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Pull Buoy or Not?
When we do pull sets, we almost never use pull buoys. Instead, we use a doubled-up kick band wrapped around the ankles. It’s significantly harder to pull this way but we feel that it’s more effective. The other day I was reading "Swimmer and Team" by a legendary American coach Don Gambril and found an…
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Swimming Technique: Verbal Instructions vs Visual Input
I wrote this article in April, 2011 but never posted it here. I will explain below why I am posting it now. “You have two brains: a left and a right. …your left brain is your verbal and rational; it thinks serially and reduces it’s thoughts to numbers, letters, and words… You right brain is…
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6 Japanese Swim to Taiwanese Coast
"SUAO, Taiwan (AP) — Six Japanese men swam 95 miles (150 kilometers) through heavy winds and rough seas to reach the Taiwanese coast Monday in a show of gratitude to Taiwan for its help after the March earthquake and tsunami. Wearing swimming caps imprinted with the flags of the two countries and emblazoned with the…
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Evolution of the Center Mount Snorkel
Most swimmers use center mount snorkels these days. It’s a great tool that helps you work on your technique and body position while allowing you not to worry about breathing to the side. The first time I saw a center mount snorkel used by swimmers was about ten years ago. I didn’t know if it…
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Brief History of Resistance Training Gear for Swimmers
From the early age of competitive swimming athletes have been using various devices to help them get stronger and faster. Fins and paddles were probably among the first training devices to be used by swimmers. Benjamin Franklin, who was an avid swimmer, invented both in the early 18th century (around 1717). However, in this post…
