Leg Kicking

[norsemandave]

This leg kick thing, do you kick when on your front or on your side and how often should you kick.

Is a 1000m with flippers to much?

[flipper]

norsemandave said:

This leg kick thing, do you kick when on your front or on your side and how often should you kick.

Is a 1000m with flippers to much?

Kick on your back until you hit the wall then turn round and do it again.
1000m is no where near enough, I would suggest at least 5000m per hour for 7 days a week.

[etruscantim]

flipper said:

norsemandave said:

This leg kick thing, do you kick when on your front or on your side and how often should you kick.

Is a 1000m with flippers to much?

Kick on your back until you hit the wall then turn round and do it again.
1000m is no where near enough, I would suggest at least 5000m per hour for 7 days a week.

That's of course, a minimum of 5 hours a day too. Preferably OW, without a wetsuit.

[doug]

etruscantim said:

flipper said:

Kick on your back until you hit the wall then turn round and do it again.
1000m is no where near enough, I would suggest at least 5000m per hour for 7 days a week.

That's of course, a minimum of 5 hours a day too. Preferably OW, without a wetsuit.

Best thing to do is to get to Lands End and aim for the the Caribbean - you'll be swimming against the gulf stream so that should make it a good workout

[duncan74]

norsemandave said:

Is a 1000m with flippers to much?

That's "too".

[whisk]

How long before we get a swim coach flame war on this thread, or has no one told them about the new site?

[runtilyoudrop]

Should the release of bodily gases be co-ordinated with the stroke in any particular way? Does the eating of a large amount of beans before a race confer an unfair advantage due to the extra propulsive effect generated?

[flipper]

whisk said:

How long before we get a swim coach flame war on this thread, or has no one told them about the new site?

How do you know they are not allready posting?

Answer that and stay trendy my friend

[etruscantim]

runtilyoudrop said:

Should the release of bodily gases be co-ordinated with the stroke in any particular way? Does the eating of a large amount of beans before a race confer an unfair advantage due to the extra propulsive effect generated?

It depends on your kick. A flutter kick permits a continual release of gas that may be very propulsive. A scissors kick on the other hand may lead to a more bubbly and random gaseous release, resulting in reduction propulsion.

I recommend All-bran, porridge and my new CDVD "Farting - IM distance"

[norsemandave]

duncan74 said:

norsemandave said:

Is a 1000m with flippers to much?

That's "too".

Thanks eagle eyes

[schedboy]

whisk said:

How long before we get a swim coach flame war on this thread, or has no one told them about the new site?

We're trying our bestest!!
Pls see "How do I swim" and "What's the best swim technique??" threads.

;D ;D

[belaqua]

on a serious note about kicking - I had to do 8 lenghts of kicking today and I was so slow. I don't actually really kick during my stroke normally so I guess I don't have the strength or technique but supposedly one is meant to kick from the hips rather than the knees - but how do you get the power? And what level are the feet meant to be? Under the water, splashing the surface?

[etruscantim]

belaqua said:

on a serious note about kicking - I had to do 8 lenghts of kicking today and I was so slow. I don't actually really kick during my stroke normally so I guess I don't have the strength or technique but supposedly one is meant to kick from the hips rather than the knees - but how do you get the power? And what level are the feet meant to be? Under the water, splashing the surface?

All the more reason to work on it, then.

Try and use your glutes when you kick. You should aim to have your lower back / hip muscles helping too. Getting those to work when kicking will take practise (like in cycling when you're trying to get more muscle groups to work). Working on your plantar flexion flexibility will help too.

You could try keeping your kick very frequent but light - this maximises the "flipper" effect of your feet.

You have the position there - your feet should be just below the surface, in line with your head/shoulders/hips. You might be breaking the surface a little but not quite splashing, that's wasted energy.

[belaqua]

ahh ok thanks jesus.. So not alot of splashing and more using the glutes. BB put about a length between us last night in the kicking -

[badger]

belaqua said:

ahh ok thanks jesus.. So not alot of splashing and more using the glutes. BB put about a length between us last night in the kicking -

But enough of that bedroom talk. ;D

Check out Paul's tips on the Swimsmooth site - bum squeezing, toe tapping, ankle/foot flexibility. www.swimsmooth.com/freearticles.htm, under the "Article Archives" at the bottom, in red (pdf copies).

[norsemandave]

Like doing leg kick drills, if I go forward its real slow, normaly go backwards .

[belaqua]

norsemandave said:

Like doing leg kick drills, if I go forward its real slow, normaly go backwards .

yeah it's kinda random. I mean, you don't want to kick too hard in a race really because you want to save your legs, and yet, some kick is presumably desirable.

[etruscantim]

norsemandave said:

Like doing leg kick drills, if I go forward its real slow, normaly go backwards .

What swim leg kick specific stretches do you do?

[norsemandave]

Tried sitting on my heels but that hurt my left ankle in a way that it shouldn't. Over the years have damaged both ankles, my right on pretty badly. have very little flexability hence the going backwards on leg drills.

Not such a problem on O/W swimming its in a pool swim where the drag is problem.

[etruscantim]

norsemandave said:

Tried sitting on my heels but that hurt my left ankle in a way that it shouldn't. Over the years have damaged both ankles, my right on pretty badly. have very little flexability hence the going backwards on leg drills.

Not such a problem on O/W swimming its in a pool swim where the drag is problem.

Well, if your feet aren't generating power, then they are a problem, even if a wetsuit corrects your postition.

You need to work hard on your ankle flexibility - you should aim to (eventually) get your feet to act like flippers. Focus on stretching along the plantar flexion - from the base of your shin, over your ankle, down to then of your foot. This is only crucial axis along which you need to stretch.

Once your feet are flexible, you will be able to generate power from them without trying, as I am sure you have the adequate strength and fitness there. When your feet are flexible, you will be able to feel your kick much better as well, and notice when it's working and when it's not working.

Some good observation & understanding drills you can do is to stand in shallowish water, with one hand on the wall, and kick with your ass/core, a slightly bent knee. Let your calves and ankles relax, and note how your feet sways with the water. Try and get a feel of how your feet feel when they do this. Then try and re-create this when you are horizontal: remember to kick lightly and let your ankles flex with the water so your feet move up and down. Doing this will illustrate just how important flexibility is in kicking. Then stretch! Lots!

[norsemandave]

Can move loads of water with hands, think I also kick to hard and deep which also leads to scissor kick.

Which working on by clamping a float between thighs and use of a band around ankles.

Will have to try some gentle stretching.