Taking responsibility for safety
Most people have very little idea which movements are likely to be harmful and which aren't.
Muscle memory: myth or mastery?
It is vital to remember that muscle memory is a two-edged sword. It can help you become very good at something but equally can train you to be absolutely terrible at something.
Oi you! Why don’t you push off? I mean, properly push off?
If you’re not practising your push-offs your training is only ever targeted on 80% of the length. For one-fifth of the time you’re mentally and often physically, just drifting.
Can a frog on a bicycle help you swim better?
In order for a cue to be effective, it must be clear, achievable and measurable. If it isn’t, the effects on the stroke will be at best negligible and at worst detrimental.
The rapid development of the Japanese Crawl
Developing a style and method that works for the human form has been a long process and it's one that's far from finished. New ideas are constantly being proposed, tested, adapted and adopted or discarded.
Why learning from the best is not always a good idea.
A study in the US showed that a whopping 91% of swimmers aged between 13 and 25 reported at least one episode of shoulder pain. It's a shocking and completely avoidable statistic. Make sure you are not studying and copying habits which may lead you to add to those figures.
How Are You Feeling?
Your swim coach may well get you to perform a drill and then ask you how it felt. And although that sounds like a simple question it's one that many of us are simply not used to answering with any level of detail.
Don't Hold Your Breath
So why do so many swimmers hold their breath while going along, or even just fail to breathe in the most efficient manner they possibly could? When we are running or cycling we wouldn't do that; we would be taking deep breaths in an out constantly. So why do so many hold breath when swimming ?
New Beginnings
...as pools and public spaces begin to re-open, albeit under new rules and regulations it seems we can finally begin to look to the future again and begin to make tentative plans for the continuation of our swimming journey. And one question I have been asked is what is the most important part of the stroke to concentrate on after such a long break?