Combative foot work along with stance or stance and guard stability and mobility are critical requirements of armed and unarmed combat employments. Footwork in CQC or CQB is a most important tactical component of combative skills executions.
In this edition of the close combat files I will cover the following categories of combative foot work.
1] Unarmed offensive assault.
2] Unarmed counteroffensive assault.
3] Close quarters clinching.
4] Resistance and yielding.
5] Multiple assailants.
6] Ground protection and recovery.
7] sneaker/creeper footwork.
8] Enemy close quarters shadowing.
9] Stairwell ascending and descending.
10] Close personal protection, footwork.
11] Finishing strike, range gaining and increasing power and velocity.
12] Footwork for throwing or take downs.
1] Unarmed offensive assault general footwork outline and explanation. We don’t have to give everyday walking a lot of thought however when preparing to go unarmed offensive or counteroffensive as a pre-decided combative option or when uncompromised we need to go tactical. Once the required front, side or neutral stance or stance and guard has been adopted the following considerations are required.
Stance needs to be a combination of sound stability and effective mobility. Generally shoulder width or slightly wider and deeper and maintaining a definite ground affinity.
NOTE: The boot print depictions often present narrow illusion in regards to appearing to be toe-to-heal in line when they in reality are always shoulder width or slightly wider apart. In unorthodox footwork employments there may be a need to employ slight adjustment for stability and stance maintenance.
Front Stance
Neutral Stance
Side Stance
The balls of the feet through your boots provide your means of initiating your entry and making range. Your toes through your boots assist in balance maintenance and your sense of touch with the terrain.
The arch of your foot via your boot aids in stamp kick target destruction by target encapsulation.
Axe Kick
Leg Stamp
Footwork generally in relation to direction of movement works as follows.
In your combative stance or stance and guard to move forward or track forward as it is often titled in CQC your rear boot is the source of push off and your front boot initiates the forward groundcover movement followed by your trailing rear boot reforming the stance.
Blocking back or backward stepping or sliding is the opposite with your front boot the source of the drive or push off and your rear boot first to cover ground backwards followed by your lead boot trailing to reform the stance.
Stepping Or Sliding Forward In A Front Stance
Blocking Back (Stepping or Sliding Backwards)
To move to your right your left boot is the source of the push off and your right boot is the first to move. To move to your left it’s the opposite.
Movement to the left
Movement to the right
Unlike walking where your feet alternate stepping from back to front, tactical combative offensive stepping or sliding is generally always except in some individual specific skills applications a case of a lead boot forward movement powered by the rear boot push off and the rear boot trailing to reform the initial stance.
The distance each step covers is approximately 20 to 40 cm, never should you increase the step length and risk reducing controlled mobility and stability.
To transfer from a side stance and guard to a front stance and guard to your front a lead boot swivel pivot manoeuvre is employed maintaining the shoulder width footing status.
Swivel manoeuvre
Under unarmed entry stalking into range status the lead boot steps or slides 5 to 10 cm and the rear boot trails reforming and maintaining the shoulder width and correct position in relation to either the front or side stance.
Stalking from Front Guard
Stalking from Side Guard
Principles of crossover or escape action foot work.
One of the only times in unarmed offensive assault that you ever step or slide your rear most boot in front of the toe of your forward boot is when you are side on at point blank bodily contact range with your enemy and are employing a leg stamp diagonally through your enemy’s knee joint from the outside to inside of the knee joint and opposing the joint or in covert enemy positional mimicking using your enemy as concealment during silent stepping.
Close range unarmed offensive assault elbow and hand edge strikes can also be employed with the same footwork.
This is commonly employed from stationery and with a cover guard.
The same stamp kick can be employed when seized by your enemy under forward yielding.
Cross Over Footwork – Front On
Neutral
Front Stance
Diagrams demonstrate cross over footwork to the lead boot closed stance side and the open guard cross over would be the opposite.
Cross Over Footwork – From Side On
Unorthodox rear boot cross over in front of toe of lead boot.
