side stepping / left-right or right-left traversal

[braindead0]

Assuming a couple of BG's in front, and you need to move from left to right while firing... Do you side step without crossing right over left foot?

I've been told this is the 'proper way', but quite frankly I have excellent coordination and find it much easier to move sideways smoothly (keeping on-target) with bent knees and slightly crossing feet.

Is this 'proper way' simply to deal with the proverbial 'pucker factor' when in a real firefight?

Just curious, thought I'd seek other opinions before I further re-inforce a bad habit (or good?)

 

[AndABeer]

my feet are too big to risk stepping one over the other

 

[Art Eatman]

If you get poked in the sternum while "slightly crossing" your feet, where will your fanny go?

Fast half-steps allow you to maintain or regain your balance. IMO, for best balance you never want your feet any closer together than absolutely necessary, during a movement in any direction.

FWIW, Art

 

[Denny Hansen]

A large step to the right with strong side foot and a half step to the right with the weak side foot should place allow you to end up in a stong shooting stance.

Denny

 

[El Tejon]

Short, fat candle, not a tall, skinny candle! This more difficult for some of us.

 

[braindead0]

The odd thing was that our local 'pro' had folks stepping and then putting their feet close together, then stepping..etc...

With a foot behind or in front it's easier to deal with front/back balance (assuming sufficient leg strength of course).

Perhaps because he's already short and fat, doesn't have to worry about it ;-)

 

[Art Eatman]

It's no different from unarmed combat: Minimize any "window of opportunity" for your opponent, for your being in less than optimum balance. Denny's comment for a wide side-step with the lead foot, followed by a half-step with the trailing foot, helps to minimize an opponent's opportunities.

If one's opponent has a handgun and his arm is somewhat outstretched, he is slower in changing his point of aim either downward or to his strong side, compared to upward or to his weak side. It's a muscle thing.

Art

 

[braindead0]

he is slower in changing his point of aim either downward or to his strong side, compared to upward or to his weak side. It's a muscle thing.

So you're saying that, given the choice.. you should (assuming right handed opponent), move from the left - right?

 

[Art Eatman]

For a right-handed opponent, yeah, from his left to his right. If you're within about six feet and the pistol is somewhat extended, you own him. If it's down by his hip, he's been studyin'.

Art

 

[Shaughn Leayme]

You do not want to be crossing your feet in sideways movement, there is always the possibility of hooking one foot with the other and over you go, with a possible AD or getting shot.

The sideways movement where it seems like you are trying to touch anklebones is the way to do it. It will appear that you are bouncing along, but you are maintaining balance and if you need to change direction, you can transition to it easily. Your feet are almost being slid along the ground instead of really being lifted high.

Try to change direction with one foot in front of the other, it's not easy to do.

Try to change directions with the lateral non overlap and you will find it much easier.

 

[braindead0]

The sideways movement where it seems like you are trying to touch anklebones is the way to do it.

That would leave you in a bad position (feet together) for a moment, probably not a good idea.

I think I get the picture, the odd thing is that it seems (to many) that forward/backward it it okay to cross over you're feet for that 'rolling gait' so you end up with a stable platform for firing. I always thought that a fencing advance / retreat would be more appropriate..

 

[Art Eatman]

At this point, I guess folks who might have some doubts oughta try the various ideas and actually see what is best for keeping one's balance. It's the old bit about "One test is better than a thousand expert opinions."

(All together, now: "A one and a two and a step and a step..." Provide your own music of your choice.)

, Art

 

[Don Gwinn]

Seriously, while you're trying it, have someone give you firm tap in the chest at different times. It'll make you a believer. Still, you've got to do what you're capable of doing.

When I played high school football, crossing the feet was very, very bad. You were to shuffle. When I got to college, it was required that one run full out (this is a tackle "pulling" parallel to the line) because it was assumed that shuffling was too slow--and also assumed that anyone who wanted to play at that level must be athletic enough to pull it off. Personally, I wasn't. If I took a good shot when my legs were crossed, down I went.

 

[Shaughn Leayme]

You are not really touching ankles merely that it seem's like your trying to.

You donot remain static and it is a sort of shuffle and moving the left or right foot 1/2 to 3/4 the distance towards your other foot and as soon as you touch down you are moving off with the other foot, hence the skipping or bobbing motion.

It will get you out of the line of fire very quickly and with practice, you can fire on the minimal pause when both feet are on the ground and you can still crouch and swivel the upper body to engage without crossing yourself up.

 

[Rosco Benson]

The shuffle, as Erick described, would seem to be the best way to move. One can do it quickly, it is stable, and one can shoot decently while moving in this manner. Watch a good boxer moving laterally and you'll see it in action.

As to which direction to move; this will often be influenced by obstacles, the direction of cover/escape, and other factors. All things being equal, move to your left. It is easier for a right-handed shooter to track a moving target that is moving to his left--so you'll be moving in the direction that is more diffilcult for him if he's right-handed...which, chances are, he'll be.

Rosco