How should you move around an opponent while maintaining a base?

• A. Take large leaps to confuse the opponent.
• B. Keep your feet wide and cross one foot behind.
• C. Use small, controlled steps, keep the feet under the hips, and avoid crossing legs.
• D. Shuffle only the shoulders while feet stay still.

Answer: (C)

Stable movement around an opponent comes from keeping a solid base, which means taking small, controlled steps with your feet roughly under your hips. This stance lets you stay balanced, ready to change direction quickly, and keeps you in range to defend or attack without losing position. Large leaps throw you off balance and make you slow to react, while crossing a foot behind the other weakens the stance and can telegraph or hinder your movement. Moving only the shoulders with the feet still doesn’t change your position and leaves you exposed. By keeping compact steps with the feet under the hips, you maintain both balance and mobility to adapt as the situation shifts.