All other stamp kicks from a side stance and guard see the rear trailing boot or stability leg sliding diagonally behind and past the forward stamping boot.
The lead boot will in an entry long range unarmed offensive assault from side on make the initial forward or diagonally forward groundcover stepping or sliding action immediately followed by the trailing boot sliding diagonally deep behind past and forward of the stamp kicking boot maintaining the same shoulder width distance between boots.
Leg Stamp Unarmed Offensive Assault Cross Over Evasive Action Footwork From Side On
Cross Over Footwork Behind Lead Step Setup
To execute long range unarmed offensive assault stamp kicks from a front stance and guard or neutral stance, one of the following two footwork manoeuvres would be employed.
Post stalking into execution range a committed step would be executed straight forward with the non-master boot and the rear master boot would be employed straight forward for an axe kick execution.
Axe Kick Footwork
The required setup for a direct leg stamp execution in a front stance and guard has the lead boot stepping or sliding forward covering range and acting as a pivot and the rear most boot would circle around from a front on stance ending in a side on stance post leg stamp execution.
Leg Stamp With A Fake Or Definite Action Footwork From Front Stance
This same leg stamp employment that applies to a direct leg stamp execution front a front stance and guard applies to a direct leg stamp execution from a neutral stance as well.
To employ a cross over leg stamp unarmed offensive from a front guard with an escape action execute a setup pivot in the direction of the fake escape action and step or slide your inside boot diagonally forward in that escape action direction from inside to outside immediately followed by pivoting both boots to your rear and sliding rear boot diagonally forward and past your front boot and you and now in a position to leg stamp with your rear most boot. Note your stance width throughout the setup manoeuvre remains shoulder width apart. Post any stamp kick execution the trailing boot slides forward to reform the front or side stance and guard or be employed to execute a contingency option. Escape action leg stamps from a front stance and guard are generally but not always initiated off the rear most master boot and from a neutral stance likewise with the master boot initiation in a majority of employments.
Escape Action Leg Stamp From Neutral Stance
Pictured from a Front Stance and Guard
From a neutral stance or front stance and guard or at extreme close quarters or at point blank bodily contact range an evasive or avoidance leg stamp can be employed. Orthodox application from a front stance, pivot both boots to the non-master lead boot outside for primary employments. Either employ setup verbiage and or a walk away hand action diagonally forward with your non-master hand and arm or just the hand and arm walk away set up action minus the verbiage.
Simultaneously take a diagonally forward step outside alongside and past your enemy’s outside knee joint with your non-master boot. Crouch cover guard with your master hand and arm, leg stamp with your master boot.
The opposite applies to an unorthodox option employment of the same offensive action. This action can be employed orthodox to either side from a neutral stance.
Point Blank Range Walk Away Leg Stamp Footwork From A Neutral Stance
Note: the leg stamp can be executed as above with the boots parallel or the stability boot can pivot vertically backwards.
Close range unarmed offensive assault hand and arm striking strategies footwork, general employment includes entry strikes from the side stance and guard to injure, distract, or incapacitate your enemy combined with a swivel manoeuvre and finishing skill. This footwork manoeuvre provides economy of movement reduced target mass during the entry striking phase and maximum velocity and power during the swivel manoeuvre and finishing skill execution phase.
Close range unarmed offensive assault striking combinations can also be employed from a neutral stance or front stance and guard.
Such employments involve pivoting footwork manoeuvres from front on to side on, covered later in this file.
To execute a close range unarmed offensive assault combination from the side guard you would primarily have your non-master side aligned to your enemy.
The close range unarmed offensive assault execution would be initiated by stalking into execution range which is between 20 and 30 cm from your enemy’s lead foot and your lead boot.
Push and power off with your rear most master boot moving the non-master boot forward as you cock your lead arm for an entry strike.
Execute your entry strikes only when the trailing the boot has reformed the side guard to avoid being cast or walking into fully committed enemy counter offence and as such increasing the impact by considerable.
This process is repeated with every entry strike as you zero in on the retreating enemy.
