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I noticed that the footwork is more Step and Slide in MMA, Western Muay Thai, and Kickboxing. However in Muay Thai Traditional, its more step step and march march (no sliding in Traditional). Rather than asking what is better, what is root cause and reasons behind these different movements? If athlete understands the advantages/disadvantages for each, they can make their own decision when to use. I noticed the deviations as going through footwork stance videos.

MMA and Kickboxing:

https://youtu.be/7Cwb-lzzv1A?t=25

https://youtu.be/7K0nTUVIrvc?t=129

Muay Thai Traditional:

https://youtu.be/HHgCf1CnBqY?t=356

https://youtu.be/9UMosqyFgYg?t=125

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What you are seeing is actually not a preference towards sliding the feet or not sliding the feet. It's actually a tiny shift in where the fighter's balance is.

When a person stands they will usually have their weight over the heel of the foot. When they walk they will put the heel down first. It's the natural way of walking. This is the way they are standing and walking in the Muay Thai video.

However many martial arts will advocate keeping the weight over the ball of the foot (that is to say close to the toes) instead. This is what you are seeing in the 'MMA' style videos. I believe this is more common in styles with a Japanese influence. In the style I learn (Japanese Shorinji Kempo) for example we always use this way of standing once we are advanced enough to have learned it.

As for the advantages or disadvantages...

The traditional Muay Thai method allows for very heavy kicks however kicks of this kind can compromise balance and require you to change stance because you are kicking through the target.

The weight on the ball of the foot is favoured if you prefer a light kick that doesn't follow through. You might call this a 'snap kick'. This is particularly useful if you are point fighting rather than full contact sparing because although your kick won't have as much power it will be faster and more controlled.

The end of this video by Jesse Enkamp shows the difference in kick style.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ6gGWjqhUk

Muay Thai from what I have seen has a large aspect involving catching legs as well. Having your leg trapped is probably less hazadous if your weight is further back.

In conclusion look at the overall stance rather than the contact with the floor. The stance drives contact or lack thereof not the other way around.

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  • thanks for the answer, whether weight is on ball or heel, I don't think this answer fundamentally addresses why they Slide their feet, that was one of my main questions
    – mattsmith5
    Nov 17, 2021 at 16:36
  • my coach asked me to stop making their slide-slight friction sound, that many fighters use, that was his style preference
    – mattsmith5
    Nov 17, 2021 at 16:38
  • None of the examples you give are hugely different in terms of contact with the floor. They are not literally sliding.
    – Huw Evans
    Nov 18, 2021 at 15:23
  • hi Huw, they are sliding their feet across the floor, light dragging, other one is picking it up, just curious about the differences, since coach asked me to change methodology to his method, thats why it came up
    – mattsmith5
    Nov 18, 2021 at 16:46

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