Basic boxing movement
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Look up the word “movement” in the dictionary, and you will find different definitions. In boxing terms, this is the most relevant:
Movement noun (PROGRESS) — an occasion when something develops, changes, or happens in a particular way or direction.
In boxing, we call movement “footwork”. It is a skill that elite boxers practice all the time. Great footwork comes in many forms. The bamboozling genius of Willie Pep. The unorthodox dancing of Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leornard and Pernell Whitaker. The suffocating stalking of Mike Tyson, Marvin Hagler and Gennady Golovkin. Good footwork and a sound stance offers offensive and defensive options at all times. To achieve this, you must move your feet in a particular pattern.
If you move:
forwards — the lead foot goes first and the rear foot follows
backwards — the rear foot goes first and the lead foot follows
left — the left foot goes first and the right foot follows
right — the right foot goes first and the left foot follows
If we look at moving forward as an example, picture what happens if you move your rear leg before the lead. You bring your feet together, even if it is for a moment. But at that moment, your stance has gone — you have lost balance, mobility, and the platform to punch. If the front foot goes forward 7” then the back foot moves 7” too. This is important. Move your feet at different lengths, and your base box becomes distorted. Your feet are either too close together or too far apart. You’ll see this in play when a boxer hits the canvas from an innocuous punch. A lot of the time, poor balance is to blame.
The same principle applies if you move to the side. In moving to the right, if you move your left leg first, you are crossing your feet. Give it a try, and you will feel how awkward your movement becomes.
Generate movement by pushing off one of your feet. Going forward, the push comes from your rear foot. Your lead foot moves forward off that push and your rear foot slides into place behind it. Remember that you must move the same distance with both feet,
To move backwards, push off your lead foot. The same applies to moving left and right. Keeping to these rules ensures that you are always balanced and in a position to attack or defend.
At its core, this is boxing footwork. It is a continual process of moving your stance using small sliding movements. Sliding your feet into position keeps you in close contact with the floor. This lets you generate power when needed. There’s a happy medium to observe here. You don’t want to be jumping in the air like Michael Flatley or dragging your feet like a Mummy.
You will hear the term “flat-footed” a lot. If both of your feet are flat to the floor at the same time, it restricts your ability to move. As a rule of thumb, one foot should be flat to the floor, the other up on its ball, heel raised. This foot placement has other important contributions to punch technique and power. Bear in mind that having both heels raised at the same time is just as detrimental.
The direction in which you move is also critical. If you are facing an opponent with a crunching rear hand, which way should you move? Should you move towards that punch or away?
Evaluating your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses when moving is vital. Visualising different opponents and scenarios in your footwork drills will make you a better boxer.
