Lateral footwork can be an amazing tool to create entries. But you also need to know how to defend against a fighter with amazing lateral footwork.
In today’s video and quick lesson I’ll share some ways to use lateral footwork to create entries and how to defend against those same entries.
Lateral Footwork for Offense
When we are talking about lateral footwork for offense we really mean moving forward at a 45° angle. Typically and most safely to the outside of your opponent’s lead hand.
Moving inside their lead hand moves you closer to their rear hand where they have both arms and both legs to hit you. Moving to the outside of their lead arm puts you at their side where they don’t have any tools to attack you with. They must turn to face you before they can attack. Obviously this is what you want to create when you use lateral footwork.
You can either use lateral footwork (45° lateral footwork) as a proactive move where you enter when you choose to or you can use it as a counter when you see your opponent is loading up a strike then you step outside and counter as their punch goes to where you used to be.
The latter takes a lot of reps to recognize the pre-attack cues or patterns that opponents telegraph right before they strike. It also takes a cool calm head.
The proactive approach is usually a bit easier because you are forcing them to react to you… and remember… action is always faster than reaction because it started first.
Big Key to Lateral Footwork… Trapping
Trapping is simply where you put one of your hands in the way of the direct path to your face from their fist. So reach out and touch their arm so that if they want to hit you they must go out and around your hand (or arm) to be able to hit you.
This is of course makes them take a longer slower path to hit you and by then you have already hit them with a straight direct path… make sense? A to B beats A to C to D to F back to B. Straight paths are quicker than circular paths.
As you can see in the image I am using lateral footwork to step 45° forward to the outside of my training partner’s jab.
Notice my lead foot steps first and the rear foot steps second. This is important for balance and to put force behind your strike.
I am firing a cross right under his jabbing arm.
Take note of my rear hand trapping or parrying his jab right over my shoulder. Now this is more reactive since I waited for him to punch then I stepped and parried (or trapped) as I hit.
But if you were to do this proactively before they threw a punch then you would still reach out with your rear hand as if a jab was coming… because you never know when it might. Manny Pacquiao got knocked out by Marquez doing this same lateral footwork and cross but he left his trapping hand down by his side… a really bad habit. Better to be in position.
Defense Against Lateral Footwork
Defense against a fighter with good lateral footwork isn’t really that complicated once you understand it. They are moving to look for open angles… paths to your face or body… usually your face.
The only way they will get those open paths is if you get discombobulated and lose your composure.
When in doubt step back and make some space. Always make little turns and face your opponent. Keep your guard hands in position.
I created a really great drill to learn to keep your guarding hands in place and to learn how to keep a cool head. You can watch that video here: Surviving the Shit Storm
Final Thoughts
Lateral footwork is a sign of a fighter who has put in lots of reps. It is wise to work on both attack using lateral footwork as well as defending against it.
You know what I’m going to say next… go get your reps.
Until next time,
Brian
