The pendulum step in boxing is a back-and-forth, rhythmic step that is mostly used at the amateur level. Some professional boxers also use the movement, but it’s not as common at the higher levels due to the high work rate it requires.
Understanding How The Pendulum Step Works
The pendulum step is a footwork pattern that involves a boxer bouncing back and forth. The movement pattern leads to the boxer’s feet being off the ground momentarily. The idea behind the movement pattern is quite simple, but its execution can be difficult for some fighters.
Some of the main advantages of the pendulum step include:
- Excellent For Controlling Distances: One of the main advantages of the pendulum step is how easy it makes it to quickly move in and out of range. Being able to control distances is one of the most powerful defensive tools you have at your disposal since it allows you to move out of the way of incoming punches. The back-and-forth bouncing of the pendulum step puts your feet in a position to move backward or forward quickly.
- Makes It Easier To Maintain Your Rhythm: The pendulum step helps to maintain your rhythm inside the ring. You can counter when you bounce backward, and jab when you bounce forward. You can throw combinations when you’re in inside range, and cover up as you bounce out.
The pendulum step isn’t without its drawbacks, which is why professional boxers don’t use the movement pattern as often. These include:
- It Requires A High Work Rate: The constant bouncing of the pendulum step requires lots of energy and can get you exhausted early on. That’s the main reason you don’t see professional fighters using it as much since their fights involve more rounds. Getting tired inside the boxing ring means you’re no longer able to intelligently defend yourself and box effectively.
- It Takes You Off Your Feet Momentarily: The pendulum step requires both your feet to leave the ground as you bounce and an experienced opponent can take advantage of the vulnerabilities being in the air. Boxers can try to overcome this issue by using their timing and rhythm to prevent opponents from getting close enough to land punches on them while they’re in the air.
How To Perform The Pendulum Step
The pendulum step can be a useful tool in your boxing arsenal, particularly at the amateur level and it helps you to keep a steady rhythm inside the ring. Here’s how the footwork pattern is performed:
- Start from your regular stance and shift your weight onto your rear foot.
- Bounce forward by pushing down on your rear foot to launch you up and over.
- Land with your lead foot and land lightly with your rear leg.
- Use the momentum generated by landing on your lead foot to push yourself back to your starting position. Land with your rear leg taking the brunt of the impact.
- Repeat the entire sequence from here. Once you’re comfortable with it, throw some combinations while both of your feet are on the ground.
The pendulum step is an effective footwork technique for times you want to move out and in quickly inside the ring. It’s an excellent way to set up counters and it keeps you moving at all times, making it harder for opponents to land counters on you. The fact your feet are moving gives you additional momentum to move your body back and forth.
Mastering The Pendulum Step
Muhammad Ali often used the pendulum step during his fights and you can also make it a part of your fighting style. The first step to mastering the technique is practicing the bounce until it becomes part of your muscle memory.
Here are some drills to learn how to use it inside a boxing ring once you understand the bounce:
Start the drill by pushing the bag away from you and start your pendulum motion, in tune with the bag’s movement. Try to get as close as you can to the bag without touching it or letting it hit you.
Picture a jab coming at you whenever the bag moves toward you and hop backward to evade it. Follow that up by throwing a jab at the bag as you bounce forward. It should be noted that jabs are about the only effective punches you can throw while your feet are in the air. The better your ability to use the pendulum step gets, the quicker you’ll be able to land your counter jab.
Find a training partner to do this drill with and get into the pendulum step movement pattern in front of them, while your partner throws jabs at you continuously. Evade these jabs by hopping backway and hop forward when your partner draws their jab back. Keep practicing this drill until you get the timing down.
Add a jab with your forward step once you feel comfortable enough. Try to touch your training partner’s jaw before they can get their hand back in the guard position.
The key to mastering the pendulum step is building up your conditioning and timing to lower your reaction time. This will improve your footwork agility and help develop your reflexes inside the ring. Start incorporating side steps once the pendulum step feels natural to you to make it a more effective footwork pattern. Adding the occasional sidestep or pivot to the pendulum step makes it harder for opponents to figure out your rhythm.
The jab is the easiest punch to land when using the pendulum step, but you can also use hooks and uppercuts. You want to throw your combinations while you have both feet on the ground. You’ll need to have good cardio and endurance to use the pendulum step effectively since it can tire you out.
Conclusion
The pendulum step is an effective footwork pattern in boxing, so take time to master it and make it part of your fighting style.
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