sparring/fighting footwork

[Bao]

Some people will treat their footwork very differently when they practice a traditional form and when they actually fight.

How to you move and what aspects of footwork do you concentrate on when you practice free sparring or competing (in fighting as san shou)?

Have you been able to use the footwork from your own style when you have been into a real fight?

[cloudz]

I've recently incorperated more diagonal stepping into my sparring, lifted straight from seven star p/h pattern, wu style tai chi (wudang/pttc). which has been pretty helpful, and has allowed me to be a lot more mobile than i was..

I use some other bits and peices too, ko bu, bai bu (I try) and most notably the follow step i think, which i've used to good effect for a while. great for getting in to strike.. i suppose it's just a nice little shuffle really

[TaoJoannes]

I get stuck in the top half when I start struggling, so my footwork just sort of does it's own thing. But if I'm having a good time of it or practicing, I can get sunk real good and then the footwork pays off.

[GrahamB]

I've always found the footwork to be intimately connected to the body usage in a style. If you want to use those body methods it makes sense to use the associated footwork.

[sdf]

Have you been able to use the footwork from your own style when you have been into a real fight?

I actually did.

[JessOBrien]

I've never been in a real fight.

But when it comes to sparring, the quick angle changes and flexibility that I've trained in Xing Yi and Ba Gua has been a huge help.

Xing Yi taught me to advance and retreat rapidly on an angle.

Ba Gua helped me to keep moving and continue stepping as I spar so that I spend less time planted slugging it out. Although that has it's place as well!

-Jess O

[Bao]

I have noticed that the frame I use with my arms/upper body affect my use of footwork. If I try to use a stronger frame/concentrate more on structure, I will move less. If I use a larger and looser frame, I will keep moving more. Maybe this means keeping distance or keep the opponent closer?

How does your strategy or game plan affect your footwork?