Originally posted by Paul Smith
Here's the deal folks...forget about weights...if you REALLY want to make a significant break through in your swimming relative to competition stop swimming for 4-8 weeks and go to kick only workouts...as you ease back into swimming you will have the opportunity to "learn" how to integrate a new and powerful element to your stroke...something that 90% of the swimmers I see competing do not do well....
This really caught my attention. I seem to have been hearing this a lot lately: people coming back after a shoulder op, doing kick only workouts and then having their best seasons ever.
I don't doubt the authenticity of it either. I am just interested on what is actually going on. Why should this be the case?
Has anyone ever scientifically measured the amount the kick contributes to forward propulsion? I mean ratio wise, compared to the arms, what would it be? 80% arms : 20% legs?
What about the swimmers who are great kickers in workouts but can't translate it into faster swimming?
How do we actually integrate the kick into our swimming so that it becomes a new and powerful element to our stroke as Paul suggests?
Would it be fair to say that a big part of the improvement these (post op/ focus on kicking )swimmers achieve can be attributed to the strengthened core which is a result of the additional kicking. In other words more credit given to the strengthened core than increased forward propulsion.
I don't know. I just throw out these ideas for discussion.
Syd
:lmao::lmao: Think 6'4" ballerina.
I've been doing the ballerina sculls. They really do work the forearms and hands. I'm much better at them with a little practice.
If one is doing a hypoxic kick set such as shooters, is it better to do a boatload of them on a comfortable interval? Or do 10 or so with very little rest, take a break and do more? Or alternate?
Oh, sorry about the flu. Sux.
6'6" actually.....and yes i am waiting for my invite to dancing with the stars!
Fort...periodization is the key to answer your question. At this stage in my training I'm doing longer swims/sets with little rest....same for kicking.
Soon I will move into much harder interval training...then begin a quality phase where I'll be getting a lot more rest.
I would however say that even during early season training its important to get some very fast swimming/kicking in with lots of rest 1-2x a week.
:lmao::lmao: Think 6'4" ballerina.
I've been doing the ballerina sculls. They really do work the forearms and hands. I'm much better at them with a little practice.
If one is doing a hypoxic kick set such as shooters, is it better to do a boatload of them on a comfortable interval? Or do 10 or so with very little rest, take a break and do more? Or alternate?
Oh, sorry about the flu. Sux.
6'6" actually.....and yes i am waiting for my invite to dancing with the stars!
Fort...periodization is the key to answer your question. At this stage in my training I'm doing longer swims/sets with little rest....same for kicking.
Soon I will move into much harder interval training...then begin a quality phase where I'll be getting a lot more rest.
I would however say that even during early season training its important to get some very fast swimming/kicking in with lots of rest 1-2x a week.
