Boxing Stance and Footwork - Time to Prepare

Everyone knows that a fighter needs to be agile, nimble and quick. It would seem the same can be said for your life on land or in the water. Finding balance between offense, defense and mobility is key to finding victory before you get taken out of commission by an opponent.

Boxing footwork is a must for any boxer. It not only allows you to throw punches with speed and accuracy, but it also helps prevent injuries. This article will teach you the fundamentals of boxing footwork.

Note from the editor: This is a guest post from Chad Howse, who is writing a series of articles for AoM on the fundamentals of boxing. Thank you, Chad!

I’ll go over appropriate posture as well as some footwork in this edition of the “Boxing Basics” series. In your posture, there are a few things you want to do. One, you want to be ready to respond, which means your knees should be bent in an athletic stance and your weight should be on the balls of your feet, and two, you want to protect yourself.

For further information, see the advice section following the video.

Note that the video largely depicts an orthodox viewpoint. If you’re left-handed (southpaw), use the same guidelines as above, but invert the orthodox stance.

Video

Tips

1. Feet that are a little broader than the shoulder width

You’ll have greater balance if your feet are too wide, but you’ll lose some power on your dominant hand. Consider the differences between Rocky Marciano’s and Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s postures. Marciano always went for the knockout and kept his feet around shoulder width apart, but Mayweather Jr. has a wider stance for balance and mobility due to his “score points first and don’t get hit” philosophy.

Also, avoid keeping your feet in a straight line, since this can reduce your power. Your feet should be facing in the same direction, with your rear foot pointing slightly to the side.

2. Create a tiny goal for yourself.

I recommend putting your rear foot slightly out to the side, but not too far. You can’t see my whole chest since you’re avoiding standing square to your opponent and offering as little of a target as possible. The less he can see, the less he can strike, which implies you should keep your hands up as well.

3. Keep your chin down

In bouts, you’ll often hear the announcer say things like, “He’s throwing punches with his chin in the air,” or “He was struck right on the button.” So, why is this the case? On each side of your head, right above your jaw bone, there’s a bony ridge that shields a lot of nerves. When a blow lands on the front of the chin, the jaw bone collides with the nerves, producing dizziness and lack of coordination, which may lead to a knockout. As a result, keep your chin down and your hands up.

4. Be able to respond and retaliate if necessary.

Maintain a bent knee position with your weight on the balls of your feet. Small steps are also recommended; greater motions with your feet will result in one foot being off the ground for an extended period of time. If you’re struck in the midst of a step, you’ll be off balance and unable to slide or plant and retaliate with a punch.

5. Elbows in place

You should defend your chin and head, but you should also protect your body by throwing straight blows. Keeping your elbows close to your body allows you to get them in a position to block torso strikes while also keeping your punches straight.

Do you have any other stance and footwork advice? Please share them in the comments section. Basics of Boxing Part 1: Wrapping Your Hands Basics of Boxing Stance and Footwork (Part II) Part III of the Basics of Boxing: Defense Basics of Boxing Part IV: Basics of Punching – Jab and Cross Boxing Part V: Hook and Uppercut Punching Basics of Boxing Punching Combinations (Part VI)

Chad Howse is a personal trainer and amateur boxer who is dedicated to helping customers achieve positive outcomes in a short period of time so they may get the most out of life. Check out Chad Howse Fitness for fitness advice and motivation, and sign up for two free ebooks by subscribing to his RSS feed.

Watch This Video-

The “boxing footwork pdf” is a document that covers the basics of boxing stance and footwork. This can be helpful for those who are new to the sport or just want to learn more about it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do boxers get good footwork?

A: Some boxers specialize in footwork, which is an important part of the sport.

Which is the type of footwork in boxing?

A: There are three main types of footwork in boxing, the offensive (the way you move forward), defensive (the way you avoid your opponents’ punches) and circling.

How do boxers move their feet?

A: Boxers use their feet to generate power and momentum by pushing off the ground with a wide base, much like running. Their toes create friction against the floor which helps them push harder.