Learning the reflexive low brace

[@woofna1948]

Lots of instructors just repeat a mantra that they learned, but the best instructors go the extra mile. In a word, they're thoughtful. They've questioned the dogma, picked it apart, and they speak from years of experience - both their own and from working with students. That's this video in a nutshell, and its one of the best that I've ever seen. Whether it's bracing, drawing, or sculling, I find that students are afraid to commit, to trust the technique - and as Brian says, when bracing they don't edge the kayak beyond the tipping point before engaging the blade. As a result, they never learn an effective brace. I also see strokes classes where the high and low brace are allegedly taught along with 6 other strokes - in a 3-4 hour class. I've never found that to be a good class format, and I've been teaching strokes classes for over 40 years.

[@scarpaz]

You have a gift for teaching! Extremely well designed teaching video.

[@davidmiller4594]

*+1!*

[@hennabyeevi]

Fear of falling... so well said. It comes in the way of body awareness. Playfulness is very helpful to all learning. :) I often do a little "dance" in the kayak, swinging it sideways to get a feel of the kayak and feel my hips are loose, my posture relaxed. I also stretch my back lying back and it was very helpful now that I started learning the roll. 🎉

[@ggathrig]

Really enjoyed this and helped me see my low recovery action in a new way. The point about not anticipating the recovery when practicing makes a lot of sense, and I am eager to get out there and practice it better!

[@hansgooderick7492]

I just have to say , its great listening and watching no nonsense, instructive videos, with a slight twinkle . Thanks so much

[@alainpals]

Im new to kayaking, but felt immediately that i need to learn safety and self rescue techniques to be reflexive after first failed self rescue when needed to swim couple of hundred meters in waves back to the shore with the flooded gear. i have maybe 40hours on the water now, half of these are hours of self rescue drills.. these really pay off and take away stress, i enjoy every weather now and breaking waves to learn surfing on, and if i do capsize i can go back in within seconds. Something i thought that takes me a whole season to learn. There is no enjoyment feeling helpless if something gets little more than comfortable.

[@malcolmnicholls2893]

So true. Feeling like a liability limits opportunities. Stay safe.

[@1212341234alan]

I'm happy to hear you got yourself into on your own you ought to have a buddy if your out too far.... or a waterproof vhf my dear friend I'd hate for something to happen you can't get out of

[@azikiwe12]

thanks for making this instruction informative AND fun!

[@yru435]

and Kraken. Fear the Kraken. It was good to emphasize constant practice, that is how reflexes are built. Practicing in super shallow water is good. It is less fearsome, and if you fail, you can just pole yourself up with your paddle, or your arm if it is very shallow. Tip, Slap, Slice, Hip

[@BushKayakersCampingAustralia]

nicely explained thanks . I use to practice this but I clean forgot about practicing this lately . thanks for the reminder

[@bradlepaddle9512]

Great video you did an awesome job narrating this very confident speaking voice is clear you know what you're talking about

[@quantummath]

thanks for the tip, greetings from Hamburg, Alster. -- new to Kayaking and love it so far.

[@1212341234alan]

Aww I've learnt many skills from my instructor but the "slicing out" the paddle is the best hack I've learned THANK YOU

[@stochasmvid]

Awesome! I will definitely start practicing this A LOT!

[@eugeniosolari]

Again, Brian, thank you for your clear explanation and this good video, for sure

[@paulward1108]

spass out that is the best thing ive heard in ages

[@khelben1979]

Very well made video! and in general this KZbin channel has been invaluable for me! Thank you! :)

[@tonyanemone1]

Excellent little video - but what about hip snap?

[@puckja616]

Great info and robust content. Totally agree with the "reflective part". Just wonder if you can add comment about using wing blade (which is my default one)?? Thanks!

[@6911redneck]

Thanks for this amazing Learning Clip

[@sparxy1968]

This is a fantastic bit of advice and a skill that even sit on tops should learn until it's a reflex. I have a sea Kayak for touring and fishing and the fear of a capsize (yes they do) a mile out due to a big wave or shipping lane wake really hinders my confidence because if you're fishing it is a real pain and you lose kit no matter how careful you are . I want to learn and practice this so I can use my Kayak more confidently and even have some fun when I'm not fishing. Mine is not a super wide one and is for faster, longer distance touring plus fishing so in rough seas it can be feel less stable than most SOT's. I think once I learn this technique properly though, I'll get so much more from it. Even a SOT.

[@joequinn309]

Thank You for sharing all your knowledge . Great presentations !

[@jepz11]

Important with getting the low brace in the reflexes: pull one hand close to my belly button. While normally I hold the paddle as far as possible from my nose, the paddle must be close to the body in order to brace downwards. Ideally, lift the elbow of the brace arm to push down vertically. Please include this in your instructions.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

That was pretty good. Many thanks.

[@williammitchell1804]

Angry frogmen and Kaiju? That does it. I am never pretending to kayak in my tub again!

[@carlkoch6460]

Fantastic video. I wish there were more of these specific to pack rafts but I suppose the concept is the same just with a higher tipping point.

[@samarasbasilios5207]

Thanks!!!

[@denismann7811]

Great work, much appreciated

[@TheSeriousWaterman]

low brace definitely saved me quite a few times from going in, practice it!

