Onitsuka Tiger TAI CHI-U

I started in the martial arts a little over two years ago and the search for a comfortable, effective pair of shoes to fit my rather wide (in the toe box at least) feet began then. I've tried everything. Vibrams, Wu Shu, Feiyue, Tiger, Adidas, Puma... you name it, I've tried them. Problems from narrow width (Puma!) to too much Grip (Feiyue) were rampant. After doing some research a friend of mine recommended I seek out some Tigers. If they were good enough for Bruce Lee they would be good enough for you he said. I am normally a size 12 (at least in Chuck Taylors) and usually order any other shoes a half size up. That was a big mistake with the first time I tried these shoes. They are long. I ordered a 13 and had nearly two inches on the end of extra material. Thanks to the easy return policy I tried going down a half size and ordered the 11.5's.Perfection! After getting them laced I was anxious for my afternoon class. They fit, but how would they perform. After an intense class of kicks, pivoting kicks, forms, running and shuffling they passed with flying colors. No discomfort, full range of motion and no fatigue after 70 minutes. Needless to say I'm impressed. I'll update this review in a few weeks, but for right now these are the shoes for me. Just order a half size down!

I guess I should have expected extra room being a unisex shoe. Mostly wider over all and more length in the toebox. I almost want to return it, I wear a Women's 12, but I think I could fit a womens 11.5 in this shoe. Unfortunately I dont see one in stock. Still the shoe is true to minimalist structure:1) No added sole height, just a flat insole +2) No bulky weight distributing outsole that deviates from the shape of the foot when you turn the shoe over to view it. Basically the size and shape of the insole matches the size and shape of the outsole that contacts the ground. +3) Minimal cushion around ankle. +It's s stylish shoe, it does what a shoe should, hold the sole to the base of your foot so it doesn't move around. If we had hoofs we'd nail our shoes to our feet. Thankfully we don't.I got the white because someone mentioned the yellow had been tampered with and was no longer flat on the insole, though this could just be a ploy to keep people from saturating the streets with yellow kicks. The white looks like I'm wearing a sock, very clean. I have some shoe stain, I'm feeling the need to dull down the bright white just a tad.

I love my Vibrams, but their outlandish appearance isn't for everyone. For more casual wear, I like these Tai Chi sneakers. They have an amazing ground feel. The sole appears to be narrow from pictures, but I have a wider foot (not sure what size though) and I don't notice my feet feeling squashed.The leather upper is soft and supple. I notice that after wearing them virtually every day for three months (and driving almost every day), the leather is wearing away where the heel meets the sole at the bottom. Either I have very abrasive floor mats, or the leather coloring is not very durable. The white isn't hard to clean; a wipe down with a damp cloth will remove most dirt.When I first got the shoes, I didn't adjust the lacing. I noticed the top of my feet at the base of my toes was getting rubbed uncomfortably, so I really loosened up the lacing down towards the toe box and that alleviated my issue.As for sizing, I'm a 14 in Chuck Taylors (my go-to, every day shoe), and I found the 13s to be a perfect fit.

This is a great shoe. It is actually quite comfortable, and it fits well (I wear a 13.5 to 14 usually, went with the 13, as suggested). The only problem is that it is too grippy. I practice Chen style tai chi - lots of sliding and spinning. I usually wear cloth bottom shoes at home in my apartment (on carpet) and cheap water shoes at school (mats). I tried these shoes at home first, but they were so grippy, I almost twisted my knee when doing a spin. I then tried them at school thinking they'd be perfect for the mats, but same problem there. I only know the other styles a bit, and these might be great for those, but for Chen style, I'd say they are only really useful for outdoor use - on dirt of sandy surfaces.

I absolutely LOVE my new Onitsuka Tigers. I used the size chart provided and, as a woman, ordered the Men's shoe that was 1-1/2 sizes smaller than the woman's size. It fit perfectly! The shoes are designed for Tai Chi and I've worn them to my last two classes. My balance has really improved and I attribute it to this shoe. They were soft and comfortable right out of the box and I'm delighted with this purchase.

Ideal for Taichi: I have been a Taichi practitioner for the past 30 years and instructor for 20 years, and found these shoes eminently suitable for this type of exercise. Not for walking or jogging that needs plantar support. In Taichi, you don't need this support as your foot should adhere to the ground and the foot rolls on with body parallel to the ground and with an undulating movement: you walk like a tiger in the jungle, hence the name of the shoes: Tiger Tai Chi !!!!!

I wear a 11.5 - 12 med women's or a 10 narrow men's so when I saw the Tai Chi shoes in my size I jumped at the opportunity and they fit perfectly. They are very soft and light making it easy to transition from one Tai Chi form to the next with security and balance. The thin sole makes it easy to roll your foot allowing you to feel the ground giving great feedback.

I've recently gone back to running. And I'd never used Onitsuka brand before until I read a review online. Let me just say: it is amazing. As someone who has narrow feet and flimsy ankles, this has a lot of support and movement. And I love that it's not too light and definitely not too heavy, unlike other cheaper running shoes. This pair is a bit expensive, but I still love it. I might not use other running shoes again.By the way, the shipping was fast!!! I received this around three days after I ordered it...