I've been wanting to start this thread for a while-- we have one about flutter kicking, SDK, and speed. If I may be so bold, I'd like to see one on how to improve your capacity for hypoxic sets.
After getting back into swimming about 4 months ago, I have noticed a decrease in my ability to handle hypoxic sets, and in general, in my ability to stay underwater for any significant length of time. I find myself trying to get to the surface as soon as possible after turning at the wall so I can get some air. I know this is slowing me down significantly.
As for breathing while actually swimming, I seem to have no problems-- I am pretty much a bilateral breather (every three strokes). It's when I'm coming into the wall or leaving the wall where I have problems, as I can't seem to hold my breath and am always breaking the cardinal rule of not breathing while in the "red zone."
We do at least one hypoxic set per day, and not surprisingly, I usually have problems (although I do try to make it).
Any tips for how to improve, or does this just come with practice and increased aerobic capacity?
Explain
You can just read the original thread that Fortress linked; I don't believe JH's thinking on the subject has developed much since then.
Of course, there are also studies that show that lifting weights doesn't help swimming either, and I don't believe he pays much attention to those... :)
For myself: the farther I can swim underwater without severe oxygen debt, the faster the swim will be. Since there is no air underwater, that means learning to swim fast without it for portions of the race. That doesn't JUST HAPPEN unless you work on it in practice. David Berkoff himself talked about how his training had to change significantly once he started emphasizing underwater kicks in his races.
I notice the age group coaches at my pool are empahsizing this even at an early age ("four dolphin kicks before surfacing!" and the like). Saying hypoxic work is useless is about as true -- and outdated -- as saying dolphin kicking is useless.
Explain
You can just read the original thread that Fortress linked; I don't believe JH's thinking on the subject has developed much since then.
Of course, there are also studies that show that lifting weights doesn't help swimming either, and I don't believe he pays much attention to those... :)
For myself: the farther I can swim underwater without severe oxygen debt, the faster the swim will be. Since there is no air underwater, that means learning to swim fast without it for portions of the race. That doesn't JUST HAPPEN unless you work on it in practice. David Berkoff himself talked about how his training had to change significantly once he started emphasizing underwater kicks in his races.
I notice the age group coaches at my pool are empahsizing this even at an early age ("four dolphin kicks before surfacing!" and the like). Saying hypoxic work is useless is about as true -- and outdated -- as saying dolphin kicking is useless.