[@hakansjolund2300]

Cool man, great video -thank you!

[@qaannat]

That was really great and a valuable skill to train. But... you are talking only about the paddle. It's body then boat, then blade, right? What role do the legs and torso play in the low brace? How do you roll? That leg that is deepest in the water moves first. You're pulling the kayak back under you. The low brace just gives you a "handrail", like on a flight of stairs, just a moment in time, a little resistance so you have time to press up with your knee and move your torso back over the center of gravity. We get in kayaks and all the emphasis goes on what our little T-rex arms are doing with the paddle, but in reality paddling happens from the core and hips. I may not have said all that just right, but it's an important point I think. Good work, loving these videos out of Cape Falcon.

[@capefalconkayak]

I agree that the motion is really from the torso. It just seems to produce the intended result to explain it this way. the restabilizing of the hips is automatic. I'm not even sure I should have said the "push off" part, that is also automatic. tip, slap, slice is all that's needed. Everything else is academic.

[@martin.feuchtwanger]

What i was taught was to add this movement to the paddle action shown in the video: a quick C- or D-shaped spine bend, concave towards the side you're tipping to, combined with upward knee/thigh flick. It is very similar to the actions required in a roll.

[@ptrckmuir]

Thank you

[@rogercortin]

Thank you, it helped me a lot.

[@krzysztofgrasssnake]

Awesome. I love it. Thanks

[@PhlossBoss]

Thank you for addressing the truth about what lies below!

[@MrSahansdal]

He left out Swamp Thing...

[@metaspencer]

cool video and great tips ... well done! (plus, great paddle man)

[@HughCStevenson1]

Great video! What if you are at the start of your stroke when you tip? You can't sweep forward to slice out of the water...can you sweep back out?

[@capefalconkayak]

That’s why I personally teach the turn your wrist and slice straight up strategy as opposed to combining the sweep with the slap. If you’re at the beginning of your stroke though all you would have to do is cock your wrist and push off the water.

[@richardgodlove9662]

Have you ever tried using this technique with a sit on top fishing kayak where your center of gravity is much higher?

[@MiguelLarrovere]

Hola soy de Argentina, alguien puede ponerle subtitulos en español a estos vídeos? Muchas gracias

[@shaunolinger964]

I often have time to sit and wait for friends or the group to rally... I fully expect I will quite likely present my friends with the opportunity to both laugh at my bracing practice and watch my reentry methods. I cannot roll with my severely bad back, so I have to pull the skirt and "eject" ( a phrase applied by my combat fighter pilot father) and get back in it after I roll it back over. This is practice I fully intend to do next weekend.

[@capefalconkayak]

I can relate to the back problem

[@paulward248]

spaz out brilliant

[@TMAdventuresT7]

Great explanation and guide many thanks 👍

[@paradeltahike]

Nice

[@uazpanzer]

Thanks! Super.

[@lorrainejee8405]

what is the name of the kayak / canoe in this video ? It looks very stable

[@capefalconkayak]

It's my own design, called the F1. To learn more about it do a quick search on my channel, or check out my website.

[@scottgorman7166]

Brian this is the 3rd time watching this video and as it is very informative and self explanatory I do have a question. You stated the low brace set in stone in your mind helps one with the sharpe tight truns where your boat is past the deck chines, as your moving along can you low brace (like sitting still) and how about slicing the paddle back up out of the water when moving at speed?

[@capefalconkayak]

Good question, if you are moving forward and you do happen to tip over and suddenly slap the water as you rotate your wrist backwards to slice up this will present a climbing angle on the front surface of the blade which will actually help it to come up and out of the water with forward momentum.

[@scottgorman7166]

@@capefalconkayak Thank you, I see how the blade will actually act like the planes on a submarines sail.

[@andrewlinesjah4538]

Not too shabby ...

[@markomicic5945]

Great! Very well explained!

[@rustinstardust2094]

Can you recommend a good kayaking school or two? Preferably on the west coast, but I'm flexible.

[@capefalconkayak]

In California: Liquid Fusion Kayaking Washington: Kayak Academy or Body Boat Blade

[@rustinstardust2094]

@@capefalconkayak Thanks!

[@williammaderasphotography]

Yeah... the angry frogmen- LOL!

[@fitdoc565]

I live in eugene, oregon. Do you have a recommendation for whitewater (class 1+ to 2) kayak instruction in oregon?

[@jeffolsen4983]

Good humor ending!

[@jonathana349]

I completely forgot about the Kaiju!

[@GBPaddling]

You forgot Godzilla............Great video, by the way.........practice makes perfect.

[@mtmals9786]

Yiks! Terrifying water 😱 creatures. Thanks for this important lesson. With lots of water experience, I will begin kayaking soon at 75.

[@KamilKisiel]

Those angry frogmen are the worst really

[@stefanbehleit8976]

Thanks ... now I am even more scared of falling in the water ! xD

[@josephinebennington7247]

I tell learners to go past their “OMG” moment before bracing. A bit more emotional to get the message across

[@moretimethanmoney8611]

Kaiju?!!!

[@patrickhess1076]

Where the fuck is your PFD??!!

[@pilgrim1711]

What's up with the 666 hand sign? You do know Satan loses in the end right?

[@laurelalloro]

Please tell me you're joking