Footwork: The Lost Art of Shifting

www.OldStyleMuayThai.com
In this video Shawn and I go over the lost art of shifting for boxing and street fighting.
Many coaches and fighters have forgotten this valuable fighting tactic and it's time it was brought back with a vengeance.
Shifting teaches you how to fight from any lead, position or angle, it also allows you to strike with power in every punch you throw due to the constant changing of leads.
So watch the video and learn how to shift and bring your fight game to a very dangerous level.

[@BareFisted]

I've always admired Marvin Hagler, he was one of my favorite fighters. Practice the shift and I promise, you will overwhelm your opponent.

[@SoldierAndrew]

Guys in lock up learn to develop this technique because one is always facing multiple attackers with no escape route in such a place. Excellent and true tutorial from master Sobrano*

[@BareFisted]

Hey Davos, the way I do it is by turning the fist diagonally and try to hit it with all four knuckles. Also if you're throwing a long range hook I would arc the punch instead of hooking it. One more thing you could always corkscrew the hook and hit your target with the first two knuckles. Hope this answers your question. Daniel~

[@GregYong]

This is why Gennady Golovkin will be the next boxing legend!

[@BareFisted]

Thank you for the compliment, and I'll keep on bringing you more videos!

[@BareFisted]

Yes I do, and I'll be putting them up very soon. Glad you've been practicing the shift.

[@tido1691]

Gennady golovkin does this pretty well

[@BareFisted]

Yes he does.

[@MURDR63]

My boxing coaches always used to harp on me when I'd square up and utilize both my hands as power hands (basically, throwing my "jab" as a second straight). Worked for me. I hate the new-school coaches that try and force styles on me.

[@barefisted5334]

I understand your frustration, but in the end what feels right to you is what you'll do because you have confidence in it.

[@BareFisted]

Will do Augustine, and thank you for your service!

[@BJWFenix]

i was taught this by an oldschool boxer a long time ago and kept it as my little secret for the longest time so DON'T GO SHOWING EVERYONE!! heheh ;) been putting it in practice ever since (for a good number of years) so now I can switch hit no problem. in fact I Would say it helped me (due to my size and power) in tanking forward more effectively. sorry just wanted to share my experience.

[@BareFisted]

When fighting at close or medium range. Also anytime you choose to change leads.

[@carsonjamesiv2512]

I have just started to train harder on my weak side. but now I got to learn to shift from left to right. Thankx 4 This Video!!

[@barefisted5334]

You're welcome Carson.

[@STRYKERof9KnuckleStriking]

The point is, that since he was limited to only one side, he felt threatened and in danger since he couldnt activate his arm as he'd attempted to will. Ever since, 11 years ago, I've dedicated in training true balance (i.e. footwork, shifting, ambidexterity, reflexes, speed, reaction, hand to eye coordination, visual reaction time, neroplasticity, kinesthetic awareness, strategy, warrior spirit, etc.). Thank you for sharing the knowledge that you do. Always a pleasure seeing your videos.

[@STRYKERof9KnuckleStriking]

Great point! Aside from the importance of shifting, I liked the concept you shared of thinking outside the box & switching by training both sides. I've always been a great fan of balancing by becoming ambidextrous & shifting. I learned through years of street fighting to stay out of gangs. I accidentally stumbled upon its importance in my 1st fight in the ring. The guy was bigger & had more experience. I'd always contact his lead shoulder oppose to his chin. He couldn't use it so I won by TKO.

[@SoldierAndrew]

Mr. Sobrano I have also found that by turning the right knee 'in' and kicking the right heel 'out' as I step out with left foot the right hook is loaded with maximum power as one torques the hip and raises the elbow to deliver the strike. I'm sure I'm not teaching you anything new but wanted to share that for benefit of others here. Great video. The great Chavez use to attack with your shift and smother his opponents in the ring!

[@chemogang]

oohh yeah I'm going to try that corkscrew thing out ! thanks for your response Daniel !

[@heavyfists8839]

I used those shifting skills with two of my fighters who were fighting in the golden gloves, both of them won because those skills cut the ring off. thanx for the uploads

[@stickman33]

I'm enjoying your videos! I practice FMA (Filipino martial arts), specifically Serrada Escrima. We train to face the direction of the attack, which familiarizes us with shifting and using both left and right lead. I also watched your video on stepping vs. step-drag, and your footwork there resembles ours somewhat as well. Just saying that your teachings make a lot of sense to someone from a different art.

