An athletic shoe of the type having a bottom portion for aiding the user in jumping activities. The athletic shoe comprises: an upper portion for engaging the top of a foot on which the athletic shoe is worn; a bottom portion connected to the upper portion for engaging a sole of the foot; the bottom portion having at least an upper and a lower strata generally conforming to the outline of the sole of the foot and spaced from one another to define a cavity therebetween; a plurality of spring members mounted in the cavity and adapted for providing a spring action perpendicular to the sole; an air bladder disposed within the cavity; a rigid tube member forming an air passageway therein in connection between a first end opening and a second end having an intake aperture therethrough; the first end opening is in fluid connection with the air bladder and the intake aperture is exposed to the atmosphere; and a blocking mechanism functionally connected to the rigid tube member in a manner to block the passage of air through the intake aperture when the blocking mechanism is in a closed position and to allow the passage of air through the intake aperture when the blocking mechanism is in an open position.
