Footwork is the foundation of JKD. Almost every movement is executed with footwork, and all the power and energy must come from it. Whether pivoting, advancing, retreating, sidestepping or circling, you are not going anywhere without your feet. I personally depend heavily on footwork. Having no footwork is like driving a racecar with 450 horsepower but no wheels. You will not go anywhere. Your footwork is your wheels--you cannot execute a technique to its full potential without it, and you will not get far in your practice. You can know all the moves and be the best puncher or kicker, but without footwork, you are not going to cause much damage.
As a JKD fighter, it is extremely important to practice foot work. It must be practiced periodically to achieve flowing results. It must become part of you. There are many martial arts that do not use much footwork. Their techniques are based on torque and power from a standing still position. Also, many techniques are done either with overly exaggerated steps or with no mobility. Many focus on only linear or circular movements. This is not the case in JKD. A good JKD practitioner adapts to any position and flows in any direction.
To achieve flowing movement in footwork, you must place extreme importance on the fact that to reach your opponent, you must move to him. Without movement there is no attack, and without attack there is no scoring. To reach your opponent with speed and power, you must use footwork. To close the gap between you and your opponent during trapping, blocking, or counter attack, you must use footwork.
To build strong and flowing footwork, first you must be in a by-Jon stance, remaining very loose, with your whole posture fully relaxed, and feet wider apart than your shoulders. Also, no matter how far or how fast the front foot moves, the rear foot must follow in the same direction. It is important that you maintain good balance, especially when moving forward or side-to-side. You should check your feet and make sure that the rear heel always lines up with the front toes, in a good, solid by-Jon. Do not end up with your feet the same width apart as your shoulders, because your attack or technique will be very weak, and you will be very easily pushed back and off balance, no matter in which direction you are moving.
Many students I have witnessed are too busy focusing on how well the hands are moving, but they forget about their wheels,' which are the most important part of executing the technique. You don't want to end up with your feet too close or out of alignment, or with the groin area fully exposed, which many practitioners (including myself) have done. If you do not fully train yourself to the point where every movement in JKD is being executed simultaneously with some kind of footwork or motion, then you will learn the hard way.
Note: In circling, for teaching purposes only, you can move around clockwise in slow motion. Otherwise, do not move around clockwise like a robot--be alive, add a little hop every time you circle. Not only that will break the rhythm and confuse your opponent, but it also helps with your flow and helps execute any technique with full speed and power.
"ALL MOTIONS ARE PART OF ONE MOTION
ADVANCE SHUFFLE/STEP SLIDE (TOH MA) By-Jon stance: step with your front foot to (3) slide with your back foot to (2)
Step slide is used to meet an attack with a block, or strike. You must step first and slide the rear foot its mainly used to close the gap between you and your opponent "note" if you step with the front foot 1' then you must slide the rear foot 1' if you step with the front foot 6" then the rear foot slides 6" you must maintain the pyramid structure. If you don't you will loose balance. And your block and counter attack will be sloppy. You must apply the same principle to all of the footwork.
RETREAT SHUFFLE/STEP SLIDE BACK (TOY MA) step with your back foot to (1) slide back with your front foot to (2)
Step slide back is used to escape an attack and regain the attack line.
QUICK ADVANCE /PUSH SHUFFLE (TIN FIE MA) By-Jon stance push with your rear ball of the foot forward to (3) as you slide the rear foot to (2) with speed
The push shuffle is used to lunge forward with speed from a fighting stance for kicking or punching without closing the gab just one straight line to the target with no delay.
Quick Retreat/ PUSH SHUFFLE BACK (HOW FIE MA) Push with your front ball of foot back to (1) as you slide the front foot to (2)
The push shuffle footwork is used to get away from any attacks with speed.
Advanced Displacement/Slide Step Forward (PENDULUM) By-Jon stance: Right foot forward: slide left replaces right (2) (right foot) advances to (2) both feet must pass the center every time .the rear foot always must get hidden behind the front foot to make your attack effective.
The slide step is used for rapid kicks .it helps to strike with multiple kicks without stepping with the front foot also its very deceiving footwork. Because it helps you deliver a very powerful kick without the opponent seeing the front foot move. By sliding the rear foot first it helps execute the front kick right on target and with power and speed.
Retreat Displacement/Slide Step Back (PENDULUM) Right Foot Forward: Right foot replaces left foot (2) left foot retreats to (1)
The slide step back is used to get way from any attacks with speed. Almost it serves the same purpose as the push shuffle back.
Side step to right inside facing (Loy Seen Why or Yow Bin Ma) By-Jon stance Right foot forward right foot moves first to (4)
Followed by left foot to (5) NOTE: "if left foot is forward you do the opposite move"
When right side stepping you move the right foot first then the left foot follows .The side step is used to strike from a side angle with a hook punch or a hook kick. Also it helps to bob and weave from side to side to avoid any straight strikes.
Left foot moves back (1) than right foot moves back to (2)
Side Step to left or Outside facing (Noy Seen Why or Jow Bin Ma) By-Jon stance Right foot forward, left foot moves first to (5) followed by right foot to left (4)
When left side stepping always the left foot moves first then followed with the right foot. Left side step helps with any strikes to the outside of your target, also it serves the same purpose as the right side step they fit hand and hand.
Right foot moves back to (2) then left foot moves back to (1)
Circling
BACK CIRCLE STEP THROUGH. (HOW HUEN JUNE MA)
(Spin 360 degrees, clock wise .90 degrees at a time)
From a By-Jon position circle the rear foot to (4) but the front foot remains on (2) then the rear foot circles to (3) and the front foot remains on (2) Maintaining good By-Jon circle the rear foot to (5) and the front foot remains on center (2) return back to original position both feet on (1) and) (2) The circling foot work helps you to circle around your opponent in any angle without switching feet. In addition, it helps in maintaining full awareness at any direction. Repeat the same circling motion the opposite side or left lead. Note - the front foot must remain on the center when circling .its like you nailed the front toes into the floor and you cannot move them out of position only in a circling position on the front ball of the foot. The rear foot, only circles in a wide circular motion. When you get good at your foot work, you should add a little hop to your movement your foot work should be very alive and fluid, and you must remain very light on your feet. Do not drag your feet on the floor, the proper way to check your footwork; you should not hear your feet scrap or drag against the floor. Your footwork should be as if you walking on air. |
