Footwork

[fangshi]

Does anyone ever study footwork of other styles ? I have found them to be very useful in expanding my abilities as a martial artist . I train with a group of martial artists from several different styles and we have all learned from eachother .

How important do you feel that footwork is in martial arts ?

Do you feel you can gain an advantage by studying the footwork of other styles ?

Do you feel that mobility is more/less or of equal importance to rooting/grounding ?

Do you feel footwork is better as linear or circular ?

[taiji fajin]

Not as much as I would like to, but yes, I try to study footwork from other martial arts.

It is VERY important to learn good footwork. Hands throw out the strikes (usually, any body part can be a weapon), but the feet are what set everything up. From giving your strikes power, to moving to find the holes in your opponen's defense, to helping your own defense, proper footwork is needed.

While some things may be better than others, there is no single "correct" way to do footwork, so it is helpful to look at many martial arts and learn what is best for your body / style.

rooting/grounding are very important. That being said, you cannot simply be an unmoving tree the entire time. Knowing how to move is just as important. You need to know how to do BOTH. I forget who said this, but "If you don't have quiet or tranquility, you will never see the miracle of moving."

Circular and linear are both needed. I'm sure anyone who has studied m.a. can come up with dozens of cases where each could be used effectively. It all depends on your intent / needs.

Good topic . Whenever my instructors go over a new form, moving push-hands, moving techniques, etc, they do them several times, and I pick out different things to focus on each time. One of the things I always play close attention to is the footwork.

[italian_guy]

Does anyone ever study footwork of other styles ? I have found them to be very useful in expanding my abilities as a martial artist . I train with a group of martial artists from several different styles and we have all learned from eachother .

How important do you feel that footwork is in martial arts ?

very much

Do you feel you can gain an advantage by studying the footwork of other styles ?

Yes actually I study two arts and I like to use several footwork styles in both.

Do you feel that mobility is more/less or of equal importance to rooting/grounding ?

Yes I think mobility is more important.

Do you feel footwork is better as linear or circular ?

I use both but I have a prference for circular.

[cross]

How important do you feel that footwork is in martial arts ?

Extremely important. Correct footwork puts your body where it needs to be to get the most out of the techniques you perform.

Do you feel you can gain an advantage by studying the footwork of other styles ?

Yes, if it aids in the proper application of your existing techniques then it would be a great help.

Do you feel that mobility is more/less or of equal importance to rooting/grounding ?

I feel that they are of equal importance. You would find it hard to suceed if you had one without the other. You need mobility to get your body into a position where being well grounded is benificial.

Do you feel footwork is better as linear or circular ?

This depends a bit on your 'gameplan' but if you can combine both then you could use the circular to get yourself out of the way and into a better position and then use the linear for strong attack.

[fangshi]

Does anyone have a favorite style or specific form they like when studying footwork from other systems ?

Here is a few that I like

http://trinity.psnw.com/~dlmurray/footdrills.html

There are others that I do but it was easy to post this link

[pers]

Footwork is very important ,thats why there is so much emphasis on it in shotokan which is the style I trained in. it is good to look at other martial arts if you have the time ,I have enough trouble now adays to do any training !

[SevenStar]

you can be rooted and mobile...

[senseipaul]

fencing is a good style to learn if you would like to work on your footwork.

[fangshi]

you can be rooted and mobile...

Absolultely agree . Takes alot of practice .

[AnonymousOne]

Does anyone ever study footwork of other styles ? I have found them to be very useful in expanding my abilities as a martial artist . I train with a group of martial artists from several different styles and we have all learned from eachother .

How important do you feel that footwork is in martial arts ?

Do you feel you can gain an advantage by studying the footwork of other styles ?

Do you feel that mobility is more/less or of equal importance to rooting/grounding ?

Do you feel footwork is better as linear or circular ?

Foot work is one of the most important areas of MA and sadly one of the most neglected. Without fast, balanced footwork, you are as useless as a car with no wheels.

I regularly train just the footwork movements. Although a traditional Karate-ka, I have adapted my own training sequences on much research. I have studied footwork from various Karate schools, Gung Fu, Kendo, Boxing, Fencing, JKD, and all sorts of other sports.

I use straight line, angular and circular training sequences. It is not unsual for me to do footwork for an hour at a time and if you push hard, its a very hard work out. I also take a low stance to work all my leg muscles as well.

I also incoporate a lot of side stepping into my work outs. Using an agility ladder is an excellent idea also