The coordinated movement of the feet to maintain balance, create angles, and position oneself advantageously during athletic competition. It's fundamental to boxing, fencing, tennis, basketball, and many other sports.
Compound of 'foot' and 'work,' first recorded in the 1890s in boxing contexts. The term emphasizes that foot movement requires skill, practice, and conscious effort rather than being instinctive.
Great footwork is often invisible to casual observers but represents the foundation of all elite athletic performance—Muhammad Ali didn't just 'float like a butterfly' for show, his footwork created angles that made him nearly impossible to hit while positioning him perfectly to counter-attack!
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