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At 1:21 and 1:35, Ali does this shuffle thing with his feet. How does one do that? I just tried it, and I can't imagine how I would move my feet that rapidly e

At 1:21 and 1:35, Ali does this shuffle thing with his feet. How does one do that? I just tried it, and I can't imagine how I would move my feet that rapidly even with extensive training. I'm pretty lanky. Would it be easier to foot-shuffle if I had Ali's build? Or would it be even harder because of his mass. And does this maneuver have a name? It seems like he does it when he's winding up for a jab combo. To make his punches unpredictable. Am I reading his movements correctly?

kasey_junk 10y ago
One thing people underestimate about boxing is how much training goes into the feet movement. Any boxer at that level can do things with their feet that is pretty baffling. Training your feet and calfs in boxing is extensive. That said one of the things that made Ali so astounding is that for a big guy he was super light on his feet. That foot shuffle doesn't have a name, and he isn't doing it for a tactical advantage. He's showing off. Nearly anyone else on the planet who tried it would have a coach in there ear ripping them a new one. But you know, the greatest of all time gets to do things others can't.
- unclebucknasty 10y ago
  Oh, I do think the shuffle had tactical advantages beyond showing off. It's demoralizing to the opponent, it serves as a distraction, and it's so unorthodox that it momentarily leaves opponents wondering what's coming next. He frequently threw (and landed) off of a shuffle, even if not to devastating effect. But, I agree that it would drive most trainers nuts for any other boxer. And, yeah, Ali's gifts and confidence made it possible for him to get away with a lot of the kind of stuff that would drive trainers crazy (including Dundee early on). For, instance, consistently carrying his hands so low violated a Golden Rule of boxing and keeping the hands up is one of the first things kids are taught about the sport. Later, he fashioned the rope a dope and other techniques to compensate for his then diminished speed. Kind of reminds me of Bruce Lee. Improvise. Create. Take what your opponent gives you.
unclebucknasty 10y ago
Yeah, he made the "Ali Shuffle" look easy! He was one of those people who seemed almost "engineered" for a specific sport. I'm no kinesiologist, but I'm guessing the secret to his speed--including that shuffle--was related to insanely tuned fast-twitch muscle fibers. It's the same muscle fiber type that provides the explosive power and acceleration that give many basketball players their impressive vertical leaping abilities. These muscles can also be further developed to some extent, and he was also a really hard worker. Amazingly, he later declared that he hated every second of his training, but knew it's what he had to do.
carterehsmith 10y ago
I think the name is simply "Ali shuffle".
- unclebucknasty 10y ago
  That's what I've always heard it called.

kasey_junk 10y ago

One thing people underestimate about boxing is how much training goes into the feet movement. Any boxer at that level can do things with their feet that is pretty baffling. Training your feet and calfs in boxing is extensive. That said one of the things that made Ali so astounding is that for a big guy he was super light on his feet. That foot shuffle doesn't have a name, and he isn't doing it for a tactical advantage. He's showing off. Nearly anyone else on the planet who tried it would have a coach in there ear ripping them a new one. But you know, the greatest of all time gets to do things others can't.

unclebucknasty 10y ago
Oh, I do think the shuffle had tactical advantages beyond showing off. It's demoralizing to the opponent, it serves as a distraction, and it's so unorthodox that it momentarily leaves opponents wondering what's coming next. He frequently threw (and landed) off of a shuffle, even if not to devastating effect. But, I agree that it would drive most trainers nuts for any other boxer. And, yeah, Ali's gifts and confidence made it possible for him to get away with a lot of the kind of stuff that would drive trainers crazy (including Dundee early on). For, instance, consistently carrying his hands so low violated a Golden Rule of boxing and keeping the hands up is one of the first things kids are taught about the sport. Later, he fashioned the rope a dope and other techniques to compensate for his then diminished speed. Kind of reminds me of Bruce Lee. Improvise. Create. Take what your opponent gives you.

unclebucknasty 10y ago

Yeah, he made the "Ali Shuffle" look easy! He was one of those people who seemed almost "engineered" for a specific sport. I'm no kinesiologist, but I'm guessing the secret to his speed--including that shuffle--was related to insanely tuned fast-twitch muscle fibers. It's the same muscle fiber type that provides the explosive power and acceleration that give many basketball players their impressive vertical leaping abilities. These muscles can also be further developed to some extent, and he was also a really hard worker. Amazingly, he later declared that he hated every second of his training, but knew it's what he had to do.

carterehsmith 10y ago

I think the name is simply "Ali shuffle".

unclebucknasty 10y ago
That's what I've always heard it called.