*** kick on kcikboards & pull buoys

RE: *** kick on kcikboards & pull buoys

Former Member — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 17:45:44 GMT

Thanks Bill, I can't wait to get the magazine. Put a rush on magazine will ya! I have coached in clinics and at the ASCA World Clinic with Mike Collins, and he is one of the great assets in masters swimming. We think of Mike as a triathlete, and distance swimmer, but I have seen him swim some great 200 breaststroke races. And I am always envious of him at Nova, some of the best breaststrokers have competed for Nova and Coach David Salo. The nicest womens 100 stroke I have ever seen was Stacianna Stitts in her first heat of the 100 ***. It was a thing of beauty and very fast. Everyone, just remember it is OK to practice slowly in breaststroke, just use good form. And one of the best tips is: Count your kicks per length. Kick with your head up for several lengths, then kick with your head in line with your spine looking down for several lengths.

RE: *** kick on kcikboards & pull buoys

Former Member — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 14:32:58 GMT

Coincidentally... The January/February issue of SWIMMER magazine has an article called "Breaststroke Kick Drills: To Challenge, Condition and Build Body Awareness." The article was written and directed by Mike Collins, the 1990 USMS Coach of the Year, who is currently the head Masters coach of the Nova Masters in Irvine, Calif. The article is accompanied by some great photography by Peter Bick. In the article, Mike talks about the use of equipment and other ideas on how to improve your breaststroke kick. All types of swimmers, ranging from beginners to competitors, should learn more about breaststroke kick from the article. We are in the process of mailing magazines this week, and depending on your local postal service, most people should receive their magazines within the week. Enjoy! Bill

RE: *** kick on kcikboards & pull buoys

Former Member — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 11:47:02 GMT

I also agree that warm up is critical. Wayne is right, and I should have said more on that than I did. If I do a lot of *** stroke, I will do AT LEAST a 200 SLOW almost lazy kick. Otherwise, I will get joint pain in my knees. If I warm up properly, no problem whatsoever.

RE: *** kick on kcikboards & pull buoys

Former Member — Sat, 17 Dec 2005 16:30:08 GMT

Kicking is the heart of breaststroke, and kicking drills are how to get a great kick. Kicking too wide and too hard at the start causes groin pulls. Kicking too narrow causes knee problems and is less propulsive. You must warm up the kick SLOWLY, doing several hundred yards or meters easy!!! This is the time to also kick on your back, to see if the knees are coming up which will cause MAJOR resistance when swimming breaststroke. It is far better to kick without a kick board when you are trying to get the main kick set going. And kick with the head down. Kick by pushing off underwater. Then kick to the surface, but don't breath on that kick. Then breathe on every other kick, trying to keep the head underwater at least one inch during the entire kick. And always count the kicks, how else to find out if you are getting better?

RE: *** kick on kcikboards & pull buoys

Allen Stark — Sat, 17 Dec 2005 07:46:21 GMT

I agree with Bluehorn about the snorkle and with Wayne about the slow warm up. I think if your knee is hurting like that you should cut back on your breaststroke kicking until it's better. Also putting ice on your knees after swimming helps. I find the eggbeater drills put less strain on my knees so you might try them instead of regular breaststroke. If you are stopping on the recovery it may be from bending your leg at the hip. The length of your leg from hip to knee should not effect your drag as it should be streamlined at all times.

RE: *** kick on kcikboards & pull buoys

Former Member — Sat, 17 Dec 2005 07:01:50 GMT

Alright! Thanks Wayne and Bluehorn. Well, I'm getting an annoying sore knee now probably from kicking with a pull buoy between my legs everyday this week, each day kicking for a loooong time. It started hurting sharply just below the knee cap, only when I straighten my knee to the maximum, almost with a curvature towards the back. The rest of the knee is dully sore. The pain isn't severe at all nor does it stop me from moving, it's just noticeable. What can I do to get rid of it? Also any good stretches to do if I get knee twinges while swimming? I find that the kickboards put a lot of pressure on my neck and shoulders too, and my shoulders will be sore the next day after a long kickboard set. I feel that I decelerate VERY rapidly during recovery of the legs and would almost stop. I have very long legs, is that detrimental? Like the part of my leg above my knee is very long, so I think it's causing a lot of resistance during the recovery.

RE: *** kick on kcikboards & pull buoys

Former Member — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 16:04:20 GMT

Warm up with a *** stroke kick for atleast 200 yards at a nice and easy pace. This will help a lot. I cannot over recomend doing the kick with a snorkle. It really allows you to do the kick with undulation and streamlining like you do in full stroke. Plus, it really allows you to completly focus on the bottom half of your stroke without the complication of breathing.

RE: *** kick on kcikboards & pull buoys

Former Member — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 13:07:50 GMT

Elite breaststrokers kick wider than they would with a kickboard because it allows them to get a more powerful kick. I think the drill was designed to help you remember to keep your knees together, but not necessarily that close together. That drill puts a lot of pressure on the knees, and I got a few knee twinges yesterday doing it. Which brings me to my question: how do you get rid of knee twinges? any stretches?

RE: *** kick on kcikboards & pull buoys

Former Member — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 11:20:37 GMT

Well, if the swimmer in the picture had a pull buoy between his legs, it would fall out! Hmmm, maybe I wasn't clear... the swimmer is Brendan Hansen swimming breastroke, not doing a pull buoy drill. The start of the breastroke kick does not require your knees to be together tight enough to keep a pull buoy between your legs. But to get technique like his where the knees are inside the feet and just a little outside the hips, using the pull buoy is a good drill to force yourself to hold your knees in. It's an exaggerated position, but as I mentioned, it helps to correct the problem of having the knees too wide.

RE: *** kick on kcikboards & pull buoys

Former Member — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 06:46:17 GMT

Well, if the swimmer in the picture had a pull buoy between his legs, it would fall out! Bob

RE: *** kick on kcikboards & pull buoys

Former Member — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 06:27:55 GMT

Nkace, Using a pull buoy to practice breastroke kick is a good way to work on a bad habit that many people have, that is: bringing the knees too far apart. The knees should be inside of the feet and not much wider than the hips. It's hard to do. I have attached a picture of a good look at the right way to do it. upload.wikimedia.org/.../Hansen_breaststroke.jpg

RE: *** kick on kcikboards & pull buoys

nkace — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 02:44:28 GMT

I am don't mean to sound lame but how do you have a pull buoy in between your legs when doing *** stroke?

RE: *** kick on kcikboards & pull buoys

Former Member — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 15:54:33 GMT

Doing the kick with a pull buoy is good for feel, but it can be hard on the knees if done to much. I would also warm up very well before doing it. I like to kick in streamline with a snorkle or in streamline on my back. The snorkle allows you to get into a good rythmic undulation and helps you to work on your glide. Kicking on your back helps with bringing your heels to your butt instead of bringing your knees up. If you bring your knees up instead of bringing your heels back you will not get a good push because your legs will partially come out of the water. Hope this helps.