Kinesthetic Awareness versus Cognitive Analysis
Usually, I like to stay as
far away as possible from
the "technique" debate. Honestly,
I'm surprised to find myself right
back in the thick of it. I guess
that's understandable considering
how obsessed swimmers are with the
importance of technique. Truthfully,
this debate has nauseated me in the
past for one simple reason.
Swimming is a feeling, not a thought.
It is a kinesthetic awareness, and cannot
be fully understood through cognitive
analysis alone.
We can try and describe the mechanics
involved, but does that idea actually
translate into personalized physiological
adaptation?
Generally speaking, I don't think so.
That's why I prefer training models that
teach the body to feel, opening up a
different kind of thinking. Your muscles
have memory, and your body has intuitive
capabilities. Literally, getting "in touch"
with the water is more likely to deliver
the results you're looking for.
Words like flow, feel, pressure, resistance,
or anything that enhances tactile
understanding. These words are more likely to
enable transference of information into the
swimming action.
The fact is, everyone has different strengths
and weaknesses, and these should be targeted
on a case by case basis. I would never ask
Phelps to swim like Nystrand, or vice
versa. (or a younger version of the two)
Which is why the technique debate appears
to be flawed from the start. The question is,
what works best for you? Sure, there are
general rules, but to get the most out
of your swim you have to reach a personal
level. You need to pay attention to forward
motion and an over-all sense of flow.
If you're one of those people that absolutely
"needs" to think technique during your swim,
I suggest trying the checklist method. In other
words, think of 5-6 things you'd like to work
on and go through the checklist on a regular
basis. Continually move in your mind from one
point to the other, don't localize in one spot
for too long. This ensures that you don't get
"stuck" on one aspect of your swim, and this
method can actually trick your mind into a
kinesthetic state.
Good luck and happy swimming,
Jonathan R. Miller
