[FishFly]

Ok, lately I’ve been trying to improve my footwork technique in regards to keeping me back foot on the ground when throwing punches. But I keep feeling my foot come off my toes near the end of my punch, and I’m sure I’m loosing power because of it. My question is, does anyone know of some good drills or training techniques I could use to train me to keep my back foot properly planted??

[Jake Martin]

To be fair, your foot only has to be planted as you launch the strike, not afterwards, to generate the power. However, if you're not intending to move forward as you throw it then it's just a balance problem.

If you're training on a heavybag, try shadowboxing full power. If you go forward off balance with your punches, then you'll be able to correct it.

[Beach Head]

Originally Posted by FishFly

Ok, lately I’ve been trying to improve my footwork technique in regards to keeping me back foot on the ground when throwing punches. But I keep feeling my foot come off my toes near the end of my punch, and I’m sure I’m loosing power because of it. My question is, does anyone know of some good drills or training techniques I could use to train me to keep my back foot properly planted??

What kind of punches are u throwing? Maybe your feet are too wide apart or u are swinging crazy. What I do with my back foot is keep my heel up and the ball of my foot stays planted on the ground. When I punch my toes are mainly touching the ground and the ball of my foot is now off the ground.

[Bux]

Originally Posted by FishFly

Ok, lately I’ve been trying to improve my footwork technique in regards to keeping me back foot on the ground when throwing punches. But I keep feeling my foot come off my toes near the end of my punch, and I’m sure I’m loosing power because of it. My question is, does anyone know of some good drills or training techniques I could use to train me to keep my back foot properly planted??

stand closer to the bag?

as shotokan said, it sounds like a balance problem. i adopt a MT stance which means usually my weight is sitting on my back foot (orthodox so right foot ), with the front foot just resting on the ground, but when i punch with my right most of that weight is transfered to the front foot (roughly 90% or so) if your back leg is coming up that means ALL your weight is on the front leg and u are balancing on one leg instead of two and you're on the way to being easily dropped.

next time you're training, try not to transfer all your weight to the front leg when you punch, really concentrate on it, its not going to be easy to change if you've been doing it the other way for a while

[Jonatan]

A good drill to stay balanced enough to always be able to check a kick with your front leg is to do just that, have a partner counter the punch that you feel is unbalancing you with a leg kick. When doing this for some time you will stop to overextend. In my oppinion it is fundamental for ones defence to always have the ability to have weight at both your legs.

[SnowBlynd]

Originally Posted by FishFly

My question is, does anyone know of some good drills or training techniques I could use to train me to keep my back foot properly planted??

Sometimes if there is something I really need to tighten up on I'll practice it ridiculously slow for 5 minutes, and just analyze and get a feel for at what point am I beggining to do the movement incorrectly. (like in this case, at what point is your foot is becoming unbalanced during the punch)
It helps to have a mirror so you can see what you are doing wrong, or if you can get it on videotape that is even better. Once your form feels solid at a really slow pace, go crazy fast and it'll probably turn to slop, but now you can differientiate what the technique feels like when it's sloppy vs. how it should feel the right way.

[big nookoo]

I agree w/ the shadowbox the heavybag suggestion above. I've had problems with this, and it was usually one of two things:

1) Trying to punch hard instead of fast. Focus on your hip and shoulder turn instead of trying to kill it with a huge punch.

2) Bad range - leaning too far to contact the target in the effective range of the punch or in the power range of the punch.

Try working on a tire or some similar unstable surface...



------> My back foot problem: I get blisters / burns on the ball of my right foot anytime I do extensive footwork drills. How long until this toughens up, or should I go with some tape?

[zenshin]

Originally Posted by Beach Head

What kind of punches are u throwing? Maybe your feet are too wide apart or u are swinging crazy. What I do with my back foot is keep my heel up and the ball of my foot stays planted on the ground. When I punch my toes are mainly touching the ground and the ball of my foot is now off the ground.

Excellant answer!!! You have to keep the heel up in order to generate pwer and twist your hips!!! You can not stay flat footed and throw because you will loose power stay on your tip toes heel up makes it easier to torgue your hips into the punch equalling max power!!! Everyone has diffrent techniques in order to generate power but this is what I like and work well for me.