Why is Footwork the key skills to self-defense?

LAW OF FRICTION
If we understand the physical principle of how we can walk and run, then you will understand the need to have proper footwork & strategies in any self-defense situation, whether to attack, defend or to escape from an attack “EFFECTIVELY”.
Our body moves according to the Friction force and action-reaction principle. We can’t walk on the ground fast if there isn’t any friction force.
FAST AND POWERFUL PUNCHES ARE INEFFECTIVE IF….
I don’t care how fast or how powerful you can throw a punch, if your legs don’t move, you can’t use that speed and power effectively to the target.
The faster your legs move, the faster your hands can move and the faster you can escape from a dangerous situation. The more you tensed up your legs, the more restricted your hands & movement will be.

FOOTWORK AS YOUR VEHICLE
Footwork is like a vehicle, it delivers you from Point A to Point B. Without footwork, it is as if you have started your car engine and your legs are always on the brakes, therefore your car won’t move, and you won’t be able to get to your destination at all.

THE DELIVERY
If your posture is restricting or minimizing your movement or footwork. Then the only way to deliver your fast and powerful punch is when your opponent steps into or near to your zone. In other words, the only way for you to meet Point B, is when Point B comes to your destination. However, during a street an attack, you may not be facing only a single opponent. What if there are multiple opponents wanting to attack you at the same time. Are you able to launch an effective counter attack to multiple person at the same time? Are you able to move quickly to an angle whereby you can face one opponent at one time? Are you able to effectively escape?

QUESTIONS RAISED…
Some of my previous students asked why are their footwork & techniques seemed to be so restrictive, slow and making the same mistake repeatedly.
My answers to them are:
Everything begins with your mindset. The more tensed you are mentally, the more tensed your body will be. If you are in a hurry to learn something, your body will automatically be tensed up, therefore restricting your learning curve.

SET YOURSELF FREE
When you set yourself free, then your mind will absorb like a sponge, and you will be able to freely express yourself through your movements & skills. (To understand further, read my article titled: Relaxation = Power)

TECHNIQUES PRACTICE IS A DAILY ROUTINE, IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS DONE DURING A WEEKLY LESSON.
Practice is a daily routine. How much time you spent on your daily practice will reflect on your skills. We don’t come to classes to practice what we have learnt last week, instead we come to classes to learn new things. Practice should be done at our own time after the class. When we were in school, teachers give us lessons during class, and give us homework to “practice” “at home”. Students do not do their homework during class, as this will slow down their progress.

Learning is a very personal experience, one needs to experience themselves through practices in order to find their way. Once we have acquired a skill-set, nobody can take it away from us.
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