5 Boxing Footwork Drills

The top 5 boxing footwork drills will help you to become more balanced while boxing. Want to get in shape and live a more active life? Boxing is a great form of exercise and recreation, and these 5 boxing footwork drills will keep you on your toes.

1. Stance and footwork.  The most common stance when doing footwork is the general orthodox stance, which is one of the top footwork drills in boxing. To do this, you must first stand with your feet hip width apart. Take one step forward with the left foot and keep the back foot at a 45-degree angle. After doing that you need to shift your weight onto the balls of your feet so that the weight is evenly distributed on both feet. Make sure to keep your knees bent and bend your elbows and tuck them into your sides to protect any vital organs. When you bring in the arms to your side you will need to place your fists at cheekbone level with the left hand a tad out so that you are poised to jab. Keep your chin down with eyes looking up and roll your shoulders slightly forward.
2. Moving Forward. Moving forward is one of the top moves when doing footwork drills. Essentially, when you move forward, push off of your back foot and step forward with your front foot only half a step. You must then follow with your front foot while you back foot is in a shuffling motion, so that you arrive back into your orthodox fighting stance.
3. Moving Backward. Moving backward is one of the top footwork drills when boxing. By making this move you are either retreating from the punches that are being fired at you and or taking a moment to step back and get your head clear. To move backwards, you should first push off with the ball of the front foot. After taking only a half step back with your back foot, you should follow through moving back to the fighting stance by moving the front foot.
4. Lateral Movement.  Moving laterally is a top footwork drill when boxing. This movement entails moving or pushing either your left foot or your right foot in order to dodge your opponent. When moving left, you must push off the ball of your right foot while your other foot moves only one half step to the left. Next move is to follow with your right foot in order to be in your fighting stance once again. To move right, you would just push off from the ball of your left foot whereas your right foot takes one half step to the right. Move back with your left foot to move back to the fighting stance.
5. Pivoting.  Pivoting allows you to successfully counter punch your opponent by quickly changing your angle of approach, which makes it one of the top footwork drills in boxing. You first being to shift you body weight on the ball of your front foot. Next you will push off with your back foot to pivot your front foot just a quarter turn to either the left or right. Doing this piece of footwork will effectively throw your competitor off balance and now they are opened up for you to attack.