The importence of Footwork...

[Himokiri Karate]

In my style which is boxing, footwork is BY FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR the most importent aspect and a MUST to be a great fighter, all the greats like ,tyson, roy jones,mayweather,pernell witaker... had great footwork.

But I am curios since this is a martial arts forum what does footwork mean to you and your instructor???

[JusticeZero]

Wierd art; we can't not use footwork.

[bushido_man96]

Footwork is important in most styles, I think. In TKD, we use footwork quite a bit, too. Footwork is actually one of my weaker spots, and it shows up when I spar. It is very important in fighting.

[yamesu]

Footwork is the basis of fighting in any mrtial art I believe...

My memory of my first classess in Kyokushin were being taught how to stand, then how to move, then how to employ more fancy or quick footwork.

I dont think anyone would succeed at a MA that involves kicking without solid footwor (I mean stances, not just the footwork in the kick once the leg/foot has left the ground).

Its a process that builds upon itself to allow for quick movement shifts, or strength in planting the body to gain power in strikes from the ground up.

[Kuma]

Any striking art should be focused on improving your footwork. You can have the most powerful punch in the world, but if you can't move into range to use it, what good does it do you?

[DWx]

Footwork is sooo important to us. There are very specific rules on how to step and manage weight which you learn in the forms and this translates into the sparring. I totally agree with yamesu in that styles that use kicking in particular need to know how to move. Most of the drills we spend time on are about moving into position and moving away, forget the actual kicks or punches, if you can't move well you won't be fighting all that well.

[honoluludesktop]

In my style which is boxing, footwork is BY FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR the most importent aspect and a MUST to be a great fighter, all the greats like ,tyson, roy jones,mayweather,pernell witaker... had great footwork.

But I am curios since this is a martial arts forum what does footwork mean to you and your instructor???

Can you provide some examples of what you mean by footwork?

[sensei8]

In the martial arts; one must first learn the varied types of footwork, then understand the varied types of footwork, and then effectively apply the varied types of footwork. Tai sabaki is related to ashi sabaki and te sabaki, to name just a few.

No proper footwork simply means that one can't effectively move to point 'B' from point 'A'; stuck in a quagmire. Every type of martial arts depends on proper footwork. Footwork or shifting should be smooth, sharp, without back motion. We say that the footwork should be hidden, so as the feet move underneath the body and the torso should not show any change.

So, to answer your question...footwork means everything to me because it meant everything to our Soke first!! Tuite is Shindokan and without effective footwork; Tuite doesn't and can't exist, and in that Shindokan wouldn't exist.