Anyone ever tried applying this to swimming?
The basic idea is simple. Warmup for five minutes, then eight cycles of 20 seconds all out followed by 10 seconds rest, then five minutes cool down. The entire workout takes 14 minutes.
The method is named for the Japanese physiologist who first proposed it. I think it was first used by the Japanese speed skating team.
I have a hard time believing a 14 minute workout is going to do much for a swimmer, but maybe it's just because it's so far removed from what we're used to. I could see how the main 8X 20 seconds hard, 10 easy would be great for sprinters to do as part of a workout a couple times a week, but having that as the workout in its entirety?
What does everyone else think? Anyone tried it for swimming or any other activities?
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The most obvious problem I see is having trouble stopping at the right time. For example, 20 sec would get me about to the far flags in a 25 yard pool in a set like this. So unless you time for a 25 is 20 sec, the timing would be off. Also, I'm not quite sure what energy system it would train. It's certainly not an aerobic endurance set, but there's not enough rest to make it a true sprint set. Maybe it's about the same as the broken 200's we sometimes swim to prepare for meets?
The most obvious problem I see is having trouble stopping at the right time. For example, 20 sec would get me about to the far flags in a 25 yard pool in a set like this. So unless you time for a 25 is 20 sec, the timing would be off. Also, I'm not quite sure what energy system it would train. It's certainly not an aerobic endurance set, but there's not enough rest to make it a true sprint set. Maybe it's about the same as the broken 200's we sometimes swim to prepare for meets?
