Foot soles, toughening of foot soles

[Andi73]

Dear All
I wonder if anyone has some advice for a Karateka stuck in an office all day for most of 18 years now, whose foot soles have as a result turned very soft! Other than running barefoot regularly, is there any 'shortcut' to hardening foot soles a little without 'medical damage'? (I think I once heard soaking in parafin or the like may help?? Anyone heard of this???)

Many thanks!!
Andi73

[Terry Lyon]

I don't know of any short cuts to toughening the soles of your feet, you need to spend as much time as you can walking around bare feet.

When I was teaching in my dojo full time and spending a lot of time on the wood floor I had very thick callouses on my feet so every couple of weeks I used to sit down and trim off the excess around the edges with a sharp Stanley knife.

[Andi73]

Thank you, Terry!
This is what I thought. No short-cuts in Goju Ryu. Will just have to wake up earlier :-)

[47MartialMan]

Perhaps a thin sheet of fine grit sadnpaper placed in the shoes could work. However, along with using/applying a cream in order for the skin not to crack or break causing a wound or blister

[Terry Lyon]

I don't think sand paper in your shoes would work as your feet get moist in shoes and they need to be dry for the skin to harden.

[47MartialMan]

To elaborate, I wasnt speaking in terms of longevity application. Of course allowing air-drying time. However, "country" people walk around bare-footed on all types of terrain, allowing their feet/skin to toughen. Of course this is not a training intention.