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Galleries // 2018 Spark:Spring Concept // Grit Resistance Training Shoes

Grit Resistance Training Shoes

Winner - Gold

Competition: Spark:Spring Concept
Designer: Aarish Netarwala
Design Type: Sports Footwear
Company / Organization / School: Art Center College of Design

Grit is a pair of resistance training shoes, that replicate the experience of training on soft sand found in coastal regions. Grits make this phenomenon accessible to athletes globally, training on any ground surface. The sole of the shoe mimics sand, absorbing energy from the user and fatiguing leg muscles faster through strenuous exercise. Studies show, through sand training, athletes build leg strength over time and reduce post-workout muscle soreness. The shoes are to be used only in training sessions. Come game day, playing without Grits makes performing considerably easier for any athlete. The concept of Grit is based on research conducted on sand dune resistance training. The world’s greatest athletes, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and other elite athletes, train on soft sand to increase the level of difficulty of their exercise. Sand training slows them down considerably, training explosive muscle movements and strengthening specific muscle groups for acceleration.