[@barefisted5334]

Thank you for your comment stickman.

[@BareFisted]

Yes you can, I do it a slit second before my foot strikes the ground or at the moment my foot strikes the ground. Both ways work well. Don't step and strike, you lose power that way.

[@BareFisted]

Thank You!

[@dealme225]

Great vid (as always), guys. Daniel, would love to see some drills as to how to work on this shift more - shadowing in southpaw is one thing, but incorporating the shift into combos is probably a necessity. (some of the Master Tricks?) Hope you have a lot more content coming, NikNak!

[@Kruger187]

Another awesome vid. When would you include this? In rounds?

[@BareFisted]

Great minds think alike! Thanks SourcexRxE.

[@mikekimveteran]

great post. wanted to know if you can show drills for shift. am headed into military again. this seems practical when you have lots of gear on. thanks for your videos.

[@BareFisted]

Thank you for your comment.

[@androidski81]

Amazing video!

[@BareFisted]

Thanks androidski81.

[@digsfossils]

Good vid. Like and favored.

[@brandongateshie]

In my Opinion and my Experienced of my first fight that i never learned to fight shifting is good but i like to added the bending knees to lend a power when come to hit just like shifting bending knees swing hip with cross punch just mine thought but i like ur explanation hope i can found a couch to train me to become Pro hhaha Keep it up Sir!!

[@BareFisted]

Thanks Brandon and yes bending the knees does give you power, but don't bend them too much or you'll loose the spring.

[@brandongateshie]

Agreed sir do you train for boxer?

[@BareFisted]

No, I train for street altercations using bareknuckled fists. But much of what I teach can be modified for sport boxing.

[@brandongateshie]

BareFisted i hope i can be train to bcome pro boxer hahahahha

[@BareFisted]

Very true.

[@BareFisted]

I'll put up another video on how to drill this tactic very soon.

[@WattUNeed]

I have seen shifting used in defense as well. So if someone knows how to shift defensively then the person who is looking to cut off the opponent and catch him where he cannot counter would some problems. Pacquiao uses shifting in his offense I noticed as well.

[@BareFisted]

Use long rhythm movement (forward and back).

[@chemogang]

Hi Daniel, I have a question about long range bareknuckle hooks to the face, when your elbow is bent like 45 degrees. Do you need to bend your wrist to make sure your knuckles hit your target (cheek for example) flat ? If not or if you do it differently I would like to know how :P I hit the heavybag with my wrist vertical and the 3 knuckle landing.

[@peternoack]

Sir are your dvds on bare knuckle fighting still available? I have tried to PM you a couple of times but got no response back. Would be very interested in learning more.

[@BareFisted]

That's right Coach.

[@raised2killu]

Been working on it. It's very easy to corner an opponent really well.Trapping them. But you said you got drills to improve the shift.

[@newgatti]

Watch a video of Jersey Joe Walcott, he was a master at using the shift walk in boxing.

[@SoldierAndrew]

Chavez used the same shift step in his fights! :) BTW, Aikido and Commando Krav Maga train foot work to face multiple attackers. This is why I trained in Aikido. For the evasive footwork only.

[@marquisanderson7472]

What would be your answer to low kicks using a stance that steps this heavy advancing forward?

[@BareFisted]

Simple just turn your shin and knee towards the kick, it's like hitting a cement pole!

[@BareFisted]

No problem Davos!

[@barthez36663]

Thats amazing info! Im a huge fan of Jack Dempsey and bareknuckle fighting. Are there any good books or other sources to learn more about that beautiful art of shifting and bareknuckle fighting? thanx

[@BareFisted]

Championship Streetfighting, Savage Science of Streetfighting both by Ned Beaumont. Bare-knuckle Boxer's Companion by David Lindholm. How to Be an Ass-Whipping Boxer by Champ Thomas. And of course Championship Fighting: Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense by Jack Dempsey. Hope these help.

[@barthez36663]

BareFisted wow thanx a lot. Ive already read dempsey book but never heard about the rest! thanx a lot its extremely helpful!

[@AzumaShinobiRyu]

True, in my boxing gym I never learned the shift. But I learned it unintentionally by watching Bruce Lee straight punching his 300 lb heavy bag. Also, if you watch Jack Dempsey you can also see the same technique though not as attractive as Bruce's. And surprisingly, old school chinese martial arts teach "shifting" as the basic way to hit 1-2 combination of off heavy bag (they do it with bare fist on super dense bags like Bruce does). I'm surprised Western Boxing uses it so little.

