How can I improve my fencing footwork?

I%26#039;d like to improve my speed drastically. While I have solid bladework, balance, and distance, my speed is lacking by more than I would like. Are there any drills or tips that could help improve my speed of advance/retreat?





Thanks in advance.|||Great thinking about footwork being the key to speed! It%26#039;s so overlooked.





Skipping rope will help you with foot speed. It strengthens the calves and foot muscles that give you spring when you move. Box jumps will help with explosiveness.





There is some disagreement among fencers about staying on your toes, but Aldo Nadi preferred the rear leg be %26quot;loaded%26quot; with the weight on the toes instead of flat. He felt this was quicker and better for footwork.





In answer to your question about what they are, Box jumps / box leaps are really simple - you just jump up onto a box or other raised platform with both feet, then back down with both feet - don%26#039;t use your arms to %26quot;flap%26quot; or leverage you upwards, just concentrate on legs. Typically people start with a 12 inch box and work up to 24 inch box. I use 4 cinder blocks 2 wide and 2 high, and I tie them together through the holes. Works just fine.|||In addition to suicides and jump rope skipping as have already been suggested, try a variant of box jumps. Box jumps by themselves strengthen your leg muscles. To improve both strength and coordination, try this variant. Step up on the box like climbing a step, then bring the other foot up next to the first. Then step down with the first leg and bring the other leg down. Repeat this as fast as you can for a minute. Rest for thirty seconds, then repeat. Your speed and endurance will benefit greatly.





Your regular fencing warm-up routine should include a period of easy jogging to loosen up, followed by high skipping, skipping backwards and %26quot;grapevines,%26quot; in which you run sideways alternating right leg passing in front of the left, then behind. Then grapevine facing the other direction, so that your left leg passes in front of your right, then behind on the next step. |||Salutations,


Practice with leg wieghts, or something that hampers your speed. then when you are moving unencumbered, your speed will slowly and noticably improve. also learn to be comfortable with all your wieght on the front of your feet, near the toes. the more you move flat footed, the more your center of gravity shifts. I personally never Fence flat footed. Cheers.|||I know it sounds silly, but dance lessons. Dance is all about footwork and coordination. Speed is important, but being able to make minor adjustments with your legs and feet quickly can make your retreat and advance more successful.





And before you discount it, it%26#039;s what pushed me up into the captain%26#039;s spot for my high school fencing team. Swing, salsa, and tango.|||Box leaps and suicide sprints can get you power and speed in your legs for that little extra quickness. Work on those and keep training, practice will help you as well. Pick the fast guys and/or girls in your class to fence with and you%26#039;ll be forced to pick things up.





Have fun.|||practices moving in low deep stances. when you can move fast in a low stance you can move even faster in a higher stance.


this will also help build your leg muscles.