The importance of side step

Side step is a useful footwork technique in sparring as it changes the direction and focus of the opponent on you and you on the opponent. As the name goes, side step. It means moving to the side when let's say you are facing the opponent. Side step is useful in both as a feint when attacking and defending. Usually during practice, we were told to move 45 degrees either left or right.

Same theory applies as the rest of the footwork it is important that we slide rather then jump when doing side step. Instead of just moving backward or forward, we can have another option of moving side step.

In fact by doing this technique at certain times may surprise the opponent and that's where we can score.