Boxing Footwork – Side Step Your Way to Victory!

About the Side Step in Boxing

It’s a very simple fact that all top boxers possess great footwork and balance.  The ability to remain highly mobile whilst under full control and in total balance offers the boxer the ability to maximise the opportunities to land effective shots.  Moving from side to side, also referred to as side-stepping, is a key skill to master as it plays such a massive role during offensive and defensive actions.  Side-stepping allows the boxer to cut off the ring, maximising pressure on the opponent.  The side step also allows new angles for attack to be opened.  When mixed with ducking and slipping punches, the side step provides excellent defensive options.

Footwork, side-stepping and moving in and out , is a primary element of controlling the opponent inside a boxing ring.  The side step is a key tactical skill that must become second nature.  The move should combine speed and control and be carried out with efficiency.  Before looking at the video, ensure that you have understood the boxing stance and then follow the video up by reading the ‘mechanics’ and ‘common fault’ sections below.

The Mechanics of the Side Step in Boxing

As with all moves, stay relaxed!  Don’t tense-up.

The Side-Step to the Right

1. From the boxing stance , the first action is a push from the front foot.  The push should be ‘sharp’, and aimed at providing the drive to thrust the body to the right.
2. The back foot lifts very slightly from the floor, allowing the power generated from the push from the front foot to shift the body in a straight line to the right.  The back foot should ‘glide’ as opposed to stepping.
3. Allow the front foot to follow it’s course, catching up with the back foot in order to restore the stance.

The Side-Step to the Left

Pretty much the reverse of the side step right:

1. From the boxing stance, the first action is a push from the back foot.  The push should be ‘sharp’, and aimed at providing the drive to thrust the body to the left.
2. The front foot lifts very slightly from the floor, allowing the power generated from the push from the back foot to shift the body in a straight line to the left.  The front foot should ‘glide’ as opposed to stepping.
3. Allow the back foot to follow it’s course, catching up with the front foot in order to restore the stance.

Common Faults With the Side Step in Boxing

The following problems can occur when performing the side step:

1. The boxer ‘steps and drags’ rather than using a sharp ‘push and glide’.  For example, when side-stepping to the right, the back foot (right leg) will step across and the front foot is dragged across to the right.  This approach does not offer the same speed capability as the push and glide.
2. The boxer may sometimes become flat-footed.  This again will result in a very ‘clunky’, almost robotic action.  Remain on the balls of your feet and stay relaxed.
3. The legs may ‘cross’.  For example, when moving right, the front leg (left) will step across to the right, thus ‘crossing’ the line from the back foot (think boxing stance).  Following this the back leg will also step across.  The same problem can occur when side-stepping either left or right, and it’s a bad mistake to make!

Simple move, and something that can be practised very effectively.  Spend time mastering the footwork, it’s so important.  Any spare moment can be taken to get in your stance and spend time moving around.  The conventional activities of shadow boxing and bag work can always incorporate footwork specific phases to build ‘muscle memory’ and improve your balance and confidence!  After leaving a comment or any questions below, why not check out the articles through the following links:

Moving in and out

Moving diagonally left

Moving diagonally right

The pivot

Cheers

Fran

Tagged as: boxing how to, Boxing side step, how to box, how to boxing