[@1upmydog]

thank you

[@BareFisted]

You're welcome.

[@krispayne1]

When in orthodox stance where should the majority of your weight be front leg or back leg

[@BareFisted]

Your way works very well, just make sure you don't lean over too much with the hips, keep them level by shifting (sliding) them instead. Another way to do it is by stepping out with the opposite foot as you shift your weight and push off with the punching side foot as you throw the hook. For example to throw a right hook, step out slightly with the left foot as you shift your weight left and push off with the ball of the left foot and throw the right hook. Hope this helps. Daniel~

[@danieletoscano8811]

I had a black belt in jiu jitsu at 15, I've practiced wing chum for over 20 years and have practiced boxing as well as been naughty and done a fair few fights outside of tournaments....all that nonsense said, this video is brilliant! End of. The lead speaker has the gait of a real fighter...be grateful for clips like this and try to understand it well

[@danieletoscano8811]

Wing chun..sorry. Damn iPad!

[@barefisted5334]

Thank you for the comment Daniele, much appreciated.

[@BareFisted]

I like to put about 70% on my left lead foot, it's a more aggressive fighting stance. Then when I shift, I place 70% on my left lead foot.

[@BareFisted]

Sorry but I don't agree, you see as long as your head is over your shifted foot, you're in a strong stance. By the way I want them to come straight ahead, it makes it easier to knock them out!

[@JoosWulfe]

Can it be used in muay thai ? Is there any video where i can learn the shifting ?

[@JoosWulfe]

BareFisted thank you very much ! :)

[@kenpachizaraki4184]

yes, it can be done in muay thai/kickboxing. consider this, the legendary king of defense, giorgio petrosyan, had his first and only lost to a kickboxer (ristie) who uses shifting often in his striking.

[@RedSky-vf8bf]

I am naturally ambidextrous, and I had an injury to my right shoulder so I often box southpaw, and when sparring MMA my takedowns are stronger with my right leg in the lead. Using these shifting techniques has definitely sharpened up my boxing, but in MMA, I get maybe 3-4 shifts in and then I get taken down. It is very hard to defend a single leg while employing shifting. My question is, how can I use shifting effectively when a guy just wants to close the distance and tie me up in a clinch or takedown attempt? No one at my gym seems to have the answer.

[@barefisted5334]

Hey B Dewit, what you'll need to add is switches and triangulation foot work to the mix. I'll need to make two videos to cover these tactics, but in the mean time what you can do is make your shifts more dynamic by shuffling quickly as you shift. So instead of stepping out you would shuffle out as you shift. You can also pivot out as you shift, which puts you in a different angle which will allow you to counter his attack. Hope this helps.

[@RedSky-vf8bf]

Thanks you for the response, sir. It seems like my mid-shift pivot is just a little too slow, or my body language gives away what I'm doing; problem is, most of my training partners are great wrestlers... So when I pivot, I spend about 1 second in a very sideways stance. I'm sure you know that leads to me getting dropped on my arse haha! They see my front leg and just DIVE on it. For now, I will practice the pivot in the mirror to make it more smooth during the shift. Also, while using this technique during Muay Thai sparring, I was able to land a left liver kick.. It may have been the hardest ive ever hit something. This was after 3 shifts while throwing straights to the head... It felt like the momentum from shifting forward tripled the power of my kick. Are there any known ways to mix shifting with kicking techniques? I'd imagine the kick could be set up by feints while shifting in. Subscribed so i can see anything you make addressing these things. Thanks friend.

[@barefisted5334]

Yes you can kick low as you shift, we usually throw up kicks or drive kicks to the ankle or low to the inside of the shin. You can also use knees to the body while shifting. And yes shifting two to three times increases the momentum of your strike and it's power.

[@retardno002]

BareFisted Petrosyan uses shifting to get into brilliant left knee to the liver positions.

[@raised2killu]

I like the technique though don't get me wrong i'm going to practise it.through training. I know Marvin hagler switch stance to punch making him more versatile.

[@BareFisted]

You're welcome heavyfists.

[@boogynights]

who was the fighter you said in 8:47?

[@barefisted5334]

Bob Fitzsimmons, boxing's first triple crown champion. He won the middle weight, light heavy weight and heavy weight championships. He was a master of the shift.

