Mixed Martial Arts Training – Footwork, Maneuverability and the Value of Hit and Run Strategy

One of the most important aspects of mixed martial arts fighting, and one that is often overlooked and taken for granted, is footwork. The fighter with superior footwork and movement skills has a noticeable advantage in any fight, be it boxing, Muay Thai, MMA or street fighting.

Some of the best fighters we’ve seen in boxing have displayed tremendous footwork and movement; Jack Dempsey, Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Prince Nassim, and the incomparable Mohammed Ali used incredible movement skills and footwork to evade and attack their opponents.

One of the main difficulties that the early kickboxing scene was plagued with was that the fighters came from the karate disciplines. Classical karate disciplines emphasized flat-footed tactics to stand your ground with poor footwork and maneuverability. Many early kickboxers, with karate backgrounds, supplemented their karate kicks with superior punching techniques borrowed from boxing, but most were slow to adopt boxing’s highly mobile footwork.

Those boxers who came from boxing or who recognized maneuverable footwork and strategic positioning as an integral part of a boxers game plan incorporated it into their training and demonstrated a noticeable advantage.

Muay Thai fighters, however, are not tainted by classic karate systems, they have always shown a very good sense of footwork and position, such that they move in and out of range to make it work. the opponent misses and then they return to striking range. with power and precision.

We saw a replay of the kickboxing era in the early days of mixed martial arts fighting, with fighters dominating and it seemed like fighters who efficiently relied on their stand-up skills weren’t going to be competitive. Fighters who relied heavily on standing were very ineffective at stopping fighter takedowns, allowing them to get into positions that limited their movement and ultimately get knocked down.

That was until Maurice Smith proved that with good footwork and general dominance in the ring (cage), wrestlers could be stopped with effective and surprising play. From there the evolution continued and the predominant forwards reappeared. Mixed martial arts fighters who relied efficiently on their takedown game are now under selective pressure of having to adapt their takedown methods to deal with the evasive maneuverability and adapted striking methods of stand-up specialists. The main characteristics that distinguished successful mixed martial arts fighters from unsuccessful ones was footwork and mastery of the ring (cage) that allowed them to neutralize takedowns.

Now we see mixed martial arts fighters who have adapted and developed their movement and positioning in the cage so that fights are more dynamic and balanced between fighters and punchers. The ultimate exponent of excellent footwork and generality, in mixed martial arts, is Lyoto Machida, who demonstrates very powerful striking and movement skills that are the key to a striker’s game against a fighter.

Therefore, it is important that when we train we include quick and maneuverable footwork in our MMA training exercises. Once a new setup or foot takedown technique is acquired, and has been properly practiced to be effective, we need to combine it with effective footwork and movement so that we can move in to execute it, and out to execute it. again, if it’s countered or in action. execution we need to move away because he didn’t finish the job and the opponent takes cover; a hit and run fighting strategy.

Here are some of the main points that need to be addressed in your footwork, whether you are fighting MMA, Muay Thai, or boxing:

1) Learn to move on the balls of your feet with your knees bent to facilitate quick and accurate weight transfer.

2) Keep the distance from the feet to the height of the shoulders, that is, avoid open postures.

3) When moving, take small steps; better to take a series of small steps, then a big one that breaks the balance.

4) Practice quick changes of direction always making sure to maintain good balance.

5) Practice constant movement.

6) Develop a keen sense of position in relation to your opponent; this must be acquired at the unconscious skill level so that you can focus on the fight.

7) When you come in to attack, train for speed, explosiveness, and accuracy.

8) Train angular and spread changes to avoid takedowns.

In addition, footwork must be developed for both offensive and defensive tactics. The use of evasive angular steps that is the basis of the “make them lose, make them pay” strategy, combined with quick gap-bridging techniques and good ring direction, should be developed to provide the complete wrestling game plan. in mixed martial arts. .