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
Check out all of this drills from this synchro video....funny that the competitive world of swimming has "stolen" a lot of this stuff that was being done by synchro coaches/swimmers for years!!
Paul, I've always respected your swimming ability, but this...! I am very much in awe of a man who is self-confident enough to admit -- unasked! -- that he gets good training ideas from "sinker" swimming.:drown:
Really, hats off to you; anything else to share? Tutu in the closet, perhaps?
Meanwhile, I think I'll grab a beer and go pump some iron...(belch)
Gentleman
Hey, there are women partaking in this conversation too! lol
I have no doubt these drills would build strength. They're very hard to do. I just wish they didn't take so long.
Hope you're not wearing feathers and flowers!
Paul did you compete in single, duete or team in synchro competitions? I have coached syncro in my youth. But it was mainly to meet the girls.
I know, I know....I've held out now for years in admitting that this is the real source of my "power" synchronized swimming training but its time...I'm coming out!
Gentleman I admit it have no shame...
And for the record I look fantastic in a tutu!
...and from that day, Paul smith was known as "Esther" to the USMS community....
Sculling has been part of competitive swim training for a very long time. All of the female swimmers from our club were also syncronized swimmers. Our coach Jimmy Thompson taught the syncro team. He used to have all the swimmers do bits of syncro in our training.
All the boys played waterpolo and some of the things we did in waterpolo were also included in our training sessions.
Anything you do in the water helps in feeling the water and using the water to your advantage.
When I teach swimming I involve all kinds of things in my teaching.
...and from that day, Paul smith was known as "Esther" to the USMS community....
This story will be added to my collection of USMS Forum stories. A few more like this and my publisher will be begging me to sign with him.
