How to improve my footwork

[Sharla]

So you'd need a partner of similar height as well?

Does one person follow the other kinda thing?

Is it to sort of get you to move without leaving your head behind therefore keeping your feet under you?

As opposed to going ass over tip because someone steps on your toes while your moving back head first (yes I've done that!).

[Scrap]

It does, you understand what feel is about its very tireing you need good consentration levels it only needs light elastic, its one of the things Ive been working on

[Sharla]

Interesting thanks Scrap I might try talking a training partner into doing this with me some time.

[The Boxer]

Weightlifting is fine and dandy for boxing but stretch BEFORE and AFTER working out!

Also low weight and high reps are a boxer's best friend....that gives you the long lean muscles.



As for footwork:

1. Jump rope

2. focus on it in shadow boxing

3. when I warm up I usually circle the ring for a few rounds both ways before starting my shadow boxing

I use to do the samething. while i was circling the the ring i pretend to side step my opponet.

skipping rope is good.

[Trainer Monkey]

Check your stance,it might not be as perfect as you think
If you tend to lean back,or forward to far,you wont be able to move

[Sharla]

I don't think anything I do is perfect. Posture and balance is something I am continually working on.

I don't think there will be any quick fixes and with me I think part of it is physical as well as technical.

I need to become consistant with my stretching etc to loosen up muscles that bend my back out of place to move more effectively.

[Howlin Mad Missy]

Is there something in particular you want to work on? Defence, closing the range?

I think skipping is great for endurance in the legs but it does not automatically mean your footwork will be better. Train as you want to perform.

To improve your footwook drill footwork. As Donny has mentioned, shadowboxing is great. Actually try a couple of rounds just dancing round the ring, have someone you know won't try and kill you chase you round the ring whilst you evade, that'll get you moving.

Don't forget to move your feet when working the heavy bag, sure you can do a round slugging on it but switch with moving in and out of range, move round the bag, move after throwing every punch or combo.

Have a good pad partner. Have them move round (I'm sure they do).

If there is a specific combo you want to work on, eg. jab/cross/hook/ throw in place, throw it moving forward/back, throw the jab, step forward and out and move again before throwing the hook. Practice it light and fast/hard/ etc etc.

Lots of things to play with that your trainer should or could be doing, plenty of things you can work on at home. Good luck

[donnydarkoIRL]

Some great points there Missy.

I think another thing you'll have to learn is that when speaking of footwork, it does not have to be elaborate or flash.
Practising economy of movement is a great tool as it conserves energy and the small subtle movements can get you where you want to go a lot quicker than any flamboyant exaggerated moves. see B-hop vids on you tube.

[Sharla]

Thanks missy and hitmandonny,

yeah I have a lot to work on but I'll try to put your ideas into practice over the next few months and watch some bhop

I seem to either over reach and pick my back foot up off of the ground (and bounce around like a fool) or plant too heavily on my back foot and leave my weight on it too heavily (and be economical with movement).

I haven't managed to find the happy medium consistently. Perhaps you're right on point when you mention range there Missy as well as hitmandonny's comment on economy of movement.

My balance does seem to be better when I force myself to throw combos and get into more of a flow though. Odd!

[The Boxer]

everybody can't dance around like ali. first make sure that you can move regulary without crossing your feet.

[shazzbutt]

one thing i can say has help me is skating. it really helps for you balance ey and your feet are shoulder width apart . but there is one negative thoe and that is that to pushing can create the habit of bringing you feet together when you try to step fast. so you just need to work on that in shadow work after you skate.

[neillk2]

This will certainly help...

You can get some free footwork drills by registering here:

Learn How To Box

or get the full package here:

Boxing footwork

Laters

[neillk2]

This should help your footwork and its free.

Learn How To Box

Peace

[Fran@myboxingcoach]

Hey English Bull

Read lots of replies, some real good, some so complex I'd need to run them by Stephen Hawking to make sense of them. Broadly speaking, I'm strongly with Donny and his suggestion of 15 minutes a day as a start, from where you can move onto some of the more complex stuff (Scrap mentions this). In terms of foot movements, you have 8 basic directions (straight lines and diagonals) and a pivot (either direction). This range can be expanded as experience is gained. Some things to remember:

• Keep the movements simple
• Keep the movements short (no more than 5 inches in either direction)
• Maintain consistency e.g. when moving forward push off the back leg and when moving backwards push off the front leg.
• Use mirrors and taped lines on the floors and mirrors to ensure that you have a benchmark to work to.

The basic fact is that although Von insists that footwork is simple, it isn't. It becomes simple after you have put in lots of work! Then again, it's little wonder that Von finds it easy as according to his/her description he/she is doing it wrong (boxing in the catatonic style of Valuev rather than the 'blink and you miss it' style of a young Tyson).

Listen to Donny's 15 minute a day tip, then build up the the esoteric world of Scrap! You can get some simple footwork tips at my site.

Cheers

Fran

[cambay411]

I wouldn't rate dancing really as it's a totally different type of movement, far more random.

To practice footwork for boxing you have to rehearse the same movements over and over.

15 Minutes a day concentrating on moving can make a huge difference.

Im not sure if traditional type dance is good for footwork. But, have you tried more of hip hop type danceing? It helped my more advanced footwork. For example the UFC fighter Anderson Silva who is maybe the best boxer in MMA, has really nice, rythmatic, danceing like footwork. I have pretty nice footwork and i see boxing as kind of a dance. It is all about your rythm and of course not being predictible. Dancing in and out from your opponent. I would almost say that anyone with really nice/advanced footwork can prolly dance decent even if they dont realize that they can. Also like i say i have nice footwork and what works for some might not complement other peoples styles. And like you said in another post hitmandonny more subtle and simple footwork can be more efficiant than the flashy stuff. So one should figure out there style and do what works for them.