The Design and Purpose of Good Footwork in Jeet Kune Do and FMA
The design of the fundamental footwork in JKD is four-fold:

1. To maintain your balance (50/50 or 60/40).

2. To establish a sturdy platform to begin an assault or defense.

3. To transport your body from point A to point B.

4. To load your body for a series of follow-up movements.
The purpose for maintaining your balance (be it 50/50 or 60/40) is to help you deliver your offense or defense quickly and efficiently. When your body is out of balance, your ability to quickly deliver a powerful defense or offense is diminished!

The purpose for establishing a sturdy platform is to help load the body for any offensive and defensive maneuvers that might follow. Without this platform, your movements will lack power, speed and efficiency! Additionally, your movements will be highly telegraphic.

Everyone knows that footwork is designed to transport your body from point A to point B. However, the point that many practitioners miss is that upon arrival at the new position, they are supposed to end up where they started. In other words, they began their footwork with a balanced and sturdy platform. They need to finish with one as well. I can’t tell you how many practitioners of the standing arts I see finish their footwork and are off balance or are mentally unprepared for what may come next. So, make sure that when you finish transporting yourself from point A and point B, that you “finish” balanced and ready for what may come next.

In addition to maintaining your balance, establishing a sturdy platform and transporting your body from point A to point B, the adept JKD practitioner must also concern himself with the full and partial loading of their body and legs. Loading is such an important component of boxing and kickboxing that without out it, strikes and defenses take too long to reach their intended target, and are way too telegraphic!

So, before you head off to practice hundreds of hours of striking, make sure you know how to, and are confident with, getting your feet underneath you to establish and maintain your balance! Make sure you spend 90% of your time with your feet underneath you. Yes, I know this kind of training is boring, but it is the most important aspect of your stand up game! Why? Because when you spar in all standing arts, you must have a platform of balance underneath you before you can begin to defend and offend with speed, power and efficiency.

Good footwork is to the Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts practitioner what good hip movement is to the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner: An absolute necessity!

So, keep your feet underneath you and stay balanced. Keep that platform sturdy, lock and load your legs and stay ready for action!

Good training to you,

Roy Harris