How to Plant

No shrubbery here.

This information would have saved my ankle back in the day.

When you are going to change direction and/or speed it is important to plant the foot firmly on the ground. All of it. Heel and everything else.

In the beginning don't try to make a high speed direction speed change on your toes. The next step will be on the toes, of course. And based on your agility there should be a small (acute) shin-ground angle. That means the push off is will produce more power in the direction that you want to accelerate in.

No go forth and start breaking the opponents ankles! (figuratively speaking, of course)