Being light on your feet

[Minesweeper]

I feel like a steel King Kong when moving around the ring. I see some people who are far heavier than me but move around like they are made out of air or something. I also can only bounce for maybe 20-30 seconds before I get too tired and have to stop. For the latter, I'm running and jumping rope to improve endurance.

What can I do to become lighter on my feet? Just practice moving around?

[joesteph]

Is it actually just that your body tires, or that you feel it in your calves, and that effect tires the body? I noticed this about myself that, if bouncing like a boxer, the calves burn first, and then the body tires. If I drop the bounce, which costs spring/speed, I can go much longer.

[Traymond]

In my opinion it sounds like you have weak calves and quads. You need to do the seated leg press but make sure only the ball of your feet and your toes are on the 'plate', and push, this works your calves.

Chambering your leg into a front kick position works your calves, and work on your core.

[tallgeese]

Start by trying to get rid of the bounce altogether would be my advice. Being mobile and bouncing with both feet are two different things. If you lift your weight from the ground from both feet at the same time, you risk a very vunerable moment each time for the bad guy to counter while you're weight is high and mobility very low.

Try shifting from the ball of one foot to the other. Move one foot, then the other. They should never leave the ground entirely. Think landing on the ball of your foot. Work shuffling to the sided, forward and back for a round to warm up.

I also pick a point and work slipping forward to each 45 degree angle and back. The back at that angle to each side. Cut to the side. Work retreating and advancing. Now retreat in a semi circle. All the while thinking smooth, fluid steps. You'll find that you actually have more control and feel lighter without the jarring stop of hte bounce each time.

[white owl]

I agree with tallgeese. It is nice to do the bounce in point sparring to be quick but if you are looking for endurance and inflicting damage and if training for self defense agree with tallgeese.

[Kuma]

Skipping rope is definitely the way to go. Just keep at it. As part of your warm-up, do a round or two of rope skipping each time you workout and try 2-3 longer sessions per week as you slowly get better at it. No hopping like a schoolgirl though, alternate hopping on one foot each time like a boxer.

[joesteph]

Start by trying to get rid of the bounce altogether would be my advice. Being mobile and bouncing with both feet are two different things.

This is an interesting observation. The only reason I do the bouncing and shifting of both feet at the same time is because one of the instructors favors it. Doing these contribute to me getting the same "burn" I used to get when doing calf raises. I wonder if they're counterproductive if done together.

Try shifting from the ball of one foot to the other. Move one foot, then the other.

My teacher has us do this straight forward and straight back, one foot actually stepping, the other sliding.

They should never leave the ground entirely. Think landing on the ball of your foot. Work shuffling to the sided, forward and back for a round to warm up.

I also pick a point and work slipping forward to each 45 degree angle and back. The back at that angle to each side. Cut to the side. Work retreating and advancing. Now retreat in a semi circle. All the while thinking smooth, fluid steps.

This is worth a try when I practice at home. Like the footwork of shadow boxing?

You'll find that you actually have more control and feel lighter without the jarring stop of hte bounce each time.

Sounds like good advice, Tallgeese. Worth a try.

[Kuma]

As a side note, shadowboxing is also an excellent way to develop your footwork. Rather than stay static, actually move around and visually fight an opponent. Evade attacks, execute counters, and really get into it.

[Tiger1962]

I feel like a steel King Kong when moving around the ring. I see some people who are far heavier than me but move around like they are made out of air or something. I also can only bounce for maybe 20-30 seconds before I get too tired and have to stop. For the latter, I'm running and jumping rope to improve endurance.

What can I do to become lighter on my feet? Just practice moving around?

I'm not in favor of jumping or bouncing when sparring. I used to do it a lot before I was a dan rank and then I realized it only made me more tired and used up my energy. An assistant instructor in my old school favored that technique, but then another more experienced instructor I spoke to advised me against it. I don't think jumping or bouncing makes one more efficient at what they are doing. It burns calories but if you are looking to be lighter on your feet, jumping or bouncing is not the way to do it.

Shifting from foot to foot / shuffling -- what Tallgeese explained -- that is the way I do it also.

[bushido_man96]

I used to do the bounce, but not anymore. I prefer to keep my base.

I agree with the jumping rope comments; stay with it, and it will help your footwork. Doing the shadowboxing and the work tallgeese explained will add to it, as well.

Also, after a workout, when you are tired, do some of these footwork drills. By doing them when you are tired, it makes you push through to keep moving, even when you don't want to. I wouldn't do any technique work, but just work on the footwork.