Circling in Place (Pivoting) (Patreon)

• LMA Curriculum

There may be times when you need to pivot or circle in place (e.g., your opponent is circling you, or you need to create an angle), so we're going to adapt the circular side step by making the steps sharper. When you go left, lead with left. When you go right, lead with the right.

Imagine there's a button on the floor under the ball of your lead foot. Press it down as you pivot. If you go fast, you have to keep it pressed down. Speed is an adaptation of a technique rather than the same technique done faster. Let the condition (pressing the button down) guide you, and trust your body to make the appropriate adaptations. Thinking about it will nullify the point of speed. In LMA, it's: do, do, do, not think, think, think.

The button size can change based on how much you want to move. The pivot can be combined with any other footwork movement pattern, such as side, advancing, or diagonal steps. But the point is to always face your opponent; whether they're facing you is on them.

One way to learn to pivot is to throw a hook or an uppercut at an imaginary target that's pivoting with you. Don't worry about correct technique on the punch, it's just a condition to guide the pivot and take your mind off the footwork. When you go to the left, punch with the left; when you go to the right, punch with the right. As you step and face your opponent for the punch, your feet will adapt accordingly. Indirectly, this also teaches you to connect your footwork and weight shifts with your punches (important for later).

You can also play this game with a partner. Face each other in the same stance, then pivot together while throwing punches in each other's direction. Don't actually hit each other; you're throwing it into the air with your partner as the reference point.

After you feel comfortable doing this with an imaginary target or a partner, remove the punches and pivot in both directions. Make sure to practice in both L and J-stance.

– Sam