What would you consider as the most important reason to include kicking in your workouts?
Also, what do you see as the main difference and purpose between the exercises kicking with a board and kicking without a board?
I advise:
fast kicking in the 25, 50, 75, 100, & 125s distances
lactate sets with a lot of rest
no social kicking whatsoever
underwater kicking
kicking with fins 1/3-1/2 the time (I probably do more)
building leg strength either at the gym or with fins or both
focusing on overkicking when you swim
an occasional kick endurance set
work on ankle flexibility (fins help with this)
think long term -- you can't become a great kicker overnight
I feel that fast intense kicking sets are very effective as well as a great cardio w/o.
I do both short and long fin kicking. The short fins simulate swimming better and the long fins are best for ankle flexibility.
As to building leg strength in the gym - this addresses the question of carry over effect of strength training on land to water. I love strength training but have found that there is very little relation between my squat or deadlift numbers and my swimming. I also don't really buy the swim specific stretch cord type training. The movement patterns in swimming are so unique that they can't be duplicated on dry land. The goal of land based strength training, IMHO, should be GPP. Simply strengthening your muscles in general to allow them to be effectively recruited in swimming (like flexibility training). Or as many have said before, if you want to get good at swimming - swim.
I advise:
fast kicking in the 25, 50, 75, 100, & 125s distances
lactate sets with a lot of rest
no social kicking whatsoever
underwater kicking
kicking with fins 1/3-1/2 the time (I probably do more)
building leg strength either at the gym or with fins or both
focusing on overkicking when you swim
an occasional kick endurance set
work on ankle flexibility (fins help with this)
think long term -- you can't become a great kicker overnight
I feel that fast intense kicking sets are very effective as well as a great cardio w/o.
I do both short and long fin kicking. The short fins simulate swimming better and the long fins are best for ankle flexibility.
As to building leg strength in the gym - this addresses the question of carry over effect of strength training on land to water. I love strength training but have found that there is very little relation between my squat or deadlift numbers and my swimming. I also don't really buy the swim specific stretch cord type training. The movement patterns in swimming are so unique that they can't be duplicated on dry land. The goal of land based strength training, IMHO, should be GPP. Simply strengthening your muscles in general to allow them to be effectively recruited in swimming (like flexibility training). Or as many have said before, if you want to get good at swimming - swim.
