"Bad kick"...

"M" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Interesting to read the current debate about kicking...

I am writing to see if anyone has any advice for me. I have developed a

very

Quoted message said:

bad habit... I now seem to kick with my lower leg, below the knee... I do this especially on my
right leg, not so much with the left. On top of cycling and running (I'm a triathlete) I think
this is putting serious (unnecessary) strain on my knee in particular.

Being a triathlete, my aim is not to kick too much at all... just whatever is required to balance
properly. Having said that, I'd like to be able to have a kick that, in certain situations (such
as at the start of the swim) could add to my (short) sprint.

Any ideas on the bad kick? What's the best way to correct this bad habit?

Thanks, Marcus

Hi Marcus,

My initial thoughts are that either you're carrying a slight injury from running or cycling or that
the problem eminates from elsewhere. In other words you're compensating for not being balanced by
making an extra kick to raise yourself to the surface.

To get balanced follow the TI example of "Pushing the Buoy" down, i.e. the top of your chest onto
the water to swim down hill. Also, try one arm swimming with your other arm by your side breathing
the on the side where your arm is by your side. If you do this unbalanced it's very difficult to
breath, so it tends to correct the problem over time and it tends to ensure you extend the swimming
arm and keep it there for longer. Also swim with a pull buoy to isolate your legs and ensure you
swim balanced without effort.

Both of these should have some effect on muscle memory.

This might help but read other posts with interest.

Wayne
--
DrClean www.DrClean.co.uk The Best Fabric Cleaning Resource on the Web

M said:

I am writing to see if anyone has any advice for
me. I have developed a very bad habit... I now seem to kick with my lower leg, below the knee... I
do this especially on my right leg, not so much with the left.

What are your arms doing just before this right leg kick happens? Is it right after breathing?

Quoted message said:

Any ideas on the bad kick? What's the best way to correct this bad habit?

Ordinarily I'd recommend flagellation, but since you're already a triathlete ...

Donal Fagan AIA Donal@DonalO'Fagan.com (Anglicise the name to reply by e-mail)

Quoted message said:

Being a triathlete, my aim is not to kick too much at all... just whatever is required to balance
properly.

Marcus Actually your kick won't be of much help in balancing properly. Whatever improvement you do
get in body position will come at the cost of too many heartbeats. Better to learn balance through
balance drills, kicking as little as possible while doing them, so you learn to balance with minimal
kick. Then your legs will be freed to do what they do best -- particularly in triathlon swimming --
which is simply to help your body rotate, with as little energy output as possible. Happy laps,
Terry Laughlin