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?
The most obvious problem I see is having trouble stopping at the right time.
I agree. Probably it would work best with a coach blowing a whistle and you stop dead wherever you happen to be, then start from a dead stop at the start of the next repeat. Optionally, being tethered might work well. I think the key is to really blast those 20 second sprints, so you probably wouldn't want push-offs and turns interfering if possible.
The most obvious problem I see is having trouble stopping at the right time.
I agree. Probably it would work best with a coach blowing a whistle and you stop dead wherever you happen to be, then start from a dead stop at the start of the next repeat. Optionally, being tethered might work well. I think the key is to really blast those 20 second sprints, so you probably wouldn't want push-offs and turns interfering if possible.
