Linear footwork's direct, sharp movements are natural for most grappling systems, which aim quickly to take an opponent to the floor with as little movement or adjustment as necessary. The striking arts of Japan and Korea utilize linear form quickly to overwhelm opponents with powerful, focused blows, whereas the Chinese arts primarily respect linear movement as a method of staying in reference to the opponent's centerline, and for its necessary use in trapping, or close-range grappling exchanges (See Chin Na). Perhaps the most stark example of linear footwork, however, is that used in European fencing, especially within the modern sport aspect.ĭominated by the philosophy that the fastest and most economical way to an opponent is a straight line, arts that use linear movement as their focus adopt mostly rigid stances and behaviors, and focus primarily on the speed of advance and retreat to overcome an adversary. Linear movement is common to a great deal of the martial arts world, and is predominant in arts of Japanese and Korean influence such as many forms of Karate and Tae-Kwon-Do, as well as some grappling arts such as Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Sambo and Shooto, and few forms of Chinese martial arts, such as Wing Chun and Bruce Lee's later incarnation, Jun Fan Gung Fu. In Thailand, Muay Thai fighters will often provoke attack by tapping their lead foot or by letting it rest in the air, both considered grievous insults within that nation. In styles that allow for the clinch, the debased balance forces movement to be more squared, and footwork to be replaced by powerful thrusting or frenetic skipping movements with the sole purpose of keeping on one's feet. Radical pivoting and sudden lead changes also accommodate the wider, more powerful movement of the knees and legs. The kick-boxer will often shift his weight backward onto his rear leg to allow his leading leg to react more quickly to an incoming blow as in a 'shield,'(right) a defense used against a round kick, or to execute swift kicking maneuvers such as foot jabs and the Muay Thai teep or stop kick. Kickboxing employs the same basic footwork pattern as the styles that focus only on the upper body, with the one key difference lying in the defense and positioning for lower body strikes. The jab may be thrown while moving forward or backward for the other punches it is advisable not to throw while in motion. To maintain balance, both feet can step, pivot or slide as appropriate. The rear uppercut employs the same inward pivot as the cross. The lead uppercut, like the jab does not use any pivotal motion, the power comes from the transfer of body weight to the lead foot. The right hook's pivot is identical to the cross (assuming the boxer is orthodox). During the left hook, the lead foot pivots in an inward manner to transfer body weight. During the cross, the rear foot pivots inward to launch the rear shoulder forward, allowing the cross a good deal of its strength. During the jab, the lead foot can move forward to close distance or remain stationary. Footwork is key to generating sufficient power in the basic strikes shared between the major boxing styles. Rear movement is a reversal of this step, and lateral movement involves push stepping in the same fashion, with the foot closest to the desired direction stepping laterally, followed by the opposite foot, which is used to move the body.įor the pugilist, footwork is to be deft and simplistic, allowing the fighter to move in and out of striking range as quickly as possible. In which the leading leg advances first, then the rear, with the feet coming to rest in the exact relative position. The characteristic footwork employed by most of the world's major boxing and kickboxing styles, such as Western boxing and Muay Thai, has changed little over the centuries, and has remained largely invariable between radically different cultures. Footwork involves keeping balance, closing or furthering the distance, controlling spatial positioning, and/or creating additional momentum for strikes.īasic incarnations of footwork Boxing footwork Footwork is a martial arts and combat sports term for the general usage of the legs and feet in stand-up fighting.
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