Forward stroke Leg Drive: Addendum!

[@johnhmaw]

Well put, and thanks for all the great info. One of the most important points to come from this is that we all need to periodically reassess what we are doing, to make sure that it still serves us well. Thanks again.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Exactly. Thanks for watching!

[@teresab936]

Thanks Brett! I appreciate your videos, knowledge and instruction. My local kayak instructor teaches a technique and then says “at the end of the day do what works for you”.

[@AdventureOtaku]

That is awesome! thanks for watching!

[@ewanbruce7026]

Just a thought from a not too expert kayaker all the way from Scotland - your videos have been a great source of inspiration for me as I find my way to a half proficient technique. BUT I use them as PART of how I learn - other folks' videos, fellow paddlers and in-person instruction all play their part - it's up to me to work out what works for me and apply it. After all I have to exercise judgement about whether to go out on the water or not when the conditions are uncertain. Keep doing what you do - & thank you for the contribution to folks' understanding and enjoyment of paddling!

[@AdventureOtaku]

You are absolutely right. Nothing I say is gospel, and you should absolutely be learning from as many people and sources as you can. And combining that with what works best for you. Thanks for watching.

[@Zak_McKracken]

From a biomechanical standpoint, there is only one correct leg to push. If you push the other leg, you block your own rotation. Not much, but recognizeable. How you can test it out, I wrote in the comments section from the video before. I can't find a video, where olympic paddlers use the opposite leg. Can you show an example? In this video the olympic paddler pushes with the water hand side leg. And I can't find a source, where an olympic paddler uses the cross (or air hand side) leg. To top it off: When you push off with your crossed (air) leg, you push your bow in the opposite direction against your water hand side pull. This can help stabilize your course on smaller kayaks. (But it is a sign that you have an incorrect paddle stroke technique.) This is usually not necessary with a sea kayak. It is therefore better to use full hip rotation to reach the goal as efficiently as possible.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks for watching!

[@suebrand4606]

Well said my friend!

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thank you.

[@NickSchade]

I would say that much of the confusion is based on your choice of terminology. I think most folks focus on what the paddle blade is doing. One blade is in the water and the other is out of the water, and the blade that generates the power is the one that is in the water. They then relate their leg drive to the active paddle blade. So if the blade is on one side, they think about which leg is moving relative to that blade. In your clip of the Olympic paddler, you stop to draw the arrows showing the left leg extended with the right arm extended. So, by your terminology, the arms and legs are going opposite each other. But note that when you draw the arrows, the blade has just exited the water and is no longer applying power, it’s in the recovery part of the stroke. When the blade is in the water on the left side, the left leg is extending, providing power to the blade. So, the leg drive is happening on the same side as the blade. It would seem that folks are getting confused because they are focused on what the blade is doing while you are focused on what the arms are doing.

[@AdventureOtaku]

The blade transmits power to the water. But it comes from what the arms are doing, the torso is doing and the legs are doing.

[@NickSchade]

@@AdventureOtaku Absolutely, but the most relevant time to pay attention to what leg is driving vs what arm is doing whatever it does, is during the actual generation of power. This happens only when the blade is in the water. In the Olympic clip you show, the paddler is driving with his left leg when the left blade is in the water. Most folks would say that he is driving with the leg on the same side that he is paddling. Blade and leg on the same side. Your description has pushing arm and pushing leg on the opposite sides, which is actually saying the same thing, just in a weird way that is disconnected to what is happening with the blade. Since it is disconnected, I think many folks find your description confusing. I believe that your description, using your terminology ends up with what is generally accepted as the proper technique, but it a way that is more opaque and harder to decipher. Leg drive is the beginning of torso rotation. Pushing with your left leg, will cause your body to rotate towards the left. If you place the blade in the water on the left side and then just lock your arms, the blade will pull the kayak forward past it and you will be paddling forward using the power of your legs instead of your arms.

[@gingerm4]

Well put. I vary what leg drive I use with my forward stroke and here is why. I paddle a lot of open water along the NC Coast and Outer Banks and many time in rather choppy water and winds that requires a lot of attention to balance when quartering or having to paddle side to the waves and wind. Pushing with the same side leg is sometimes required to just help maintain one's balance to counteract the pull from my forward stroke and the wave/wind action coming from that side. I do long paddles 12 to 15 or more miles across the sounds and no matter what side I use, and I vary, it sure helps, especially when both wind and current are involved. Flat water paddling with minimal wind , waves and current I usually use opposite. Thanks for all your videos they are truly helpful.

[@AdventureOtaku]

thanks for watching.

[@sandrablackwell2929]

I appreciate to instruction to find out what works for you. Keep it up.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks for watching!

[@dave.in.oregon]

I thought you were very clear about stating what YOU preferred and that we (as paddlers) should do what feels best for us. Maybe I missed something, but using your legs was the 3rd step (push first, rotate your torso next and then leverage your legs).... I did get the Nigella Lawson joke. lol Keep doing great videos Brett!!

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thank you Dave!

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks brother!

[@michaelthomson5101]

I thought you were pretty clear, and even more so in this addendum. Thanx.

[@AdventureOtaku]

I thought I was too, but apparently not.

