Your legs have a lot to do with punching power.

Your right though, good footwork is only a basis...

Without it, your basically screwed [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/cool.gif[/IMG]

Yea okay footwork is an important factor. But let me ask you this. So what if you can move around very well. What does it matter if you have no speed, no strength, no stamina, no technique? What if two fighters are equally skilled in footwork whats the deciding factor then? Okay lets say your footwork is very good but what if you can't take hits, no matter what in a fight unless the person is a complete noob your going to get hit you think footwork is going to matter then? Whatever happened to strategy in battle?
Whatever happned to skill? Is footwork all that really matters? Don't be foolish.


[This message has been edited by Sarath (edited 04-09-2005).]

[This message has been edited by Sarath (edited 04-09-2005).]

[This message has been edited by Sarath (edited 04-09-2005).]

http://home.vtmuseum.org/articles/peterson/mabu.php

That is i think relevant, if you want a more accurate description of what Bagua Monk was talking about.

Footwork is not everything but it can certaainly give you the edge i a fight, and it certainly essential

Chen Zen wrote :

Quote:

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Every serious student of self defense should train his footwork at least one hour a day

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Could you give some drills that train footwork? I think Paul Vunak said to tie together your two ankles at shoulder width apart and go sparring for an hour. What do you think about that?

i think that's good for a ma's footwork you know the rope and ankle thing i've done that before. it really makes you keep your footwork in check, you know it makes you work on your footwork. i think footwork is very important in fighting but i wouldn't call it the single most important aspect of fighting but it is very important. but i think that someone who wants to be their best in martial arts should be equally good with their arms, legs, and with their body as a whole.

yeh.. in importance, footwork wins, after all, you can hit someone if your arms are spastic (no offence ment) but if your five meters away you cant... so, although they were crappy examples, if you can control your footwork, you can control the fight.

My Sifu started learning Tai Chi Quan about a year ago, and I’ve noticed that he rarely uses his feet or footwork anymore, it’s like he hardly ever moves when he fights its more of a jump, obviously it’s an exaggeration, but compared to when he had more of a Chor Lay Fut style, he hardly moves at all.

This leads me to believe the footwork is paramount when learning and practicing external styles, but (don’t get me wrong) no as important in internal styles?

Doesn’t that make any sense?

Internal styles have alot to do with breathing and as such, where external styles have more to do with your physical movement having direct impact on environmet, so yes, footwork is more important in external styles, alhough some internal styles makes extensive use of footwork too.

Ok Here A good question Can you win a fight with footwork alone?(Don't include kicking for thoughs who try to be smart).