Which is better - twisting/bending forward?

[swarovski]

I'm lost.

Twisting is the "so-called" new way to paddle, while bending over gives more reach. When you try to get season paddlers to adopt the torso rotation, they think bending forward is better.

Practice drastically improves paddling proficiency, but how the hell do you do it when some are twisting while others are bending forward during training?

Also, does a high amount of fat around the love handles (and in the belly) affect flexibilty in torso rotation?

[MrPaddleshop]

Based on my own personal experience, I guess both ways worked in albeit in different eras. When dragonboating was still in its infancy and everyone was used to using yellow handled paddles in Singapore, everyone was expected perform the function of paddling with the so called bending forward motion or "rocking" as it is commonly known because the weight of the old dragon boats and design was not really affected by this movement.

As the years progressed and more people become aware of different boats and their dynamics, we moved away from the "rocking" motion to prevent the boat from sinking into the water as it glided on the water. Therefore the twisting motion apparently got its popularity from there. It helped to remove unnecessary motion that affected the glide of much improved boats and it definitely helped to charter a new wave of dragon boating technique in Singapore.

I can see that you're having trouble compromising with your teammates to the stroke that will optimize the glide of the boat. I think this has to be brought up by your team captain to emphasize the need to generalise or standardise the stroke technique. It will be a long road but it can be done.

I have been taught both techniques and yet, it still depends on the ability of the team and their experience level to choose between the 2. My team is currently using the twisting motion.

Love handles won't affect much of a dragon boater who is into the sport at least at a recreational level.

[seng2601]

Can someone enlightened me ?

can the above two actions be combined as one ? i noted that we have to twist our body first to get the mometum, then we have to bend forward or lean foward. And press our upper hand in deep to pull the water. After pulling tru the  water, we will seat up straight and repeat it again ?

thanks

[swarovski]

Can someone enlightened me ?

can the above two actions be combined as one ? i noted that we have to twist our body first to get the mometum, then we have to bend forward or lean foward. And press our upper hand in deep to pull the water. After pulling tru the  water, we will seat up straight and repeat it again ?

thanks

@MrPaddleshop: Yes I have that problem in the team.

The ones who twist only do not bend forward, while my coach/captain wants stretching forward and twisting. A few of my team mates do not believe in stretching forward at all. They sit upright, and twist only, while the others twist and bend forward.

[amdragon]

Wow...that must look really funky with all that different stuff going on.  Before you fix things and get your team's stroke aligned, can you please take a video and post it?

[seng2601]

personally, i feel that combination of both os better then one movement. 

[MrPaddleshop]

@MrPaddleshop: Yes I have that problem in the team.

The ones who twist only do not bend forward, while my coach/captain wants stretching forward and twisting. A few of my team mates do not believe in stretching forward at all. They sit upright, and twist only, while the others twist and bend forward.

I think the problem in your team is not really the stroke in your case, but really a clash of egos. If there are people who do not compromise to the stroke to be executed as a team, you will definitely encounter plateaus in the team's performance. I think it best that such issues be raised on the side even before getting into the boat to allow paddlers to understand why such a stroke correction is needed. Give and take is the key here. If not it will be a difficult road to climb; in this case a multitude of waves you will encounter in your team's pursuit to victory.

[TheMachine]

"Reaching/Lunging/Bending" is soooo 1990's!

Mr Paddleshop hit the nail on the head with regards to boat dynamics. You need to let the boat glide with you, and you've got to ensure the boat does her fair share of the work. If you lunge then you're throwing a good proportion of your weight forward and you drive the nose of the boat into the water, causing extra drag and reducing that gliiiide.

Secondly, if you think about what muscles you want to work: the biggest! Therefore you need to be using your legs, abs and lats. These large muscle groups are super strong and can go on and on and on, so we need to make the best use of them. As you lunge forward, yes you are getting a good long reach, but as you straighten, you are engaging your lower back muscles. These puny muscles tire very quickly in comparison to the Big Boys. If you twist and as you get that first catch you're using more abs and lats.

If you want proof about body weight, look at any of the olympic canoeists videos and see where their body weight is in comparison to the centre of the boat. And you'll have your answers.

[yahoo!]

hinging is also one of the terms used! haha

personally, i feel that the hinging movement are unavoidable. even as we rotate, when we try to reach forward and put the paddle into the water, the hinging comes into action. what most teams are trying to compromise are to coporate the 2 movements in a way to prevent the boat from 'bouncing' and pushing the momentum the wrong way.

hope that helps to give an idea.
cheers!

[shaun]

"Reaching/Lunging/Bending" is soooo 1990's!

Mr Paddleshop hit the nail on the head with regards to boat dynamics. You need to let the boat glide with you, and you've got to ensure the boat does her fair share of the work. If you lunge then you're throwing a good proportion of your weight forward and you drive the nose of the boat into the water, causing extra drag and reducing that gliiiide.

Secondly, if you think about what muscles you want to work: the biggest! Therefore you need to be using your legs, abs and lats. These large muscle groups are super strong and can go on and on and on, so we need to make the best use of them. As you lunge forward, yes you are getting a good long reach, but as you straighten, you are engaging your lower back muscles. These puny muscles tire very quickly in comparison to the Big Boys. If you twist and as you get that first catch you're using more abs and lats.

If you want proof about body weight, look at any of the olympic canoeists videos and see where their body weight is in comparison to the centre of the boat. And you'll have your answers.

personally i'd rather just put my body weight onto the paddle and just drag the rest of my body over that spot.

think the key would be to get the body weight on the paddle.
throwing the body weight onto the paddle also prevents the breaking of the glide and the sinking of the bow that you described. this is more evident i feel in C1 than in Dboat but nonetheles still a contributing factor to speed.