Speed Trainers (leg flexors)

[Mistaratsnatch]

I saw these and decided to get them to train with. I haven't exactly used them yet, but i'm wondering if anyone out there has already used them. And your experience with them.

http://www.soccer.com/Images/Catalog...s/300/1578.JPG

[whtouche]

Search and read any number of threads on fencing with weights(ankle, wrist, weight belts, etc)

General consensus is that they are a bad idea, possibly dangerous, and won't help you.

[sloper]

General consensus is that they are a bad idea, possibly dangerous, and won't help you.

They could help; it depends on how you use them. It's a bad idea to use them doing footwork, but if you use them to increase the difficulty of sprints or other speed training, then they will do the job they were designed to do - make your legs more powerful.
Then you can return to practicing footwork and fencing (unencumbered) with your new turbo-charged legs.
(If you worry about a competitive season, do the weighted speed training during off season or when you have a lot of time between comps.)
Ankle and wrist weights are a different story because the added weight at the end of the limb puts a lot of stress on your elbows and knees. And no fencer needs more of that.