Last week, I blundered upon a kick set that proved to be fun and challenging for the likes of me, that is to say, a fellow with pretty piss-poor SDKs.
The idea behind the set was to gradually build up my dolphin kicking capacity by starting out with all flutter kick and 0 dolphin kicks per length, then adding (1) dolphin kick off each wall per 50, then (2) per length per 50, then (3) per wall per 50, and so on, till I was kicking the whole thing butterfly.
This happened at the 1450 yard mark. By this point, I'd gradually worked my way up to 30 dolphin kicks (and 0 flutter kicks) per 25 to finish a set that ultimately proved 1500 yards of kicking.
I wrote about this blundering set and its aftermath two days later on my abdominal muscles in my most recent vlog entry here forums.usms.org/blog.php
Taking 30 dolphin kicks per 25, I realize, sounds pretty godawful to the natural cetaceans in our midst. Anyhow, a couple vlog readers wondered what the average number required is, so I thought I would conduct a poll.
This isn't an ordinary poll--I don't want responders to answer off the top of their heads. Rather, the next time you at practice, do this experiment and report back your actual findings.
1. Use a kick board
2. Do not use fins.
3. Conduct this experiment in a 25 yard course for consistency of replies.
4. Kick butterfly for an entire 50 without stopping. Count the number of total number of kicks you take. (I know you would take less doing actual SDKs without a board, but for this particular poll, please do it with a board on the surface.)
In my case, it took me 30 dolphin kicks down, and 30 dolphin kicks back, for the unremarkable score of 60. Please do not ask me what my time was, because I am sure it was over a minute.
And PLEASE only respond after you're tried this--do NOT go from memory or approximate what you think you should or could do. I want an accurate count!
Note: one last thing--just kick as normally as you can kick butterfly (which in my case is not that normal). No need to try for some record by gliding as far as possible after each kick; neither should you feel obligated to do millions of tiny whip like kicks, as if in imitation of your father's contribution to your begetting.
Just do it normally, or as normally as you can. I want to get an idea of what the range is.
Thanks!
I've never seen a skilled/competitive swimmer kick all the way to the wall. There's always a stroke to set up the open turn at the wall. In fact, I have seen the occasional flip turn with a board.
Skip
Thanks Skip... guess I'll need to change my way of kicking with a board if I want to look like a real swimmer! LOL ;)
Perhaps I'm a bit confused... is there a difference between several short, quick deep breaths (my interpretation of hyperventilating) and a few long deep breaths? We occasionally do 25 yard underwaters (various kinds) on :40 and I'm certainly guilty of the latter behavior. My purpose is to clear the excessive CO2 buildup in my lungs... not to eek a few extra seconds out of the next underwater. Hopefully I'm not endangering myself but at the same time earning a pass on the broken glass laxative going around.
The real danger is when people are trying to swim as many laps as they can underwater, especially when no one else is around. Only doing 25s with other people in your lane is quite safe. You won't be underwater long enough to pass out and someone else in your lane would notice very quickly.
When folks here do kick sets with a board, do you use the last 6-8 ft to stroke with your arm into the wall or do you kick all the way to the wall?
I've never seen a skilled/competitive swimmer kick all the way to the wall. There's always a stroke to set up the open turn at the wall. In fact, I have seen the occasional flip turn with a board.
Skip
Not recommended these days because of the risk of shallow water blackout:
www.swimmingcoach.org/.../9903-1.htm
be careful :)
I find it incredibly hard to believe that 2-4 deep breaths is going to lead to shallow water (or any water, for that matter) black out. Perhaps in someone completely unused to swimming, or with some kind of condition, but in a regular, reasonably fit person, I just don't think it's going to happen.
Our pool has posted signs saying, "No prolonged breath holding!" They have also recently changed the hot tub temperature to something a bit cooler than warm spit. I don't mean to sound like that crusty old codger in the Saturday Night Live skits ("We used to drink broken glass as a laxative, and we LIKED it that way!"), but honestly, the insurance industry's abject fear of any risk whatsoever is turning us into a nation of skittish infants!
How are you going to do repeat 25 yard fin-less SDKs underwater without taking in a bit more than usual ration of air?
I find it incredibly hard to believe that 2-4 deep breaths is going to lead to shallow water (or any water, for that matter) black out. Perhaps in someone completely unused to swimming, or with some kind of condition, but in a regular, reasonably fit person, I just don't think it's going to happen.
Our pool has posted signs saying, "No prolonged breath holding!" They have also recently changed the hot tub temperature to something a bit cooler than warm spit. I don't mean to sound like that crusty old codger in the Saturday Night Live skits ("We used to drink broken glass as a laxative, and we LIKED it that way!"), but honestly, the insurance industry's abject fear of any risk whatsoever is turning us into a nation of skittish infants!
How are you going to do repeat 25 yard fin-less SDKs underwater without taking in a bit more than usual ration of air?
Then hyperventilate away! It's a free country :) I will, however, definitely not recommend hyperventilating before breath holding to my swimmers or to anyone I know. Better safe than sorry.
There's some question about the value of breath holding work benefitting swimming in the first place. If it's questionable to begin with, why add an unnecessary element of danger?
I like underwater 25's and I like breathing patterns because they keep me somewhat entertained on longer pulling sets. I don't ever hyperventilate beforehand and I'm just fine. The hyperventilating seems not only unnecessary but possibly dangerous. If you need to do it and like to live on the edge - go for it!
Perhaps I'm a bit confused... is there a difference between several short, quick deep breaths (my interpretation of hyperventilating) and a few long deep breaths? We occasionally do 25 yard underwaters (various kinds) on :40 and I'm certainly guilty of the latter behavior. My purpose is to clear the excessive CO2 buildup in my lungs... not to eek a few extra seconds out of the next underwater. Hopefully I'm not endangering myself but at the same time earning a pass on the broken glass laxative going around.
Taking four quick deep breaths is not really hyperventilating. Hyperventilating is taking enough rapid deep breaths to blow off CO2 faster than it can accumulate sufficiently to lower your CO2 below normal and slightly alkalizing your blood. Since the urge to breathe is dependent on the CO2 concentration, the danger is that you can run out of O2 without having the urge to breathe and pass out.
Since hyperventilation alkalizes the blood I hyperventilate after races to buffer the accumulated lactic acid. Similarly I hyperventilate before a race to put off the muscle burning from lactic acid accumulation. Since I am only under water off the start for 7 sec max for the breaststroke pullout, I am in no danger.
