Four Tips for Better Karate Footwork

Whenever you're engaged in any activity that involves your own movement, it goes without saying that your footwork is absolutely vital. Good footwork keeps you quick, grounded, mobile, agile, and ready to adapt to different situations. Bad footwork will mean you're susceptible to quick attacks and won't have the leverage to hold your own when it counts. This is true in karate, when your footwork will be essential to maintaining a strong combat presence at all times during a spar.

Spend time practicing just your footwork. If you really want to build up your footwork skills, spend time practicing just your footwork. Former professional football cornerback Deion Sanders reportedly would spend time having his hands tied so that he could isolate his other body movement when covering wide receivers. Isolate your own skills in this way - spend some time just focusing on this one area of your karate skills and you will find that you are vastly improved when you bring it all back together.

Know when to plant and gain leverage. When people think about footwork, they often think about remaining shifty and light on their feet. But footwork is also about gaining leverage and using your body weight to deliver a solid strike to your opponent. Know when to plant your feet - and how to do it - when it's the time to strike. Karate often emphasizes striking, so be sure to ask your instructor if you're still unsure about how this is accomplished.

Practice footwork in 360 degrees. Karate is not two-dimensional. That's why you'll want to work on your footwork to the point where you can move forward, backward, and in all directions you can in order to maximize your mobility and adaptability. If you have strong footwork, you'll have an advantage against any opponent who hasn't studied this area of their lives and put in considerable practice. You'll also be quicker, with a more unpredictable presence in the mind of your opponent.

Learn about shuffling. Footwork is about utilizing minimal movement for maximum gains. This means that you don't want to step and jump everywhere you go - you should be ready to shuffle at the right times. Consult your karate teacher to learn more about proper shuffling techniques and, if you're not satisfied with the answers, continue researching this yourself and possibly look for an instructor who knows what you're asking about.

Photo Credits: mikebaird

This post involves:

adaptability, deion sanders, football cornerback, Footwork, karate skills, leverage, opponent, presence, professional football, spar, wide receivers

... and focuses on:

Footwork, Martial Arts, karate

Posted by Martial Arts Karate Kung Fu on November 10, 2009 in Footwork, Martial Arts, karate. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.