Swimmers kick and triathletes with swimming backgrounds kick
as well!
Triathletes who come to the sport without a swimming
background look for the quick fix. They read that you need to
save your legs for the bike and run so do not kick. This was
probably written by people who do not understand how swimming
works. Newbies buy into it because it takes time both in and
out of the water to learn to kick.
The kick serves several functions in swimming: propulsion,
stabilization and elevation. We are victims of Newton's Third
Law of Motion - "for every action there is an equal and
opposite reaction." The only way your kick will work is if you
can apply force in the direction opposite to where you are
going. You need to be able to point your toes as if you are a
ballet dancer. The next time you are at a pool push off the
wall with or without a kickboard, point your toes and kick.
After five seconds turn your feet the other way and notice
what happens - you stop dead in the water. You need to work
every day on increaseing your ankle and toe flexibility. I
tell my classes, which last for six weeks, that if the spend
the next six weeks not swimming and just working on their
ankle flexibility they would swim faster. It is that
important.
Not only is your kick propulsive, it stablizes your body.
Every time your arm crosses past the center line of your body,
you look back to breathe or flick your hand out on recovery
you send your body off its' center line. You legs will come
apart and one foot will dorsi flex (turn upward). Your legs
are stabilizing your body so that you can continue going in a
straight line. Stand at the end of the pool and watch others
swim. Notice the relationship between their arm recovery and
width of their kicks.
Third, no mater how much you push your chest and face into the
water it will not get your legs to the surface. You butt will
pop up and your legs will not. They are heavy and do not
float. If you were a tetter totter pushing your head down your
legs to pop up but you have a hip join which prevents that
from happening. You need to use the muscles of your abs, lower
back and hamstrings to bring your legs up if you are not
kicking. On the other hand if you have a kick your legs are on
the surface all the time with a minimum of effort.
Aside from all these wonderful kicking attributes, your kick
sets up the rhythm for the rest of your swim. You have read
about two beat, six beat, asymetrical and cross over kicks.
The patterns set up a rhythm and drive your hips and arms. It
is my belief that your entire swim starts from your kick up.
Your legs drive your hips which in turn drive your arms. You
notice that you feel greater hip rotation when you wear fins.
Your arm glides further forward when you wear fins. Not only
are they propelling your forward the enhanced drive sets up
your entire stroke.
When you are in the water think of yourself as a swimmer who
does triathlons. Learn your craft. Highly competitive swimmers
are now kicking for 30% of their workouts.
If you cannot move forward when kicking turn over on your back
and practice. Start with a very straight leg, contract your
abs, point your toes and press downward. Feel the water on
your instep as you kick up to the surface. If you still cannot
move forward put on fins. I use fins for most of my kicking
because it forces me to point my toes and they overload my
legs.
Do not run away from kicking, embrace it. You will become a
faster, more comfortable swimmer who does triathlons.
DougStern