The Foot-load Series

How to Combine Elite Striking with Wrestling for MMA Mechanics and alignment part 1.

Mechanics and alignment, the foundation of the foot load. One of the major problems that I see boxers and mixed martial arts fighters alike suffer from today is a foundation of sound body mechanics. While minimal motion without foot rotation may seem to conserve energy and increase speed in the short term it is largely problematic when trying to teach the same individuals a good power base and also how to hit with power while staying on the balls of the feet as movements are predominately shoulder and arm only. Take the same individuals now attempting to cross train in Muay Thai for instance, and it is readily apparent that this lack of pivoting fundamentals is insufficient to turn the hip over and rotate the ball of the supporting leg. This has bred a nation of flashy arm punching point fighters who rely on the shoulders to bear the load that a simple foot turn could alleviate. They throw short almost choppy punches because the tend to stay flat and lack spring, and as it applies to this writing will always have a hard time erasing the lines that separate both ranges and styles. The foot-load series as we will call it is based around the principle that there is a common movement that binds each range together and for our purpose here it is the pivot motion of coil and recoil that can be used to do so. Is it not a rear foot pivot that makes a right cross and right round kick work? A torqued left hook and penetration step with the left foot pivoted work harmoniously to set the other up.

This is the foundation of what we are trying to achieve with this method. Patience, repetition in developing these attributes and sound fundamentals from the beginning will result in a better understanding of how the body works, where its pivot points and angles are, and overall make you well rounded polished fighter. In forthcoming issues, techniques, training and development will be discussed.