How To Do The Ali Shuffle | Proper Technique

Heavyweight boxer Muhammed Ali was one the best athletes of all time, earning him the moniker of The Greatest. He was the first to win three world heavyweight boxing championships, defending his title 19 times. His record of 56 wins out of 61 spectacular fights, with 37 by KO, earned him legendary status.

The History of the Ali Shuffle

When he debuted the now infamous ‘Ali Shuffle’ in his TKO win against Cleveland Williams on November 14, 1966, it was a sight to behold. As a massive 6’3” heavyweight, to see Ali’s feet move at lightning speed wowed the audience – and most importantly, his opponent. Ali’s impressive footwork is now used in boxing training and competition.

What Is the Ali Shuffle?

The Muhammad Ali Shuffle is a rapid footwork maneuver that can be used to confuse your opponent. It’s also a great boxing drill to improve agility and coordination. The Ali Shuffle requires you to essentially ‘shuffle’ your feet back and forth, but at a very swift speed, enough to make it impossible for your opponent to ignore. Once they drop their eyes for a split second, you step in for the knockout punch.

Good boxing footwork requires you to be light on your feet. As The Greatest said, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” Footwork is all about being agile, evading your opponent, and catching them off guard. The Ali Shuffle is a perfect example of how the right footwork can give you a winning edge when you use it strategically in a boxing match.

How Do You Do the Ali Shuffle?

The Ali Shuffle is an excellent footwork drill for boxing. It takes a lot of practice to try to reach Ali’s speed, but it’s well worth it for any boxer to add it to their training. It can also be paired with an agility ladder to increase the challenge and your heart rate. Here's how to do the Ali Shuffle exercise:

Ali Shuffle

• Start on the balls of your feet

• Switch your feet back and forth, front to back, as fast as you can, without your heels touching the floor

• Stay as close to the floor as you can while moving around the mat, shuffling your feet back and forth

• The more you practice, the faster you will become

Pro Tip: Your heels cannot touch the floor, but the quicker you move the easier it is for the soles of your feet to do the work.

Movement Key Points

Here are some key points to focus on when performing The Ali Shuffle:

Stay on the balls of your feet

Heels stay off the ground

Keep feet close to the floor

Move feet forward & backward quickly

Is the Ali Shuffle Effective?

The Ali Shuffle is a great move to work the entirety of your lower body. Like all footwork, it targets the length of your legs and challenges your abdominals. Since you have to stay balanced and maintain your center of gravity, it’s a full-body workout. It is similar to running in place, though with more focused control and speed.

Muscles Used:

• Calves

• Quadriceps

• Glutes

• Abdominals

Train Like a Champion

It’s often said that the Ali Shuffle can be imitated, but never replicated. To see the massive heavyweight’s feet become a blur of motion during a match was what made this move so mesmerizing. Muhammed Ali was a true champion, and it wasn’t just his skill as a fighter that made him a legend. Ali was a barrier-busting pioneer, activist, and philanthropist with an unbeatable charisma and a fighting spirit in and outside of the ring.

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