Foil Fencing Retreat Check Step

Video Transcript

"The retreat check step, or the check step retreat, is exactly the opposite of what we just looked at, and both of these moves are playing with, they're getting inside the head of the opponent. They're playing with distance and cadence, and you trying to take your opponent off guard, make them think you're doing something different, or surprise them with a distance that is either closer or longer than they expected. So the check step retreat, as you might image, I instead of taking a little step forward on this, I take a small step back, as if I am going to retreat, and see how my opponent responds, and from then I am already geared up to take a big advance, or some other sort of advancing motion, like a lunge or a Balestra lunge, or something to cover that distance. So let's take a look at what that might look like in action. If Siri and I were playing with distance, sizing each other up, I would have a good opportunity to, if I realize that she follows my retreats with advances and my advances with retreats. Again, if I can take advantage of any opportunity I have to move her forward, when I'm in control of where we're moving, that's a good, that's good news for my strategy. Because she moves forward, I take advantage of the attack, and then I can close that remaining distance as I need to. So again, the check step, the check step retreat all about throwing your opponent off guard, and making the distance between you closer or farther away as you need it."