn't need the additional padding. Maybe Ringstar can create a BOXING shoe as
well. Regardless, the shoes did not take away from any punching power from
those working with them over the last few months.
- TRACTION:
- Unlike the foot pad, traction was a KEY part of the show for the
user. No more slipping on the ring canvas or vinyl. The grip was solid and
strong.
SAFETY:
- If you have ever had a toe in the eye or had a toe cause a cut on your
head, you will appreciate it now if your opponent is wearing these shoes. Even a
dropping elbow on the side of the foot as a competitor tried to block a side
kick didn't hurt like when wearing a regular sparring boot.
- MOVEMENT:
- This can be related to the traction section. No slipping or sliding and
your explosiveness is 10 fold with the grip of the shoe. Left, right and all the
angles were greatly enhanced due to the superior traction of the shoe that is
also well padded for those being hit with it.
- WINTER WORKOUTS:
- In the winter time the shoes are great for those who hate taking their
shoes off to kick the bag as the bag and your feet are always cold. This can
also prevent any injuries from the cold weather and strong impact with cold feet
on a heavy bag.
CLEANNESS
- HYGIENE
- As clearly noted above, these shoes will greatly improve training
cleanliness. The hygiene issues fighters have had to deal with while walking
around in bare feet while working out are non existent with the shoes.
We here at the IKF who have tested the
shoes feel that the shoes will be an asset to the sport of kickboxing but it may
take some old school fighters a moment to get use to this form fitting 'boot'.
These shoes will add to the full contact and point style fights which is why we
have accepted them as a fighting foot pad for those fights that both fighters
agree to wear the shoes.
For more info on the
Maxx Competition Shoe or on all the
Products produced by Ringstar Products®
go to
www.ringstaradvantage.com
Ringstar Products®
and the IKF will soon be announcing other
agreements that associate with fighters as well as the upcoming
2007 IKF
World Classic Amateur Championship Tournament this coming August
in Orlando Florida, USA.
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