The Making of the Advanced Footwork Path with Christina Cruz

Seven-time US National Champion and record-holder for the most NYC Golden Gloves Championship wins, Christina Cruz has the best footwork in boxing. FightCamp Co-Founder and Trainer Tommy Duquette has known Christina for over a decade and can attest to her incredible skills.

Christina is bringing her extraordinary talent to FightCamp with the Advanced Footwork Path now available on the FightCamp App.

“Footwork is the foundation of boxing. Everything starts at your toes,” explains Christina. The best fighters in history including the legendary Muhammed Ali have demonstrated the importance of knowing how to move your feet in the ring. Now, the modern-day master Christina Cruz will lead you through six chapters and a series of drills to help you step up your boxing game.

Here’s a peek at what Christina will be covering, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it was like for her working with FightCamp.

Toe-to-Toe with a Champ

Christina sets you up for success from mastering basic footwork to learning how and when to use moves like cross stepping, pivoting, the Bounce, the Juke, and more. This path covers everything you need to know to slip strikes from your opponent and improve your position to land a more powerful punch.

Chapter 1 - Basic Footwork

In this chapter, you’ll learn basic footwork – forward, backward, and lateral movement, the foundation of boxing. Christina will also explain the rules of footwork before and after striking.

Chapter 2 - The Bounce

It’s all about the Bounce for this chapter – a fluid movement that helps you find your movement and create space to strike. Christina has used the Bounce in every single one of her 200+ fights.

Chapter 3 - Cross Step and Lead Pivot

Here you’ll learn about the cross step and lead pivot. This kind of footwork will help you create angles and strike, but also help you slip punches. In the 2016 USA Nationals, Christina used this to make her opponent miss and pay.

Chapter 4 - Feinting and Striking

In the 4th chapter, you’ll learn to add striking before and after feinting.

Chapter 5 - The Juke

Learn the Juke move - a quick side-to-side movement that will help fake your opponent out of their position and give you room to counter. This is one of Christina’s favorite moves when fighting against an aggressive opponent.

Chapter 6 - Skip Step

Here Christina shows you how to do the skip step. This is a footwork movement that will allow you more time to think about your next move while being defensive. You can also use the skip step as a reset.

Drill 1 - Basic Step & Punch Drill

Time to practice your skills with this drill focused on stepping rear and stepping lead.

Drill 2 - Bounce & Strike Drill

In this drill, Christina shows you how to punch off the boxer’s bounce.

Drill 3 - Pivot & Punch Drill

Here Christina helps you nail down pivoting with this drill combining the lead pivot and cross step.

Drill 4 - Skip Step & Attack Drill

In this drill, Christina challenges you to add the skip step move in with your punching. This drill is excellent for teaching you an even more advanced way to create angles on your opponent and be elusive.

A Collaboration Years in the Making

With the finest footwork skills in the ring today, Tommy wanted to give the FightCamp community an opportunity to learn from the absolute best.

Find out about Christina’s experience on making the Advanced Footwork Path:

Why is this series important for FightCamp members or anyone?

Footwork is the key to effective movement which will allow and position you to throw your punches correctly. With the right footwork, you can properly land harder and more effective punches. Great footwork can also help with your speed and timing when competing against a hard puncher.

Why are you the perfect person to lead this series?

I’m the perfect person to lead this series because I have 17 years of experience in this sport. My footwork and speed have been the biggest attribute of my success in the ring.

How did you get in contact with FightCamp?

My good friend Tommy from FightCamp has always told me he wanted me to be a part of it. We came up in the amateurs together, so we trust each other’s capabilities in and out of the ring and always maintained a positive relationship. We found the right time and made it happen.

What was your experience like on set?

Oh my gosh! It was scary and exciting at the same time. I’ve always been kind of shy in front of the cameras, but I love taking on challenges that make me uncomfortable. The crew helped me a lot. I felt so comfortable with them and by the end of it, I felt like they were family. I had so much fun.

What was your favorite part of the experience?

All of it. Challenging what makes me nervous (being in front of the cameras), learning what FightCamp has to offer, hanging out with the FightCamp crew, and getting to know all of them. Would definitely do it again.

What is something you learned while you were on set filming with Fight Camp?

How hard the crew works and how hard it is for the trainers to constantly have the energy and positivity to be in front of the cameras. Not only do they coach, they actually do every workout with you. Imagine filming 2 or 3 workouts in one day. It’s insane and physically challenging.

What was the hardest part of the experience?

The hardest part for me was trying to keep my energy up after filming for more than 8 hours. It’s tough.

If you were going to film another series with FightCamp, what would the subject matter be?

It would probably be an Olympic style boxing course or a counter punching course.

Talk about the FightCamp trainers. How do they differ from other trainers and coaches in fitness?

The energy. Like I said before, filming for as many hours as they do is extremely hard. They make it seem so easy. Not only are they trainers, most of them have actually competed in fighting sports so they know what they’re doing.

How does FightCamp stand out in the fitness industry?

It actually works. Not only are you burning calories and meeting your fitness goals, you’re actually learning something. How to defend yourself. How to fight and build confidence and you’re learning it from coaches who have lived it.

Is training like a fighter a superior way to work out? Why? How is it different than other fitness modalities?

It definitely is. Training like a fighter is not just training. It’s a way of life. For myself personally, boxing is not just a sport. It exposes my true self outside of the ring. I think training like a fighter does this for everyone, whether they recognize it or not.

If there is one point from your series that you would underline in bold for the FightCamp Members, what would it be?

FOOTWORK IS THE FOUNDATION OF BOXING. EVERYTHING STARTS AT YOUR TOES.

Did anything unexpected happen while you were filming with FightCamp?

Yes, I’m not as bad in front of the camera as I thought I was…haha!

Have you ever filmed or created something like this before? If so, how is this different/better?

Yes I have, but nothing of this magnitude. Everything was top notch. The production, filming site, the people. Everything. They treated me great.

Anything else you would like to share?

Be open. Not only listen but comprehend and execute. It’s easier than you think. My footwork path is fun and you’ll learn a lot. When you get your footwork down, everything will make sense. It will click.

Ready to Step It Up?

Take your workouts to the next level and train like a fighter with the at-home connected fitness solution used by world champion boxers Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather. FightCamp has everything you need to work out on your schedule, with premium boxing equipment and hundreds of on-demand strength, conditioning, kickboxing, boxing, core, and recovery classes led by real fighters.

Get exclusive access to professional guidance from industry experts like Christina Cruz only with the FightCamp App. Learn how to move like a champion with insider secrets from the fighter with the best footwork in boxing.

As Mike Tyson said - “FightCamp is the next level of training!”