When your repeated entry strikes from the side stance and guard have achieved the desired effect of injuring incapacitating or distracting your retreating enemy it is time to employ your swivel pivot manoeuvre and finishing skills.
The swivel pivot manoeuvre is achieved by sliding the lead boot in a straight-line horizontally backwards until the toe of your lead boot is in-line with the heel of your rearmost boot.
Now pivot both boots directly forward towards your enemy and drive your full body force forward and or upwards off of the ball of your foot / boot of your rear master boot.
Initiate your finishing strike or stamp kick powered by the swivel manoeuvre.
The correct description for this forward offensive close range unarmed offensive assault manoeuvre is a swivel pivot manoeuvre.
The swivel pivot manoeuvre provides maximum levels of safety in the transition phase from side on to front on and also achieves maximum momentum and velocity powering the close range strike or stamp kicks.
Obviously a single finishing skill may not end the encounter and you may need to employ additional offensive actions but for terminology and drill purposes it is titled a skill finishing, finishing strike or finishing technique.
Close Range Unarmed Offensive Assault Foot Work
Staying Aligned To Your Enemy During Your Close Range Unarmed Offensive Assault
Pivoting on the front boot and moving the trailing boot to reform the side stance minimizes your required movement to stay aligned to your enemy. This can be executed clockwise and anticlockwise in relation to your enemy’s movement.
Staying Centred Side On
Close range unarmed offensive assault from a front stance and guard or neutral stance utilizing an escape or avoidance action description.
Range 20 to 30 cm from enemy target’s lead boot in a neutral stance with both boots inline or with the lead boot in a front stance and guard.
Setup generally by verbiage or definite distraction. Verbal setup employing you don’t want any part of any aggression and are leaving or the like.
Pivot both boots diagonally forward towards your master boot and with your outside master arm gesture you are walking away diagonally forward. This will take your enemy focus away from your non-master entry striking arm.
Now push off with your master boot and drive your non-master boot straight forward towards your enemy ensuring it and you are centred to your enemy.
Your trailing boot will follow directly behind your non-master boot forming a side guard and stance and powering you initial entry strike.
Employ multiple entry strikes as you chase and zero your enemy until they are adversely affected and vulnerable to your swivel pivot manoeuvre and finishing skill.
Employ the swivel pivot manoeuvre as previously described in the close range unarmed offensive assault from a side guard employment.
Note your lead non-master boot will initially take a direct centre-line step towards your enemy but your rear master boot will trail diagonally forward ending centred to establish a side stance and guard.
To execute the same action from a front stance and guard with or without the verbiage simply employ the same front on to side on stance and guard transition manoeuvre combined with entry strikes and then a swivel manoeuvre finishing skill.
Pivot both boots diagonally forward inwards to the Orthodox master boot side.
Power off with your master boot driving your non-master boot directly forward towards your enemy target cocking your initial entry strike.
Your rear boot will immediately trail diagonally forward to re-form the side guard and stance.
Employing as many entry strikes as required followed by your swivel pivot manoeuvre and finishing skill.
Neutral And Front Stance And Guard Close Range Unarmed Offensive Assault Option From Front On To Side On Escape Or Avoidance Set Up
The next close range unarmed offensive assault option can be employed from in a neutral stance or a front stance and guard.
Front to side on close range elbow unarmed offensive assault manoeuvre.
When at medium to close range take a committed step forward with your non-master boot remembering to stay outside your enemy’s reach. Simultaneously crouch slightly and cover guard with your lead non-master arm and hand acting as a joint distraction and protection.
Now in orthodox employments pivot on your lead non-master boot and circle your rear master boot around from back to front ending side on and simultaneously employ a power round house elbow strike.
You will now be side on and your elbowing arm cocked to employ hand edge or elbow entry strikes from side on as you chase and target your retreating enemy.
If your enemy is not neutralized a swivel pivot manoeuvre and finishing skill can be employed.
Front To Side On Close Range Elbow Unarmed Offensive Assault Manoeuvre
The final close range unarmed offensive assault option to be outlined is the extreme close range neutral stance or front stance stationary or short track off line avoidance evasive unarmed assault.
