On the 26th March I shared some ideas for putting together shadow boxing attacking drills to work on your speed and intention. These drills were intended to teach a style of execution, and emphasise the value of shadow boxing: we will now look at dynamic off-the-line footwork, with the energy level taken up a few notches from your ee poh sparring or forms practice.

I will refer to the style of footwork we’ll be using as “1-2 avoidance” from a fighting stance. Each defensive movement starts with a preliminary withdrawal of the front foot (1), followed by a second movement to place ourselves correctly for a counterstrike (2). Of course we clear the area once we’ve executed our counterstrike(s). The preliminary withdrawal (1) buys us some time, and brings our stance near to a point. From a single point we can move in any direction with ease, which is why all our NPC forms start from a point, of course. The withdrawal (1) needs to be calibrated to the attacker’s movement: you might pull to the point, or withdraw the foot behind the rear leg as in basic ee poh number 3. The follow-up movement (2) might be a linear return or a linear withdrawal, in the same stance or with a change of stance; it might equally be a diagonal sidestep forwards or backwards, with or without a change of body orientation. These movements are familiar from our ee-pohs and from the many dynamic applications we practice in class.

Here are some example drills you might try:
• Avoidance drill 1: On your toes, shadow boxing style alone. Continuous use of 1-2 avoidance, with no counterattacks at this stage. Remember to skip back, recover, change direction. Change stance freely. Practice as timed rounds of 1, 2 or 3 minutes
• Avoidance drill 2: On your toes, shadow boxing style imagining an attacking partner. Imagine the attacker throws any single attack. Defender makes continuous use of 1-2 avoidance, raising knee ready for a counterkick, but doesn’t let it go, or counterattack in any way. Remember to skip back, recover, change direction. Change stance freely. Practice as timed rounds of 1, 2 or 3 minutes
• Avoidance drill 3: On your toes, shadow boxing style imagining a partner. Imagine the attacker throws continuous turning kicks. Defender makes continuous use of 1-2 avoidance, counters with kick and a hand strike. Always place one foot towards the attacker as “sharp vs flat” on the counterstrike. Remember to skip back, recover, change direction. Change stance freely. Practice as timed rounds of 1, 2 or 3 minutes
• Avoidance drill 4: On your toes, shadow boxing style imagining a partner. Imagine the attacker throws continuous sparring-appropriate impact techniques. Defender makes continuous use of 1-2 avoidance, counters with kick and a hand strike. Always place one foot towards the attacker as “sharp vs flat” on the counterstrike. Remember to skip back, recover, change direction. Change stance freely. Practice as timed rounds of 1, 2 or 3 minutes

It is clear how these drills can evolve naturally into sparring and combat practice: the challenge is how to visualise a good attack, and maintain physical and mental centre during these exchanges. With regular training these drills should make you light, quick and very hard to pin down to one spot.

Please do share any footwork drills you enjoy practising.

Good luck, keep training and stay safe!
— Sifu Leppard