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
Swam with Tiffany in Boulder this morning, she had a great set that she told me about which I adapted a bit...Fort this is all you baby!:
In a 25yd pool 100's as follows
- Push off on the opposite side of the starting blocks, kick 7-11 SDK's surfacing into cruise free with a strong 6 beat (overkick)
- at the first wall finish hands first and go immediately into a 10 second all out kick against the wall.
- Stop, then grab the backstroke start bar and go into a back start, 7-9 SDK's then cruise backstroke with a strong 6 beat kick (overkick)...race finish touch on the opposite wall
- immediately start 3rd 25 doing forward "V" scull (on your back, feet out of the water looking toward the opposite side sculling)
- At the final wall when your feet touch pull into the wall then explode with as many SDK's back as you can go before taking a breath then easy free to wall.
Recover, repeat, vomit....
I'm going to do it tomorrow! Thanks for posting it!
OK now were into hydrodynamics again which seems to bore many,but,when you exceed your hull speed(see my much maligned prior thread:thhbbb:) you are beginning to hydroplane,however to completely hydroplane your whole body would have to be skimming over the surface.I don't know at what speed you would be completely hydroplaning but it is faster than we are(currently) capable of swimming. Since people water ski bare foot at about 50 mph it is clearly less than that.I have felt that I was hydroplaning while body surfing and I guess that was at about 10 mph.
- immediately start 3rd 25 doing forward "V" scull (on your back, feet out of the water looking toward the opposite side sculling)
Thanks Paul, looks like a great aerobic workout. Can't wait to try it. But I can't quite picture how to do the 3rd 25. It kind of reminds me of what my mother and aunt used ot do in the sea when they didn't want to get their hair wet. They would lie on their backs in the water, feet and head sticking out, sculling and chatting away. But I am sure this is not what you had in mind!
Syd
What I have found is that the arms are in the bow wave. The bow wave sets up just infront of the head so the hands are in the bow wave and this is how the body rises when we are at top speed. This contrary to some beliefs is planing as far as I am concerned. By having the hands in the bow wave maybe we are hydroplaning at low speeds. Matt Mann was the first person to tell me this, he called it Swimming Downhill. He said the thing to do is get the body to get on top the bow wave and you will then be Swimming Downhill. He told me this in 1952.
Body surfing all we have to do is extend the arms and get them ahead of the breaking wave and we soon are on top of that wave. We are then really traveling with ease.
Can we catch our own bow wave and use it, I think we can.
How the body surfer does it here www.theage.com.au/.../1073437405211.html
That is an awesome time, but perhaps all of your :notworthy: could be reserved for private messages.
Richard Abrahams and I have been corresponding through e-mail, and here is a portion of a recent letter...
"I’m very flattered by your kind remarks. I’m sorry you had to take any grief from other posters for your enthusiasm. I’ve really enjoyed your posts and the obvious joy you get from our sport. I feel the same way and it’s been able to sustain my love of masters swimming (and motivation to train hard) for over 30 years." - Rich Abrahams
The letter goes on, and I must thank him for sending me some great training suggestions, quite an impressive core program he's been doing.
Thanks again,
Richard Abrahams and I have been corresponding through e-mail, and here is a portion of a recent letter...
"I’m very flattered by your kind remarks. I’m sorry you had to take any grief from other posters for your enthusiasm. I’ve really enjoyed your posts and the obvious joy you get from our sport. I feel the same way and it’s been able to sustain my love of masters swimming (and motivation to train hard) for over 30 years." - Rich Abrahams
The letter goes on, and I must thank him for sending me some great training suggestions, quite an impressive core program he's been doing.
Thanks again,
I was speaking for myself, not for Rich. But whatever. You are certainly entitled to gush over whomever you so choose. I would not let anybody stop me from saying what I want to say! ;)
Swam with Tiffany in Boulder this morning, she had a great set that she told me about which I adapted a bit...Fort this is all you baby!:
In a 25yd pool 100's as follows
- Push off on the opposite side of the starting blocks, kick 7-11 SDK's surfacing into cruise free with a strong 6 beat (overkick)
- at the first wall finish hands first and go immediately into a 10 second all out kick against the wall.
- Stop, then grab the backstroke start bar and go into a back start, 7-9 SDK's then cruise backstroke with a strong 6 beat kick (overkick)...race finish touch on the opposite wall
- immediately start 3rd 25 doing forward "V" scull (on your back, feet out of the water looking toward the opposite side sculling)
- At the final wall when your feet touch pull into the wall then explode with as many SDK's back as you can go before taking a breath then easy free to wall.
Recover, repeat, vomit....
Did 5 of these today. They are rather hard. lol. I hate V sculling on my back.
Can you explain why overkicking is good for backstroke? I can overkick in free, but when I try this on my back, it feels awful. If you're not supposed to have a splashy kick on backstroke, why overkick?
Also, why do I seem to be more tired after a kick intensive workout than a regular workout?
You must not be in shape...:thhbbb:
I suggest not to do kick intensive workouts until you are in shape.:cane:
Screw that, George. lol. :thhbbb:
I always want to be in better shape.
How's your training coming ... hmmm?
- immediately start 3rd 25 doing forward "V" scull (on your back, feet out of the water looking toward the opposite side sculling)
For those of us who less iniated with swimming, can you explain a "V" scull in a little more detail? :dunno:
Thanx,