[@SeaKayakingAfter50]

So I went out this morning and tried both and compared. My standard forward stroke leg drive is on the same side, so I really had to time myself to do opposite sides...but once I did get into the rhythm it was obviously it suddenly became the "Olympic" type of forward stroke from the videos. There is a lot to say positively about the opposite side approach (1: it does give very quick bursts for energy and 2: it keeps the boat going straighter). I can see myself using it for short bursts of activity, but I would need to work on it as I tend to go back to same side after a few strokes as its my default move. I will certainly play more with it and add it to the tool kit. Thanks for raising this topic.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks for having an open mind. I am starting to wonder if “handedness” plays into it…..

[@davidkrueger3152]

Can’t wait to hear what’s new in two weeks. You got the best life style. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks for watching. Big news Sunday too!

[@toddsoderstrom8779]

Thanks!

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thank you Todd, thanks for supporting the channel.

[@eoinferguson1365]

A nice polite F-off to the internet police, well done. Love the videos keep up the good work.

[@AdventureOtaku]

thanks!

[@CareyCarolinaCamper]

Thank you for sharing this! I was taught opposite then “corrected” a few years later and it felt unnatural with torso rotation. Do what works makes sense, sorry you’re getting flak for making people think! 😮😂 Love the content! 🤙🏼

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks for watching!

[@carlcollins8017]

As you say so many times what works for you do that great instruction

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thank you.

[@kayakreflections9987]

Thanks for clarifying!

[@AdventureOtaku]

Any time!

[@dm208060]

Do what works for you and your style / ability, just be sure to do it. Spot on! That was my take away from the initial video. Haters gonna hate, but yakers gonna give it thought and work to improve the paddling experience.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Not all kayakers… but I appreciate your sentiment

[@martinhelmke5279]

Rock on, Sensei! I think this has led to some great discussion and contemplation. Not to make light of the situation, but people are similarly passionate about how to hang a roll of toilet paper. Who knew! 😂

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks for watching!

[@Simon_W74]

I thought your video was very clear, and you did clearly state do what works best for you. what is comfortable for you. Sadly you tend to get many an armchair expert that uses only hear part of what is being said before they inner Keyboard Warrior comes to the fore and off they go. Nice to know that we have another video tomorrow to look forward too.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Yes! I just have to create it!

[@MikeSG1960]

Little known fact…. There are more than 10 Commandments. The 11th Commandment is Thou shalt push with your opposite leg to your air hand. Look it up it’s true!😂 Another fun fact. Kayaking should be fun. Do what works for you. There are no points for style. 😮 Good job Brett on the addendum!

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks for watching!

[@gradyrm237]

I wasn't confused. Quite frankly, I don't watch yours on any one else's videos for absolute right or wrong, in cases like these. I watch for suggestions. I'm not looking for a kayak guru to follow. Ironically, you said in your last video that you wouldn't challenge a negative comment, you'd say Thank you for watching. Maybe a dash of that is needed. Something to be said for post and ghost. LOL See you tomorrow for your Wednesday post.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks for watching!

[@gradyrm237]

LOL@@AdventureOtaku

[@memog8794]

I thought it was all pretty clear the first time around?!?

[@AdventureOtaku]

Me too….but…..

[@peterplaskett]

I twigged that the video was probably wrong, but who cares, I just love these keyboard warriors hiding behind their monitors. As you said, do what's right for you and when necessary. Keep the videos coming, cheers Peter

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks for watching!

[@christophernunez3403]

The only way to do it is the best way that works for you. People in general are dumb when it comes to doing somethings in a different way then what they know.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Exactly.

[@stevenkelly-reif2682]

All good

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks for watching!

[@Dagh1]

I push with the opposite leg of the air hand, because to me that cancels out the torque, so I don't twist in my seat. Anyway, I didn't mean to drive you towards insanity, I only wanted a clarification on what seemed like mixed terminology between your video and the description under. Anyway, I enjoy your videos, keep up the good work.

[@AdventureOtaku]

It’s all good. Thanks for watching!

[@RavalOnline]

I learned corresponding leg from KZbinr Dan formerly of Headwaters Kayak. I plan to try your method next time I'm on the water. Your video made me realize I should take a class next time I'm in the US

[@AdventureOtaku]

You should! Thanks for watching!

[@BrianPlatt44444]

I thought you made it clear in the video.

[@AdventureOtaku]

I did too…..but….

[@arcanum3000]

Gotta love religious flame wars. In the absence of a scientific study comparing the two methods, claims that one is definitively better than the other sound a bit like superstition to my ears. That kind of handed-down-but-never-critically-examined "knowledge" is way more common than most people want to acknowledge, and in fields that are way more important than kayaking.

[@AdventureOtaku]

totally agree.

[@tilmank1973]

Golfers have been taught forever to keep their weight over the back leg during the backswing, then drive through that leg and shift weight to the front during the downswing. At some point in the 2000s "Stack & Tilt" and similar swing techniques emerged in which the player maintains most of their weight over the front leg throughout the swing. From the perspective of which leg is pushing against the ground to create force, this the opposite of the "traditional" approach. But both techniques work and none is fundamentally wrong from a biomechanical perspective. They just generate the desired result in different ways, so it's ok to do whatever feels right to you. Seems that paddling a kayak is similar in this respect.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks for watching!

[@SeaKayakingAfter50]

Too funny! Let the comments run please....some of us learn a lot by reading them and realizing how tough it is to teach people about "options". It was pretty clear to me that you were proposing an option or idea for thought....

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks. Thanks for watching.