[@M_K-Bomb]

I'm not in the position to complain and ditch this skill. Mainly I'm not a well trainned master and I train in shifting in nearly the same way. But my worry is what I hear as fighting rules. Which are to minimise striking area, so side on blade body. And to not have an openned stance so the person can shoot / tackle / push you down because you don't have a leg supporting behind you. This might be a split second of movement but still they can catch you in that movement.

[@BareFisted]

Hey Michael, your concerns are valid and understandable, but if you practice striking as you shift it can make you a hard target to hit or take down. Not only will your punches be solid and powerful but so will your knees, elbows, forearms, chops, kicks and forearms.

[@M_K-Bomb]

Yeah practice is key. I can see it being pretty safe with training it to a certain level, but defenitly I'm not at that level yet and not at the level where it increasing my striking power yet.

[@BareFisted]

Our new website will be up in a few months, you will be able to purchase them there. I will put up a video letting everyone know when the website is up and running. Take care Peter Daniel~

[@BareFisted]

Sorry for letting the cat out of the bag! ;0)

[@BareFisted]

Sorry I let the cat out of the bag Slade. ;0)

[@descalo]

diagonal steps

[@raised2killu]

Fairly good but it's only weakness is that. You're off balance. and can be pushed around if lets say someone coming forward at you.

[@boogynights]

Does this channell show the art of bare knuckle boxing.

[@barefisted5334]

That's all we show, it's also made for the street.

[@boogynights]

BareFisted yes I'm very interested on the subject I not sure there any place that teaches this. Any books on the subject to start off at.

[@barefisted5334]

TheLMJVG Here is a book to start with: www.amazon.com/Bare-Knuckle-Boxers-Companion-Learning-Masters/dp/1581607008/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400107836&sr=8-1&keywords=bareknuckle

[@boogynights]

BareFisted Thank you.

[@raised2killu]

Why would you be selfish to keep this valuable gem.

[@nicholasthompson7128]

You posted this video as footwork the lost art of shifting. Just talk about what you set out to talk about. There are no correct or incorrect stances. I come from a boxing background where it is one on one and all techniques have been tried and tested in that environment for hundreds of years. If you don't like a particular style that's fine but it is not a weakness it is for that particular sport and there is the key word "sport" We do not teach for it to be taken out onto the street to be used because it is not practical. The sport it is designed for has rules, there are no rule outside. If you brought shifting into a ring boxing or kickboxing you could be found out pretty quickly. A good boxer can have you off balance pretty quickly with your shifting. If you think that you style has no weaknesses that would be a mistake. given the wrong setting ALL techniques have one or more weakness. I like you widen my repertoire when it comes to my personal defence or my families defence. A take some from here and take some from there is the best way because it is not an art someone has studied and can easily defend or attack

[@BareFisted]

I come from a street fighting background and teach pugilism. Most fighting arts have the same disadvantage they don't train for multiple opponents, boxing has you stand in a left or right lead stance which doesn't work well against multiples. Shifting gives a boxer a better advantage against fighting multiples. I have used shifting against boxers and have overwhelmed them with it, many felt like they were drowning due to being hit hard from so many angles. Shifting has been battle tested in war, as it was taught to American soldiers using bayonets for trench warfare against the Germans, it worked so well against the Germans that they called the American soldiers "Devil Dogs" due to the way they fought and moved. All systems have their good and bad points or weaknesses, but even weaknesses can be modified or adjusted to become strengths. I do not teach sport, I teach combatives, many times I have modified what I teach for those students who choose to compete in a sport competition but the majority of the time it's combative in nature. I believe any sport fighting style is a weakness if you take it outside into a life and death situation, but in it's proper environment it works well. These are just my thoughts. Take care Nicholas and thank you for your comments. Daniel~

[@nicholasthompson7128]

BareFisted I understand what you are saying about multiple opponents, but I have never faced multiple opponents in a boxing ring where its application is designed for. Boxing should never be used outside of its intended environment so to say it has weaknesses I think is wrong especially when your opponent is using all the same tools. I have fought multiples on the street and never used the art I have trained in for years, so to say that other sports have weaknesses against multiple opponents is irrelevant, as this is not what they are designed for.

[@BIG6BOXING]

There are boxers who shift alot in the boxing ring. Go back and check out fights from Gennady Golovkin & Dmitry Pirog.

[@BareFisted]

BIG6BOXING Thanks Big6Boxing.

[@nicholasthompson7128]

When did I say Boxers didn't shift????? Why do you think I found my way on to this page???