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Continued from Fundamental, Technical & Foundational Martial Art Techniques (Essential Tools & Basic Core Knowledge) From Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Foundational Footwork

Next up is Footwork. Fencing and Western Boxing provide some really solid footwork.

Slide Step: The most basic step is the slide step in which you slide step forward with your lead foot and then bring your rear foot back up to a natural stance. A reverse slide step is the same in reverse. You slide back with the rear foot and then pull your front foot back to a natural stance.

The Shuffle Step: is similar to the slide step in its motion but is a little different. You shuffle the back foot to the front foot and then push the front foot forward in a fast almost hop-skip shuffle. It’s a fast burst as opposed to the slide step push forward. You want to be agile on your feet to move in and out fast like a fencer to move in and out of range.

The Reverse Shuffle: is the same you bring the lead foot back fast and then push the rear foot back. You want to be able to “float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.” To move in and out ranges from kicking, to boxing, to trapping, to grappling. The Slide and Shuffle steps are good. It’s good to watch how Mohamed Ali moved, he shuffled around and moved around lightly on his feet.

The Outside Side Step: is done by stepping to the outside with your front foot and then pull your read foot back to a fighting stance. This is done to evade and incoming attack.

The Inside Side Step: is done by stepping to the inside with your rear foot then pulling your lead foot toward your rear foot back into a natural fighting stance. This can be used to close the distance if an opponent starts to circle step to the inside.

The Circle Step or Curve Step: depending on where your opponent is you may turn with your front foot toward the opponent or swing your back leg around. The circle step can be used to rope a dope, crowd your opponent and get them to go where you want them to go.

The Jinga: Capoeira‘s base movement is the Jinga which is also similar to the B Boy basic move that borrows from Capoeira. The movement is simple yet exaggerated. I don’t advocate using Capoeira in a street fight though some of the agility drills can help with flexibility and mobility. The move is like an advanced two-step. Basically from a fighting stance you step forward into a middle stance with both legs about the width of a horse stance while swinging your left leg back into a front stance at the same time. Rock back unto your back left foot then transfer your weight back to your left leg then step forward into a natural middle stance and then throw swing the right leg back into a front stance rock back unto you right rear foot and then continue the motion back and forth. It’s a rapid movement back and forth done to a rhythm. It helps you get the feel for motion and moving. Once you get the motion practice stepping out-of-the-way to evade a push or punch. practice moving back and forth in rhythm with your partner to get the essence of motion. This motion is similar to that used in Aikido to step out-of-the-way and redirect a person motion when you step back. It’s a nice drill to get you mobile.

And there you have it the basic foot work.

To be continued in Lesson 3…

Related articles

• Lesson 2: Foundational Footwork (Fundamental, Technical And Foundational Martial Art Techniques) (paradoxparables.justparadox.com)
• Lessons 1: A Solid Stance (Fundamental, Technical And Foundational Martial Art Techniques) (paradoxparables.justparadox.com)

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