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.
Parents
Former Member
Woofus B. Loofus - I'm going to really enjoy my freebie two seconds during my next workout.
Glad to hear finally some swimming science could bring some joy!!
geochuck - How far does a person travel in a dive, then the 1.8 seconds after entry into the water from a very streamlined dive.
Also is the dive time faster then 3.4 m/sec and does this mean the slowing to swim speed takes longer.
On average the distance covered 1.8 seconds after the hands impact the water after a dive would be about 3.5 meters. There is a belt around the waist of the swimmer (center of mass) so that distance is how far the center of the swimmer moves in a linear direction.
Generally when the hands are just breaking the surface after leaving the blocks, the velocity is around 6.0 m/sec. As most of you know, with higher velocity also comes significantly higher drag, so the glide times/velocities to regular swimming speed are just slightly longer. So a longer glide after a start is not as advantageous as one would think.
Many swimmers/coaches we have worked with over the years before testing have told us they always believed there was a period of time where some velocity is sustained immediately after the feet leave the wall on a push-off, so this is why I posted the image file.
The good news . . . you don't really have to hold that streamline position very long!
Budd
Woofus B. Loofus - I'm going to really enjoy my freebie two seconds during my next workout.
Glad to hear finally some swimming science could bring some joy!!
geochuck - How far does a person travel in a dive, then the 1.8 seconds after entry into the water from a very streamlined dive.
Also is the dive time faster then 3.4 m/sec and does this mean the slowing to swim speed takes longer.
On average the distance covered 1.8 seconds after the hands impact the water after a dive would be about 3.5 meters. There is a belt around the waist of the swimmer (center of mass) so that distance is how far the center of the swimmer moves in a linear direction.
Generally when the hands are just breaking the surface after leaving the blocks, the velocity is around 6.0 m/sec. As most of you know, with higher velocity also comes significantly higher drag, so the glide times/velocities to regular swimming speed are just slightly longer. So a longer glide after a start is not as advantageous as one would think.
Many swimmers/coaches we have worked with over the years before testing have told us they always believed there was a period of time where some velocity is sustained immediately after the feet leave the wall on a push-off, so this is why I posted the image file.
The good news . . . you don't really have to hold that streamline position very long!
Budd
