Retreat

[Markstorm]

Can someone give me some tips on how to perform very fast retreats in sabre? My shoe squeaks when I retreat and my coach tells me to stop but I'm confused as to how to accomplish that. Also, how to make them have explosive speed? I'm a newbie in my sabre class and so far I just feel like a dumbass.

P.S.
Any tips on flunges would help too.

[mrbiggs]

If they squeak, you're dragging your feet, a very common fencing problem. (I do it, too.) Do alot of very slow retreats, so you can make sure you have the form right. Don't drag them, make sure you pick your foot up, and then put it down.

In an actual bout, a little dragging won't kill you.

[telkanuru]

Always reach out with the toe of your back foot. Vary the size of your steps as well as the speed of your legs.

[prototoast]

Make sure you are keeping your knees bent and your feet in good position.

Also, building explosive leg muscles is key.

[ThatReallyHurt]

I'm having the same problem. My coach has been getting me to bend my knees properly - I have a habit of standing higher and higher while I do footwork. It's kind of clumsy (and tires out the thighs pretty fast) at first, but getting used to properly bending my knees and keeping proper form is making a big difference speed-wise quite quickly.

[Inquartata]

Bigger steps. And remember that you can cross your feet going back.

More importantly, though, is to learn things to do to keep your opponent from accelerating when chasing you. That way you don't need to retreat really fast in the first place.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Start doing exercises for the quads, calves, adductors and abductors. Namely squats and calf raises. Run up stairs. Use a lunge band. Do insane amounts of footwork. Get those muscles stronger, so you can move faster.

[Elemental]

Try to develop a better sense of balance. There are excercies similar to Tai Chi that you can do improve this. I used to be off balance on my retreats my leg muscles were busier keeping me upright than moving me backwards.

Inq has a very good point about crossing the back leg. If you lift your back leg and let gravity pull you back you can get a fast start to your retreat. Lower your leg back down and let the momentum continue to pull you backwards while you cross your front foot behind your back foot. This allows a quick backwards motion that allows you transition to another type of retreat as you see fit.

[deadly lefty]

also try pushing off with the toe of your leading foot and snap your leg back

[rjccj]

The problem that most people have is that they see retreating as pulling themselves backwards, rather than pushing and driving themselves backwards. When someone accelerates and lunges, the power comes from the backleg, it drives you forward. When you retreat, it's the same thing in reverse, use your front leg to push more than your back leg to pull. Trust your back leg to be there when you push.