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
Paul Smith warned me about this, but mega kicking is definitely hard on loose ankles. Lots of flutter kicking apparently doesn't agree with me, whereas SDKs don't seem to bother me. Maybe it's because SDKs use the core and hips. In any event, I have to cut back. Who cares about freestyle anyway? My left ankle hurts and I have tendonitis in my right foot where I dropped my monofin on it while ago. Not advisable! (To top it off, I have the flu despite getting the flu mist. :bitching:)
Didn't mean to rant. But wanted to warn of the hazards of excess kicking.
On another note... what happened to your infra-red avatar? I thought that was totally cool.
I don't know…I think Olivia is way-cool as well!
:bouncing:
One more way to get injured or inflict an injury with those things. They sound like trouble to me.
No, they're fabulous and fun for training. You just have to not be a careless klutz.
No, they're fabulous and fun for training. You just have to not be a careless klutz.
Yes, do be careful... even on those ankle stretches... you don't want to over-do it... they can become injured... (years of experience) It's better to stretch them every 2nd day, or even every 3rd day... and just the right balance, not too much...
On another note... what happened to your infra-red avatar? I thought that was totally cool.
sorry to read this
adjust for injuries
ande
Paul Smith warned me about this, but mega kicking is definitely hard on loose ankles. Lots of flutter kicking apparently doesn't agree with me, whereas SDKs don't seem to bother me. Maybe it's because SDKs use the core and hips. In any event, I have to cut back. Who cares about freestyle anyway? My left ankle hurts and I have tendonitis in my right foot where I dropped my monofin on it while ago. Not advisable! (To top it off, I have the flu despite getting the flu mist. :bitching:)
Didn't mean to rant. But wanted to warn of the hazards of excess kicking.
