In the world of MMA, footwork is usually the unsung hero of success in the cage. Smart footwork can allow fighters to control distance, evade heavy strikes and set up the power punch. Regardless of your skillset, solid footwork can be a vital component of your game. Sometimes poor footwork can result in a lack of balance, bad positioning and an inability to defend. These 5 tips will elevate your footwork game:
1. Build Your Stance
A strong balanced stance can have a positive impact on footwork. There are so many unique stances in MMA, from a springy karate stance, to a more traditional boxing stance. You should go with whatever works for you, if you have trained in a discipline like taekwondo, then that should be your foundation. To establish a comfortable stance, you should try standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, and weight even across both legs. You want to be light on your feet, and spring off your back foot. Always practice with your hands covering your face. Research different types of stances and do what feels most natural to you.
2. Remember Lateral Movements
Lateral movement will assist with distance management and creating sharp angles. The best drill is to move side to side with short steps, keeping weight centred and balanced. Another fun drill is to shuffle and sidestep to familiarize yourself with your lateral mobility and level of agility. The goal here is to make yourself more elusive to your opponent, and never remain a natural target. These kinds of drills can be done anywhere, and should be incorporated into your daily gym routine.
3. Create Your Own Angles
If you can create angles in MMA, you already have a serious advantage over your opponent. Angles can help you find openings, counter and even make them miss. To become more natural with angles, you should try pivoting and circling around an object or punching bag, creating angles that will allow you to attack. When you continue to change angles, you keep your opponent guessing and you'll control the fight on your terms. Experiment with new angles with a sparring partner to see what fits into your stance best. Don't force too many angles, be patient with him.
4. Have A Go At Switching Stances
Switching stances can come in handy in an MMA fight. Some of the best UFC fighters like Alex Volkanovski use this as a secret weapon to get into range. It usually feels awkward to fight outside of your natural stance, but the more the train in the opposite stance, the easier it gets. It will also help if you're ever compromised in a fight, for example, if your lead leg is damaged, you need to protect it. Practice moving from orthodox to southpaw and vice versa. If you can master this, you can disrupt your opponent's rhythm. If you can incorporate stance switches, you can work on new combinations from opposite stances. Remember to not force the switch and maintain your balance when you switch.
5. Improve Your Speed
Speed and timing are essential for effective footwork in MMA. To speed up your footwork, ladder drills and agility ladders are your best friend. This will eventually speed up your footwork and sharpen your reaction times. The more unpredictable you can get, the harder you'll be to fight. Another good method for speed is skipping. Not only will this improve your cardio, but you'll feel lighter on your feet. Running in the open and on the treadmill can also improve fitness, which also plays a factor in speed. It's also great to study the footwork of the elite, and watch some of Isreal Adesanya's or Conor McGregor's footwork. Pay attention to their patterns and how they move around the cage.
Footwork is an important component in any form of mixed martial arts. With sluggish, predictable footwork, you can find yourself out-positioned by your opponent. The more you progress with your footwork, the better you'll get as a fighter. If you can control the distance, push the pressure and evade strikes, you'll be a pretty dangerous fighter. We hope you like these tips, remember to train hard and have fun!
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