Inaugural Video of the Week: Stick and Foot Position

Here we go!

This is my first actual video blog post. I’m sure there will be some kinks/trouble-shooting to work on. This should be an exciting experiment!

As mentioned in the video, I will make this available to the public for the first 3 or 4 videos. After this initial period, only subscribers will be able to access these videos.

So, subscribing to this blog to view future videos might be a good idea.

To email subscribers of this blog, click through to the website to view the video if necessary.

Anyway, my experiences in teaching private lessons spurred me to start with the topic of this video. Footwork is so important in many martial arts, including Filipino Martial Arts.

As I demonstrated, driving with the weapon side forward is always a good idea. It maximizes forward pressure on your opponent.

As the above video shows, driving with the wrong side leg reduces forward pressure on your training partner. In addition, it’s a bit awkward.

In Filipino martial arts (FMA), mastery of footwork is paramount. It gives practitioners the agility and balance necessary for offensive and defensive maneuvers. Efficient footwork allows for quick positioning and repositioning in the heat of combat and acts as a critical foundation for power generation and striking precision.

Suggested Additional Reading

• Two Great Reasons To Move Your Feet
• Footwork
• Get A Move On!
• Video of the Week 3: Footwork Rules
• Video of the Week 2: Footwork

The ability to move gracefully while maintaining a solid stance ensures the FMA player can apply the right pressure against an opponent while evading attacks. Furthermore, adept footwork combined with stick handling techniques, core to FMA, enhances fluidity and coordination during complex drills and sparring sessions.

Thus, neglecting footwork in FMA can significantly hinder a practitioner’s skillset, leaving them at a tactical disadvantage. I tell you, I’ve taken advantage of suboptimal footwork when playing tapi tapi with various students. 🙂

Let me know how the video experience was for you.

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