The pivot is one of the fastest ways to change directions. It’s quicker than circling out, and it keeps you at a close range to your opponent for a counter-strike.
The ability to quickly change angles gives you the opportunity to avoid getting hit, and to hit your opponent before they can readjust themselves to your new position. As an Orthodox Fighter, you’ll probably find pivoting to your left easier to learn first. Starting in your fight stance, feet shoulder width apart, hands up, chin down.
Your lead leg steps forward, onto the ball of your foot, at a slight angle to the outside of your opponent. Push off your back leg to drive and shift your weight to pivot in a semi-circle to the left. Step. Pivot. Turn.
Your whole body should move, landing back in your fight stance. Moving the other direction, I call this a Side-Step. An Orthodox Fighter fighting another Right-Handed Fighter, would be positioning themselves towards the open side of their opponent.
This involves a slight stance change. Again, starting in your fight stance, this time your right foot steps forward, as though you were switching your stance. Land on the ball of your foot, at a slight angle, again to the outside of your opponent. Pushing off your left leg, when you pivot and turn, both feet should face towards the direction of your opponent.
Practice the pivot by adding forward and backwards movement, keeping your footwork fundamentals in mind. Take two steps forward, then pivot left. Two steps back and pivot left again. Two steps forward, then side-step pivot right. Take two steps back, and side-step pivot right.
Cycle through these four combinations for a full 3-minute round. Take notice of your posture and balance when you land in your pivot. Learning the pivot correctly will open up different angles for your attacks, and you can use the pivot as part of your defense strategy to escape and counter.