what characterizes great footwork and how do you train it

When you can hit a guy from a position where he isn't physically capable of hitting you, that's generally a sign of good footwork on your part or just a shitty opponent.

So good footwork is characterized by achieving good attacking angles on your opponent.

 

Being able to move in any direction while maintaining proper balance and foot position to be able to punch.

 

sparring, shadow boxing, footwork drills..basically everything where you're moving

 

float like a butterfly sting like a bee

i aint no expert but maybe lots of jump roping might help with ur cause

 

I would like to know what you can do on your own to improve this in your spare time. I.E so that you can move quickly without being of balance :huh
I have tried shadow boxing but I still struggle even doing that :tired

 

then you need to keep trying. If your struggling to shadow box then your footwork will also suck. Shadowboxing is one of if not the best way to train footwork

Also to the other poster i really rate skipping as a form of exercise especially in intervals , but i think its secondary to learning good footwork. Non of the movements mimic being in the ring however it is good for building endurance in the legs to be able to execute those movements in the ring .

 

Sorry, everone says shadow box but no-one says what to do while shadow boxing. Dont mean to come across as an idiot its something I really would like to do properly is all. So you mean just keep moving around shadow boxing at a slow pace till I feel comfortable? I also heard someone mention that tying your feet together and shadow boxing can help?? Do you know how you would do this? I agree about the Skipping, its more the technical aspect I want to get down.

 

do you go to a boxing gym? if not then its pretty null and void isnt it?

if you do ask your coach!! Its hard to explain and easier to show!

First of all work on getting in your proper stance, then work on moving forward, backwards stepping off to the side keeping balance at all times as your get more comfortable introduce more things eg head movement, throwing punches , using angles. like anything its a progression!

 

Yeah I go to a boxing gym.
I have asked and they say pretty much what you just said

 

Well ask them to literally show you! From square one.

Its not going to happen over night mate and theres not quick fix for anything.

Try doing a 3 or 4 rounds a day even. R1 start off not throwing any punches just moving your feet. Really think about what your doing as the rounds progress introduce more elements to it. Concentrate on what you are doing and just keep working at it!

 

Cheer Johnny thats the kind of advice I was looking for as I usually just try and bound around throwing punches like an Idiot :-(

 

dont worry bout it mate im no expert. And its tempting for anyone to do what they enjoy and think they are good at rather than what they need to work on. Iv found myself with shadow boxing if i dont have a mental aim i end up bounding round and making mistakes too because your enthusiasm can get the better of you.

When i want to work on technique i have to think right this round i want to work on this and thats all im going to do! Even if its a round of moving forward then back and off to the side and i dont throw a punch!

 

Do you know anything about why people tie their legs together? Is it so you are forced to not have your legs too far apart?

 

yes exactly what its for it gets you used to keeping your legs evenly spaced and if your front foot goes forward your back foot follows ect

iv never used one myself so maybe someone more experienced could give some insight