The following is the orthodox or master arm execution but the non-master arm option is also effective and is simply the opposite in execution.
From extreme close quarters almost bodily contact range often when being confronted the following avoidance evasive skill can be employed with or without verbiage.
Note, verbiage when employed as part of an offensive action can enhance the distraction and confusion factors. This offensive action is usually but not always employed with the master arm and hand. From your neutral or front stance pivot both boots diagonally forward towards your non-master boot’s outside.
Simultaneously step diagonally forward with your non-master boot immediately outside and alongside and or just past your enemy’s boot.
This action would have been set up with verbiage and or a walk away hand action with your non-master arm and hand.
You can now initiate a deceptive diagonal rising elbow strike and follow up with a diagonal downward elbow or hand edge strike if required.
Note, keep your enemy in your peripheral vision during the non-master boot pivoting and diagonal forward set up stepping manoeuvre.
This offensive action can be employed equally from a front stance and can be executed by stationary pivoting without the diagonal forward setup step if required in relation to range or situation.
If engaged you can employ your master arm and hand cover guard from a crouched counter offensive target mass reduction position or against a kick, attack your attacker by employing a crouch cover guard and stamp kick to counter your enemy’s kick.
Close Range Evasive Avoidance Rising Elbow Assault Stationary
Close Range Evasive Avoidance Rising Elbow Assault Stepping
2) Unarmed counter offensive assault footwork.
The primary unarmed counter offensive assault option is evasion and the primary evasive option in side stepping diagonally forward.
The secondary evasive action is parrying diagonally backwards. There is also lateral evasion that is less commonly employed and is more a specific situational option in relation to environment and terrain.
Before I detail the previous evasive counter offensive actions we need to detail how best to break a reactionary gap and make ready to evade.
When confronted and post-assessment if your decision is to go counter offensive by an evasive action you need to break and immediate reactionary definite distance between yourself and your enemy.
The footwork to break this primary reactionary distance is very different to the normal close quarter’s tactical track forward or block back footwork of stalking forward, edging back or stepping or sliding into range by means of small to medium committed combative movements.
The aim of the footwork to break the minimum safety considered reactionary distance for evasion purposes of 2m between you and your enemy is to leave them statically in place by means of a deliberate action and ensure you get back well clear of immediate enemy unarmed capabilities in a ready status for evasion.
This is achieved by taking a large committed backward step with one boot usually your master boot powered and driven off by your non-master boot and then immediately sliding your trailing non-master boot a large pace back and as far past your master boot as safely possible, mobility and stability wise, then sliding your master boot back to form a neutral stance or if compromised or required a front stance and guard.
2m has been tested and proven the primary minimum range to enable evasion of a formidable enemy combatant even if fatigued or injured.
Breaking A Reactionary Distance
Side escape evasion from a neutral stance or front stance and guard.
Once the side of evasion has been determined by sound counteroffensive evasive sighting and assessment employment of the following sidestep footwork applies.
To sidestep to your right from your ready status on the balls of both boots push with your left boot driving right boot 20 to 30cm diagonally forward and simultaneously pivot on your right boot powering the immediate trailing of your left boot ending in a right side stance and guard ready to assess decide and employ your unarmed counter offensive option.
The opposite applies to a side step to your left.
Side Step Evasion – Left
Side Step Evasion – Right
Parry evasion.
To execute a left parry swiftly pivot your right boot in towards your left boot and directly slide your left boot diagonally backwards and behind your stationary pivoting right boot to form a right side guard.
Assess decide on your counteroffensive unarmed action and employ it.
The opposite footwork applies to a right parry.
Right Parry Evasion
Left Parry Evasion
Note when parrying the stationary pivoting boot although remains statically in place as the evasive diagonal backward manoeuvre is completed the weight is transferred by majority to the rearmost boot. This makes ready your lead boot for stamp kicking counter offensively if your stationary leg is targeted.
The parry employed from a front stance and guard would normally find the lead boot targeted by a smart enemy assailant and the parry would ensure this exposed lead leg would be moved off of the confrontation line.
