THE RINGSTAR^® STORY

As a world-class kickboxer, Steve Shepherd often lamented the inadequacies of the then available martial arts protective equipment. Commiserating with fellow competitors and MA training partners and , more specifically, listening to their complaints about footpads -- No soles and the tendency to slip, obvious hygiene issues and pads CONSTANTLY TWISTING ON FEET WHEN KICKING -- Shepherd knew there had to be a better way.

It was in the mid-90's that the concept of Ringstar® was first conceived. Incorporating up-to-date technology and an ability to "think outside the box" Shepherd became obsessed with the design and development of a shoe that would limit the incidence of training injuries, most notably broken toes and battered in-steps.

Though he had never been involved in equipment design or development, Steve's decades of experience in all phases of martial arts prompted his passionate pursuit of the Ringstar® Advantage line of products. Working from a "clean sheet", he enlisted a local cobbler to convert his concepts from paper to actual shoes. Over the next several years, MA enthusiasts and gyms as well as elite competitors served as Rinstar®'s laboratory and development technicians.

Based on feedback and suggestive input regarding each developmental version of Ringstar® shoes, Ringstar® evolved in terms of...padding placement and density, sole composition, flexibility, weight of shoe and even the appearance there-of.

For the last seven years, Steve has taken the Ringstar® show on the road. Driving at first to local gyms and schools (selling literally out of his trunk) and then to tournaments and events, the awareness and acceptance of Ringstar® continued to grow. In 2002, a 10 round fight in Atlantic City, between Don "the Dragon" Wilson and Eddie Butcher marked the first-ever sanctioning by a governing body (ISKA) of a martial arts shoe.

The current Ringstar MA shoe line-up consists of three sparring models:

• THE TRIPLE S "SSS" Sparring Safety Shoe
• THE TRIPLE S-C "SSSC" Children's Sparring Safety Shoe
• THE MAXX The Ultimate Sparring Shoe

and the THE FLEXX All-Around Training Shoe

Not content to rest on his laurels, Shepherd has more recently developed a complimentary Ringstar Advantage line of Handwraps, Supershins and Shin-Instep-Toes. Much like the impetus for development of the Ringstar shoe line, Shepherd realized the opportunity to significantly improve the outdated wraps and shin protectors then available. The patent-pending handwrap affords the wearer the install in a fraction of the time, a 100% correct install/alignment and increased protection.

The Supershins™ and Shin-instep-Toes offer the most protection of any MA shin protection available while still being light and stable. The patent-pending toepad of the Shoe-instep finally offers toe protection for the taikwondo and MMA participants.

Today's success of Ringstar® is the culmination of one man's unfaltering determination to "raise the bar" in terms of MA safety and equipment much as he's done for 20+ years as a world-champion kickboxer, promoter, manager, school owner and, now, product designer. The time is now for this visionary to convert his original ideas to products representing a level of of unparalleled Safety and Performance never offered by any competive MA equipment maker.

The Ringstar® Credo

Ringstar® is dedicated to the development, production and distribution of superior state-of-the-art martial arts, sport karate and boxing products. Our products are quality and safety-tested to insure that the purists in these disciplines are always protected and satisfied.

As the patent holders of the only approved shoes for full contact sport karate, we hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards.

The high standards that we set for ourselves are always adhered to with regard to our product development due to our respect for, and feedback from, those who choose to buy only the best and place their trust in us.

We are in business, not just for our customers, but because of them.

At Ringstar®, we will safeguard the trust of our customers by continuing to develop new and improved ways to "re-invent the wheel." We are the leaders of the industry metamorphosis, demonstrated by the products we produce, the professionalism and integrity we practice and a level of unprecedented attention to safety we demand.

At Ringstar®, we are truly...