Asics

Explore the ASICS range at JD to discover all the latest releases from the Japan-based brand, including the popular GEL-KAYANO and the GEL-QUANTUM 360. Featuring all the latest performance-enhancing technologies, these high-quality sneakers are essential for runners, and thanks to their stylish uppers, they’re suitable for casual wear, too.

When Was ASICS Founded?

ASICS was established in 1949 by Kihachiro Onitsuka, an ordinary salary worker turned shoemaker from Kobe. At this time, however, the brand was known as ONITSUKA Shokai. It was Onitsuka’s friend who suggested that the company be rebranded to ‘ASICS,’ which is an acronym derived from the Latin ‘Anima Sana in Corpore Sano’ (or ‘You should pray for a healthy mind in a healthy body’). These words served—and continue to serve—as the foundations for the company’s ethos: to encourage people to engage in physical activity by providing them with high-quality athletic shoes.

The first pair of ASICS shoes was the OK Basketball Shoe. Onitsuka was conscious that the sports market was dominated by canvas slippers and tabi socks, but these didn’t provide the support and freedom of movement required to perform optimally. The OK Basketball Shoe would change that, with a suction-cup-inspired sole giving extra grip on the court.

What ASICS Shoes Are Best for You?

Today, the ASICS product selection is far more expansive than a single basketball shoe, encompassing dozens of unique collections made for different areas of athletics, most notably running. The brand has invested in loads of innovations (including their GEL and TRUSSTIC technologies), which provide stability and comfort to the wearer.

If you’re searching for a pair of trainers that will take your performance to the next level, we at JD have dozens of options for you to browse, available across eye-catching colourways. Want to beat a long-standing PR? The GEL line of running shoes, first released in 1986, reduces the amount of impact you feel with each step, so you can focus on increasing your speed.