Rotation, rotation, rotation: Rotation is easy, using it is hard

Rotation is also useful in swimming for forward propulsion. Of course baseball , tennis, golf, boxing all rely on rotation.

Great video. I'm paddling all sorts badly. Just working on hip movement, core, hamstrings to be able to sit up straight, slightly forward. 45 years of major back injury are not helping but I'm getting there. This is a big help.

I liked the video. I’d like to offer a few comments. On when to begin the rotation; I believe that’s a relatively simple thing to feel. When the paddle blade is firmly planted in the water and resistance is felt on the blade is when rotation should begin. That would also mean that at the end of a stroke on one side we remain in that rotated position until the blade is again planted on the other side to begin the next stroke. When rotation begins to quickly, the lack of pressure on the blade is palpable. That lack of pressure indicates an early start to rotation. You mention sea kayakers not having the same ability to rotate as someone in a surf ski. With some boats that’s quite true. My own boat has a high enough foredeck to allow both legs in the center of the hull, feet on the footplate. That allows for great freedom in leg movement, with my legs moving just as you demonstrate in the video. There are several brands of kayak available that do allow that positioning. One thing I’d like to hear commented on is just how much rotation is enough. I’ve heard often that one can’t rotate too much. I disagree. If there is so much rotation that one “has” to begin to uncoil the torso just to have the blade reach the water; that’s just wasted motion/energy. I’d suppose that point is different for everyone, but some research into that subject would be good. That said, I enjoy your videos. Keep up.

Julian Norton Smith from Paddle 2 Fitness suggests your timing can be achieved by considering using the blade in the water as an anchor to pull the opposite hip forward (paraphrasing). If the blade is not buried, you wouldnt have anything to pull against. Nice view!

I'm far away from being good at sprint/surfski technique but I keep learning and training. Doing everything on my own. I've been using Ivan's 6 vids as well as your materials as my knowledge base. Recently someone commented under one of my technique updates and brought something like a "catch frame" to my attention. In that concept (as far as I understand it), arms move only during air time and legs only during water time. This means leg drive and hip rotation start once the paddle blade is fully submerged. I'll be taking all this information back to the water in spring when I start paddling again.

I wanted to add a word of caution about changing the stroke. It's good to go gradually and cut down the effort some when trying something new to avoid injury. When I started doing more upper body rotation I was enthusiastic and went out on a time trial using the new technique for the whole course. I did get my personal best on the course, but am still feeling the effects :)

As a military guy, I appreciate your acronym for your paddling research institute! 😂

Nice demo. Not that others don’t exist, but I’ve never seen this common sense approach to looking down to show rotation. I recently got back into sea kayaking for fitness river paddling and got a non-keyhole cockpit on a 20”-wide boat with a deck tall enough to fit my feet so that I could flex my legs like you show—maybe not quite as much as you, but even a little is noticeable. Also helps to keep my knees from becoming stiff when I get out of the boat after a few hours. I’m noticing that my stroke is a lot more efficient and smoother than it ever was before. Regarding when to start the rotation/pull, assuming you have good enough hearing, and the wind isn’t too loud, I have found that it works for me to advance or retard the timing of the rotation based on how loud the entry sound is. When it’s barely audible, it’s just about right; and it can vary quite a bit based on choppiness, current, and applied force. It’s my version of continuously variable camshaft timing. Thanks again; very helpful distinguishing between hip and torso rotation.

Try thinking in terms of driving the blade forward into the water/catch, and do not wonder when to pull back. Never pull back. Never pull back???? What do you mean? I mean by the time it is time to “pull” back, your boat/you should already have moved past the catch. Instead just drive the other hip/leg. Always think drive. Don’t think pull. This way you maintain a positive catch throughout the stroke.

Nice video. I believe the rotation should start only after the wing blade got enough lift by the catch movement in the water.

what is that base you're sitting on? a rowing machine?

It's really hard to hear, but the angle is great. Maybe get a small mic next time.