Extended parry evasions see the manoeuvre extended in length by sliding the initial evasive boot a greater distance backwards and trailing a short distance with pivoting initially stationary boot ending in a side stance and guard.
Extended Parry – Right
Extended Parry – Left
The horizontal side skate evasion is executed by employing the following footwork.
To execute a right lateral side skate evasion power off with your left boot driving right boot horizontally 20 to 40 cm to the right immediately trailed and by your left boot.
Lateral or side skate evasion does not provide the same advantages in relation to diagonal evasion in clearing the contact zone.
However there are situations in relation to specific threat terrain obstacles and your enemy’s actions where a horizontal side skate evasion will be a viable option for the situation and will set up your post evasion leg stamp, hand edge strike or the swivel pivot manoeuvre and decided counter offensive actions.
Side Skate Evasion – Left
Side Skate Evasion – Right
Assess decide cover guard and employee your counteroffensive action or employee a positional change by orientating to your enemy target by pivoting on your lead boot and adjusting the position of your rear boot. You could also orientate to your enemy by employing a swivel pivot manoeuvre transition from a side stance post the skate evasion to a front stance and guard for counter offensive options execution requirements.
The opposite applies to a left side skate evasion.
Deliberate over evasion.
Post immediate evasion if by means of a fully committed enemy offensive action that is still a considered threat post evasion it is a natural decision as a result of constant fast mapping to employ over evasion.
Over evasion is achieved by from your side guard pivoting on your lead boot and encircling your rear boot in-relation to your enemy around and away from the threatening striking or kicking limb until able to neutralize
the threat and go counter offensive.
Over Evasion
Counteroffensive contingency option footwork to combat being stalked post breaks a two metre reactionary distance.
Initially if possible to ensure you are in control and ready to counter engage your aggressor edge back controlling reactionary distance.
If you need to edge around or back and around because of rear flank restrictions or dangers the primary side to edge back and or around to is your enemy’s lead foot side generally this will be their non-master side and will take you away from their master hand and foot.
However terrain and obstacles may dictate the side you have to edge back to and you may have to edge back to the unorthodox or enemy master hand and leg side and if so then ensure you remain ready and control distance as you do so.
To edge back orthodox push off with your lead boot moving your rear master boot back between 10 and 20 cm and replacing your lead trailing non-master boot to reform your initial stance or stance and guard.
If while edging back your enemy moves off of direct line with your centre line orientate by means of employment of economical lead boot pivoting and rear boot stepping or sliding in adjustment to reform your stance or stance and guard realigned to your enemy.
Staying Centred To Your Enemy/Orientating While Edging Back Controlling Distance
To edge back and to the side from a front stance and guard pivot on your non-master lead boot and move your master boot to the required side to align to your enemy and combine this enemy orientation with edging back to control distance by lead non-master boot push off and moving your master boot back and replacing your trailing non-master boot.
If you edge back and end up with your back to a solid backdrop you can edge horizontally along the backdrop initially and then edge diagonally around and away from your stalking enemy controlling and or creating distance.
When push comes to shove and you have made the required range to employ your being stalked contingency option attack your attacker. Timing is essential and when the timing and range is right you should employ your being stalked contingency option.
The leg stamp with a definite action such as throwing something or spitting in your enemy’s face or a leg stamp with a fake action like a fake punch will ensure the hunted is the Hunter.
In this case the best counter offensive is going offensive.
Alignment And Edging
Being Stalked Contingency Option
Application take a committed step straight forward towards your enemy with your non-master boot execute your fake or deliberate definite action to get your enemy’s attention high and simultaneously pivot on your lead
Non-master boot and circle your master boot around from front on to side on and execute a leg stamp.
The old definite spit or inanimate objects in the face or a fake head punch in a high stress situation tends to take the attention away from the lower quadrants leaving them open to stamping.
Stationary unarmed counter offensive assault footwork.
From a front or side stance and guard or a neutral stance when compromised or by situation or decision and you cannot evade, stationary unarmed counter offensive assault applies.
