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Two types Of Jeet Kune Do Footwork
By BIG Sean Madigan
In BIG JKD/Jeet Kune do, footwork is more then just a series of
pre-programmed steps. Yes, we have the Step & Slide, the Quick Advance,
the Push Shuffle and much more. However, when you really boil it down to
the essence of the science of fighting, there are only two types of
footwork that really matter. These two types are Proactive and Reactive
footwork. Ah, see, you thought I was going to give you an example of
another "type" such as a pendulum step, sorry, but this is a bit deeper
then that.
A fight is not scripted and in your training you must keep in mind that
you have not fighting a heavy bag. One of the biggest pit falls that
many martial artist falls into is that they forget that not matter what
they are trying to do to your opponent, most likely, the opponent is
trying his hardest to do the very same thing to you. This is why we have
both types of footwork, Proactive in which you use certain steps and
movements to control the situation, and Reactive in which you move to
answer the movements of your opponent.
An important point here is that in most cases, the actual steps used in
both Proactive and Reactive Footwork are exactly the same, they are just
used at different times. It is the principle that is important here, not
so much the 'step'.
Proactive
If I am moving with my opponent, and he steps with a rhythm that is easy
to understand, and I can determine what direction he will move in, then
I will use a Proactive Strategy when it comes to my footwork. I move
with the idea that my opponent will deal with my movements and I can now
take advantage of his movement in a manner that I control.
Reactive
My opponent attacks, and I must be able to flow and move in such as way
that I avoid the hit and still leave myself in a position that I can
counter attack without having to move. My Reactive footwork must be of
the caliper that I can react to movement, but in a controlled fashion.
If my opponent attacks my legs with a kick, and my way of dealing with
this attack is to move back four feet with whatever footwork I use, then
I am not, in my opinion, using footwork as a tool. Even if what I did
was exactly as it is described in a book or video. You see, it is not
the actual steps that make this footwork "Combative", rather is the how
that footwork is used that keeps it in line with Jeet Kune Do
principles.
Now, lets look at that same attack: My opponent attacks my lead leg with
a kick, but now, rather then moving back four feet, I only move my lead
leg back a foot and compensate this movement with my rear leg as well,
then just as the kick misses, I can spring forward with my counter
attack. You see, I moved my opponent's target (my leg), but not to the
point that I lost the ability to counter attack with one easy step. That
is using Jeet Kune Do footwork.
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