Learning L-Steps & V-Steps in Boxing
- jamie03066
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
02.10.2025
Hour five of my senior client's private Boxing course finished his footwork specific training on the L and V-steps. These techniques are particularly effective for defensive fighters who can move out of range and then return in a more advantageous position.
L-Step - Probably best exemplified by the legendary Sugar Ray Leonard, this technique involves sliding backwards from an opponent then sliding out on an horizontal angle before returning to attack. It is one of the all-time great escape moves, equally effective against pressure fighters and opponents you wish execute hit and run tactics on.
V-Step - Willie Pep is the most memorable exponent of this technique. Amongst his other complex footwork movements, Pep would V-step out and switch stance to move back in. It shares similarities with the shift-step in the way the fighter switches stances, but is not as explosive works more as a drawing technique whereas the D'Amato shift is more about switches to fight in close.
We deconstructed these movements, isolating just feet with me moving forward and my client using these steps to move away progressing to using jabs (especially the body-jab) and other punches, eventually free-sparring to integrate the footwork.
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