From a front stance and guard Crouch reducing target mass and increasing stability raise your cover guard achieving protection for your upper quadrants.
Upper quadrant round house contact will be covered against and straight-line contact or straight-line uppercut contact will be deflected with your cover guard between your fore arms.
Immediately post Crouch and cover guard poo position as it’s referred to in the Todd Systems as in squatting over a field shitter. Pivot both your boots Orthodox inwards lead arm cover guard and rear master hand brace on your thigh or utilize for stability.
Continue to pivot your rear master boot until pointing vertically backwards and employee a lead non-master boot leg stamp to your enemy’s closest leg at time of execution.
To counter an enemy executed kick or knee from stationary execute the previous stationary counteroffensive manoeuvre and counter their kick with your lead boot stamping kick removing your exposed targeted limb and using it as a counter offensive weapon.
Stationary Counter Offensive Against A Kick
Stationary Counter Offensive Against – Side on
Stationary unarmed counter offensive option from a neutral stance.
Crouch cover guard and either pivot brace guard and leg stamp or immediately post crouching to the poo position and cover guarding slide one boot directly back to a front stance and guard and employee as previous a lead stationary leg stamp.
Stationary unarmed counter offensive from the side guard or neutral stance against a side actions on.
From the side guard Crouch cover guard on the threat side and leg stamp or slide the rear stability boot back in a straight line until the rear boot toes are inline with the lead boot heel shoulder width or slightly wider apart and leg stamp.
From neutral against a side actions on Crouch side cover guard and employ the same skills as from an initial side guard.
The primary counter offensive option detailed here post stationary crouch and cover guard is the leg stamp however close range strikes can be employed.
3) Close quarters clinching.
Before I cover this footwork and body positioning you must understand that this was not specifically developed for combat sports or traditional martial arts and the stances guards and footwork are and must be specific to the role desired objective and the combative system.
Wrestling Judo jiu jitsu BJJ or karate have stances and footwork specific to the codes needs and styles and likewise CQB/CQC and in this case the Todd system must have specific footwork and stances and guards specific to armed and unarmed combat and the system specific skills. The Todd system stances guards and footwork have commonality from basic phase 1 to advanced phase 2 through to specialist phase 3 in both unarmed and armed options. The footwork stances and guards not only have commonality but are also cohesive in any transition. They provide primary positioning and platform for stamp kicking and palm heel, hand edge and elbow striking as well as flat hands and bent fork finger eyes attacks. Introduce a knife dispatchet baton rifle SMG shotgun pistol and the stances remain the same and the guards only marginally change to include the weapon holding and handling.
I consider freestyle and Greco Roman wrestling primary principle grappling combat sports but to employ military combative stamp kicks from a wrestling tie up with such space between the combatants is not in line with the required primary execution range and position likewise rugby scrum positioning may be good for rugby but not for military close combat and the same with Judo jiu jitsu Brazilian jiu-jitsu and other combat sports and fighting arts. The Todd system in the clinch provides a balance between mobility and stability with the ability to increase or decrease mobility and stability in relation to situation at real time and truly resembles a dog’s bent hind leg in body and leg positioning. From a front guard to point blank range bodily contact compress an imaginary line across her shoulders and glue it against your enemy at whatever bodily positional height it is naturally in regards to your height and your enemy’s height. Seize and secure your enemy with a lead high secure and rear grip low secure. Pull them tight and close and employee the poo lowering centre of gravity by bending your knees pushing your buttocks slightly down and back positioning your head on the low grip seizure side outside and against your enemy’s upper arm, also you can now move your rear boot out and back diagonally 10 to 20 cm to increase stability. You should be in a position where you can have increased balance and stability and maintain control.
Although you are glued to your enemy and may make them wear your weight by hanging off them doing the poo you do not lie or lean on them to the point where you are not stability wise in full control. Should your enemy ever disengage you should not lose your balance and you must feel that you are in control and able to employ your primary stamp kicks or strikes at any time.
Now to prevent direct man on man force on force energy sapping stand up grapple clinching utilize angle by pivoting your lead boot 45
