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The answer is, yes we are pushing with our following foot. In fact, the movement is INITIATED this way so in some sense the foot that moves last is the one leading the foot that first changes its position -- i.e., the one in direction of motion may move first, but the movement STARTS from the other foot pushing (if that makes sense.)
My instructor insists on this. Fran's MyBoxingCoach.com videos are explicit on this point. I have heard others here confirm (and more accept) this method.
Not all of the books specify this method -- it isn't explicit in all of the "Title Boxing" videos (which are pretty popular, but it is consistent with most of such sources even if it isn't explicitly stated or demonstrated.
A way that I think about it (Fran or others my say this is irrelevant so we'll see):
As long as your following foot initiates and controls the action by PUSHING it isn't possible (or it's at least unlikely) that you will make these mistakes:
- Step too far
- Tip off your next move BEFORE you can take it
- Move your balance the OPPOSITE way before you make the step
You can only 'push' as far as the following foot has correct purchase and balance to accommodate the movement -- so it is very unlikely you will 'push too far' but the converse mistake 'to step too far' is very easy to do by accident.
By pushing, your following foot moves you BALANCE to the next position before and while the leading foot takes the step -- nothing to see until the lead foot and the actual movement is underway even though you have been 'pushing' for some milliseconds.
If you just step with the lead foot, it is quite likely that you will first put you weight BACK towards the other foot, thus your center of gravity or balance point is going the WRONG way. This takes longer, is another way to telegraph the movement, and can get you caught with your mind going forward and your body (balance) going the opposite direction.
By pushing, you ensure that your supporting (following) foot and leg are fully loaded but SENDING you (i.e., your center of gravity) in the correct direction.
Maybe these three ideas are not technically correct -- or maybe there are more than three -- but by THINKING about it this way, I am able to move my CENTER of GRAVITY to the correct position and my feet naturally KEEP UP rather than the other way around. [Maybe this itself is a four distinct reason.]
The other way around, the feet move, and move one at a time, but THEN the center of gravity has to catch up or at best be fine tuned.
It's much more difficult to undo the feet if you change your mind -- especially if the balance and center of gravity have not yet stabilized to the correct position.
On the other (good) hand, if you start to push, and change your mind you merely STOP PUSHING, or push the another way and move the feet to fit that mental intention.
On the other hand, I could be full of beans....
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HerbM
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