I always thought my streamline wasn't horrible, but then I saw the movie on this page:
www.page.sannet.ne.jp/.../fusiuki_index.html
In it, the swimmer is able to float ~15 M in streamline, and his legs don't sink at all.
When I try this, I can only get about half of the distance he does, and my legs start to sink almost immediately. If I try to keep my legs completely straight I can maintain them at about a ~30-45 degree angle to the water, but no matter what I try I cannot get close to his performance.
Clearly taking a big breath and holding it is important, as well as extending arms out as far forward as possible and pointing toes, but does anyone know anything else to suggest? In some of the links he discusses that anyone can do this, but is a little vague about the details. He mentions that you need to keep your body straight (of course), and also that that the way you rest your lungs on the water is important.
The pages are in Japanese, but some of the pages have diagrams that explain what is he talking about pretty clearly. The page has the best diagrams (the left side of the diagrams is the 'old style', the right side is the 'new (correct) style'.
www.page.sannet.ne.jp/.../fusiuki_5.html
He also mentions that it isn't about forcing any body part, its about 'releasing force' and floating naturally.
If there are any native Japanese-speaking swimmers and can quickly read through this and let me know a brief summary of his suggestions I would appreciate it. My Japanese isn't bad but there is alot of explanation and some of it a little difficult to understand.
Can anyone do the streamline as far as he does? Do you think it is really possible for any body type? It seems to me that the length of your various body parts, plus distribution of fat would imply that not everyone could do it as well as he does.
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Thanks for the video. I just looked at this video, and his legs actually start falling (and never reach the surface), as opposed to the video I included where his legs rise. This seems like a pretty big difference, which is better?
This is a function of body fat not skill. Your skill streamlining can best be measured by how far you can come off the wall. It is a fun game to experiment with hand position, back arch, shoulder position, etc etc, and see how it affects your distance. Once you have found a new best position for yourself, the next goal is to get into that position coming out of a flip turn.
Thanks for the video. I just looked at this video, and his legs actually start falling (and never reach the surface), as opposed to the video I included where his legs rise. This seems like a pretty big difference, which is better?
This is a function of body fat not skill. Your skill streamlining can best be measured by how far you can come off the wall. It is a fun game to experiment with hand position, back arch, shoulder position, etc etc, and see how it affects your distance. Once you have found a new best position for yourself, the next goal is to get into that position coming out of a flip turn.
