Day 4 - Chest and Shoulders - Ivan Lawler Kayak Technique Series

[@skipaddle]

Watching this series has become a spring time ritual before I get on the water.

[@peterleffler2062]

Another really helpful video. For those of us who were just given a boat and paddle and told to pull the water backwards (or something similar) the details you are explaining are a revelation because much of the time it's small degrees of movements and more about what you are Not doing. It's hard to spot what someone is not doing that makes them better. But we're lucky because you are serving it up on a plate! Thank you.

[@ewanmackenzie6777]

Ivan, thanks for describing in a way that is easy to understand and great exersiese to help get the technique. Way to go.

[@michaelflorio9674]

Excellent information! I took a minute off my 6 mile PR today. Thank you Ivan.

[@ultimatekayaks6499]

That’s great. Just send me 10% of all future prize money! ;-)

[@fernandojperez-fernandez3632]

Ivan!! You're king!! I've been following you and your videos a while now since coming back to canoeing (as master) for 5-6 years ago. These, and the masterclass in Richmond CC, are the most instructive and practical (and witty) racing canoeing technique videos available on the web!! Period and without parallel!! And finally you nailed it with your choice of T-shirt :)

[@ultimatekayaks6499]

Cheers Fernando! Really appreciate your comments. Glad these are helping you. The shirt is one of my favourites!

[@fernandojperez-fernandez3632]

@@ultimatekayaks6499 I'm planing to take the certification for canoeing coach at club level for my local club here in Trondheim, Norway this autumn. The idea is to convert some young river and sea paddlers into sprint/marathon canoeing. Hope you allow me to use your instructions and tips & tricks to ease the teaching, and ovbiously the learning process, of good padling technique to these kids :) PS: sorry to disappoint you, but yeah, we do wear woollen or neoprene socks while padling about or below freezing point...

[@ultimatekayaks6499]

Fernando J Perez-Fernandez I guess below freezing socks can be acceptable! Good luck with the club! Norway have some pretty good history of producing great athletes!

[@MightTower]

Very good explanations, even if I am more into whitewater, all these explanations and exercises really help to find potential for improvements.Thank you

[@pgrell2]

Thanks again! All the explanations do make sense, and fit together in a convincing way. Still working on the elements (training) of your previous videos. Much food for thought and for training! Thanks for contributing your time and sharing your expertise!

[@SpaceSputnik]

Wow, those shoulder stability excersizes are nice and hard. Will add to my workouts.

[@lov2playtn]

Best paddling instructions in the world!

[@ultimatekayaks6499]

Thanks for the high praise Peter! Not sure you are right but for now I will take it!

[@edrissemussa371]

Thanks a lot for this series Ivan, very very helpful. 7:14 is very funny LoL

[@lov2playtn]

A wonderful gift...Thank you!

[@accel5922]

Brilliant! Helping me loads. Can't wait to use these gems on the water. I wonder where else the white dots will appear from now on?

[@mattcook83]

Thanks so much for continuing these, most helpful for a You-Tube taught paddler like myself! Your comments on not making a ‘C’ shape in the water struck a chord with me. I think I do this, but how do you get to a ‘J’? My trunk rotation naturally pushes the blade out away from the boat with a locked upper body shape? Is it a question of pushing down more?

[@ultimatekayaks6499]

Hopefully this will be covered in the next one on arms.

[@mattcook83]

Brilliant thanks Ivan.

[@andrewvo9048]

Always very informative and helpful...pls keep them coming... I still struggle with the power on the 'pull' is that only rotation or also lats, I think I've worked out it's not pulling with arms... Working on sitting tall and shoulders down... Cape town👍

[@ultimatekayaks6499]

Hopefully the arm video will get made today! Rotation is the main power source but you get to use the lat also to bring the elbow back toward the trunk.

[@petelawton8747]

Great series Ivan. Thanks for putting in the time and effort and sharing. bytheway .. love the t-shirt, where can I get one?

[@ultimatekayaks6499]

No deal on the T-Shirts! they were Nelo Service Team issue for the 2012 Olympics. Thanks for the positive feedback on the videos!

[@gregiscastaway]

Ivan what about the spine curve from back to front ...should my back be straighter?

[@StuClifton]

Hi Ivan, at what age would you start trying to help a kid with technique? And how bent should your top arm be when your paddle exits the water?

[@ultimatekayaks6499]

Hi Stuart, always try to help any age , just don't make it so intense they hate it! Most kids learn best through copying so show them good paddlers either on the water or on screen. Kids learn well through play and experimentation rather than through detailed explanations (in my experience) Second part will hopefully be answered in the next video. Not sure there is ever a definitive answer to those sort of questions though.

[@Alastair510]

Question for you, Ivan. I have found that it is my legs that give way first - trembling muscles from top of inner thigh down to knee. What exercises do you recommend to strengthen this area? I also have a suspicion that I might lean back a bit, putting extra strain on these muscles. Do you think that is likely?

[@ultimatekayaks6499]

Always difficult without knowing you but if you are leaning back the hip flexors will be working overtime. Any instability issues you have will exacerbate this. My initial thought is that you probably have very tight hamstrings that need stretching.

[@Alastair510]

@@ultimatekayaks6499 Ah - instability. I bought a kayak that was a bit tippy for me (wasn't the model I thought and couldn't test paddle). I'll work on being more upright. Hamstrings are not really loose but I'm not overly tight. Working on stretches (not easy in mid-fifties). Thanks

[@ultimatekayaks6499]

Alastair Dent instability it is then. At least if you put the lessons here into practice you should gain a bit of stability.

[@gregiscastaway]

Rather than sit ups the yoga move of “boat “ holds the core with breathing.