The Speed is in Your HANDS

Summary

This video follows Aaron's journey to improve his freestyle swimming technique, focusing on hand and arm positioning for better speed and efficiency. While Aaron initially struggles with incorrect hand and forearm positioning, he learns key principles such as creating resistance in the water and using his forearms effectively. Along the way, he faces motivation challenges but eventually finds his purpose in completing an Ironman and defending the honor of those with unique names. By the end, Aaron makes significant progress in his swimming technique, with improved stroke count and a renewed sense of purpose.

Takeaways

• 😀 Proper hand movement is crucial for speed in freestyle swimming, as it directly affects performance.
• 😀 A swimmer's technique can be evaluated by hand position, with better swimmers using more effective hand placement.
• 😀 Hands should cause resistance in the water, a concept known as support, to swim faster and with less effort.
• 😀 The palms are important for generating resistance, but focusing only on the hands is incomplete for faster swimming.
• 😀 The forearms play a vital role in generating support, and their position in the water is crucial for optimal speed.
• 😀 A good swimming stroke involves understanding the concept of levers, where the distance from the fulcrum impacts movement difficulty.
• 😀 Experimenting with resistance types (e.g., using a pull-up without bending elbows) can help visualize the concept of leverage in swimming.
• 😀 Moving the hands too close to the body or not engaging the forearms properly can reduce swimming efficiency.
• 😀 Using swimming paddles correctly can help a swimmer learn to use the forearms effectively for support.
• 😀 Aaron has made significant progress in swimming skills like horizontal balance, CO2 tolerance, leg position, and rotation of hips/shoulders.
• 😀 Progress can be harder to see over time, but small improvements like reduced stroke count can be motivating and show tangible results.

Q & A

What is the most important factor affecting speed in freestyle swimming?

The correct movement of the hands is the most important factor affecting speed in freestyle swimming.

Why did Aaron's swimming technique initially become slower despite understanding the concept of resistance?

Aaron's swimming technique became slower because he misunderstood that the forearms, not just the palms of the hands, need to generate resistance. The explanation given to him was incomplete.

How does the position of the hands and arms impact swimming efficiency?

The position of the hands and arms significantly impacts swimming efficiency by helping to generate support (resistance) in the water, which allows swimmers to swim faster with less effort.

Why is it important to use the forearms for support in freestyle swimming?

It is important to use the forearms for support because they can generate more resistance in the water, which contributes to better propulsion and speed. The forearms must be perpendicular to the water's surface to achieve this effect.

What common mistake did Aaron make in his swimming technique?

Aaron made the common mistake of not using his forearms to generate support and incorrectly positioning his hands close to his body, which reduced the efficiency of his stroke.

What role do paddles play in improving swimming technique?

Paddles are used to help swimmers focus on the importance of using their forearms for support. However, Aaron initially used them incorrectly by holding them with his fingers, rather than using them as intended to improve his stroke.

What has Aaron achieved in his two months of swimming training?

In two months of swimming, Aaron has improved his horizontal balance, CO2 tolerance, leg position, hip and shoulder rotation, and can swim 100 meters without stopping.

What is one of the biggest areas Aaron needs to improve in order to swim longer distances like the 3.8 km?

One of the biggest areas Aaron needs to improve is his breathing rhythm. A correct breathing rhythm is crucial for swimming long distances without getting tired.

How did Aaron's motivation change throughout his training?

Aaron's motivation initially dropped when he couldn't see noticeable progress, and he felt discouraged by the long distance left to reach his goal. However, after seeing improvements in his stroke efficiency, he found renewed purpose and motivation.

How did Aaron's stroke efficiency improve during his training?

Aaron's stroke efficiency improved when he reduced his strokes from 45 to 26 strokes per 25 meters, demonstrating significant progress in his swimming technique and skill level.