Old tricks for footwork/balance

[manchestermatt1986]

Ok, so i shadow boxed for about 20/25mins in 5/10 mins at a time amongst footwork along squash courts and skipping. It felt great, i kind of descended inside myself and found balance easy, i could feel my movements and how to tidy them. ended up doing some movements over and over until i could feel they were smooth/easier. even punches i was concentrating on twisting my knuckles right over at the last minute, i felt faster and smoother than i have before and the opponent i was making up in my head was slightly more reaslistic (slightly!!) BUT......

i kept realising i was dropping my chin right down to my chest and even hanging my body forward, (as if i was stairing at the floor infront of my feet)

Sounds like you might be on the balls of your feet a little too much. Tho you do want to stay on the balls of your feet, you dont want to pick your heels off up off the ground. This will cause you to lean foward into your punches.

Ah, thank you for that cause I do try to be 'up' on the balls of my feet, helps me glide but I think its a old habit from Thai boxing years ago. Keeping the rear heel 'up' is normal thou right, even when just in my stance? So my cross is ready?

[cambay411]

Ok, so i shadow boxed for about 20/25mins in 5/10 mins at a time amongst footwork along squash courts and skipping. It felt great, i kind of descended inside myself and found balance easy, i could feel my movements and how to tidy them. ended up doing some movements over and over until i could feel they were smooth/easier. even punches i was concentrating on twisting my knuckles right over at the last minute, i felt faster and smoother than i have before and the opponent i was making up in my head was slightly more reaslistic (slightly!!) BUT......

i kept realising i was dropping my chin right down to my chest and even hanging my body forward, (as if i was stairing at the floor infront of my feet)

Sounds like you might be on the balls of your feet a little too much. Tho you do want to stay on the balls of your feet, you dont want to pick your heels off up off the ground. This will cause you to lean foward into your punches.

Ah, thank you for that cause I do try to be 'up' on the balls of my feet, helps me glide but I think its a old habit from Thai boxing years ago. Keeping the rear heel 'up' is normal thou right, even when just in my stance? So my cross is ready?

Good question, and I would say yes it is normal.

I dont think issue is in your stance. I think your going to far on the balls of your feet when your throwing punches (combinations on the heavy bag for example). Likely almost on your toes. Your not focusing enough on the turn of your hips and shoulders but putting to much focus on putting your weight into your punches maybe.

Your putting that umph into your punches but your momentum is bringing you forward and causing you to lean forward. And this all comes from being to far on the balls of your feet, or maybe I should say putting too much weight on the balls of your feet to where your basically on your toes.

Stand straight up right now, get into your stance and lean forward. You dont want that lean in your stance even when your throwing.

[manchestermatt1986]

So if im doing this correctly, im finding that i can punch throu harder and further, knocking the opponent back with a cross. but even thou i am not leaning forward im still closer to the opponent overall?

[cambay411]

So if im doing this correctly, im finding that i can punch throu harder and further, knocking the opponent back with a cross. but even thou i am not leaning forward im still closer to the opponent overall?

I dont know if you will get closer overall but it will allow you to hit angles and get in and out faster because you will have good balance. If you feel your in closer I would say this is why. Your forward, backward and lateral movement is likely more fluid and you are actually getting inside not leaning in.

Also, as far as the leaning issue, you could have been reaching to far with your punches. Regardless it sounds like your on the right track.