Retire

A retreating movement in order to maintain perfect measure.

This can be done as a rearward gathering step, with the rear leg moving back 6 inches, then the lead leg following.

Sometimes it is also made as a spring back with both feet, though Hutton advises this is poor play as in reality one cannot be sure of smooth level ground in a fighting situation.

Hutton also admonishes us not to shuffle back repeatedly so far that we are out of distance entirely, and against an opponent who does so we should press them.