Footwork

Components of footwork

Awareness of your opponent's movements. Being able to flow with opponents movements so opponent never gets an advantage.

Smooth, natural movements. Do not make jerky unnatural movements that draw attention to your movement.

Range awareness. Always knowing the range of:

• Your weapons
• Opponent's weapons
• Distance between you and your opponent
  • This range is constantly changing
  • Actual range is the distance between you and your opponent
  • Effective range varies according to:
    • Your reaction speed
    • Opponent's reaction speed
    • Your quickness of movement
    • Opponent's quickness of movement

Stability. Always begin and end a movement from a stable position

Uses

Footwork does mean useless bouncing around just for the sake of movement. Footwork is used to advance, retreat, or circle. Every movement should be purposeful, either to

• Attack
• Position yourself for an attack
• Avoid an attack
• Move put of opponent's range of attack