Dynamic No-Fins No-Arms?

[MBanks]

Hi,
I was at the pool today and I set a new personal best of 50m for dynamic no-fins no-arms. Does anyone else practise this too?

Basically it is what it says, dynamic with no-fins, but also without using your arms. I often find this easier than dynamic no-fins with arms because I seem to slow down quicker after my stroke with arms, but by just using my legs I seem to move easier through the water. This is probably due to my technique with arms, but I was wondering if anyone else finds this or practices it, and if so what are your PBs?

I also practise with arms too, my PB 50m aswell, but as I said I find this harder.

Martin.

 

[fcallagy]

hi martin do you keep your arms by your side or out in front of you like pushing off the wall. I 've done it arms by my side but only got about 35m

 

[matrixed82]

Thats pretty good, I'll try it next time I'm in the pool. I have a feeling its going to be much less that what I can do with arms. By the way are you doing a regular frog-like kick, flutter or dolphin kick?
I have tried with dolphin kick once and only completed 25m.

 

[MBanks]

hey fcallagy, I put my arms out in front of me like I would if I was using a monofin, looking down etc, I usually do it quite close to the bottom of the pool too, and "watch" all the tiles zip past me.

When I swim any dynamic I use the frog leg kick. Although for my last length just before getting out of the pool, I thought I'd try the dolphin kick (like using a mono but with out the fin, right?) just to see if I could reach the other end of the pool (25m) and I managed it with no problems, so I might try it for further next time.

Are there any other styles that people use? I have seen people do dynamics with breast-stroke style but with a mini dolphin kick just before pulling the arms back, after their frog kick. Is that the flutter kick you are talking of?

Martin

 

[Juniorre]

When I train for DNF I do 50 m arms only and 50 m legs only on every training. It helps me to improve my technic.
And when I focus on DWF I do few 25's and 50's using a dolphin kick but without mono. I think it helps too.
But I have never tried to do a max attept like that.
I've got to try it on my next training.

Piotr

 

[laminar]

My pb with this technique is 75m, set a long time ago, just dolphin kicking. I guess I have big feet.

I'd also use a slight sculling with my hands out in front of me to emphasize my back undulation.

Doing 25m repeats with 1) arms only and then 2) legs only (whip kick), is great practice for dynamic without fins. It really helps you become efficient at the entire stroke and you realize that your kick is most often the weakest link.

 

[MBanks]

Thanks for the tips! Before today I usually did a few 25m no arms every session, just to vary what I'm doing in the pool. I have done 25m, no legs just arms once before but I think I will continue to practise it after reading what you have all said.

Do you wear any sort of weights when doing this? I am only using goggles and I find that after my strokes I sometimes move up or down in the water and was wondering if weights would help with my neutral bouyancy?

Martin

 

[perow1]

I am one of those with a CRAPPY frog-kick and a quite good dolphin kick. My pb with just the dolphin kick is very close to my pb with frog-style. I have managed to do 80m but I am not very good at it. I am currently working on my leg kick. Without fins is a very beautiful discipline and i would like to be better.

 

[neshamah]

sometimes move up or down in the water and was wondering if weights would help with my neutral bouyancy?
_________

Of course you need some weights

 

[naiad]

I have done dynamic no-fins no-legs. I have done my PB this way, but I don't count it as a proper PB because I was face-down on the surface, so not properly underwater. Doing that underwater would need very precise weighting, but I will try it.

Lucia

 

[Haydn]

Try doing a half empty lung, just enough to keep you from dragging along the pool floor. No fins. Pick your way along one tile at a time with your finger tips.

 

[trux]

I have done dynamic no-fins no-legs. I have done my PB this way, but I don't count it as a proper PB because I was face-down on the surface, so not properly underwater. Doing that underwater would need very precise weighting, but I will try it.

Theoretically, you shoud make more underwater than on the surface, since underwater you do not fight the surface tension, which slows you quite a lot.

 

[naiad]

Try doing a half empty lung, just enough to keep you from dragging along the pool floor. No fins. Pick your way along one tile at a time with your finger tips.

That must be good training, somewhere between static and dynamic. I'll give it a try.

Theoretically, you shoud make more underwater than on the surface, since underwater you do not fight the surface tension, which slows you quite a lot.

I hope so, now I have to give it a try! New PB perhaps...

 

[MBanks]

I have tried pulling myself along the bottom before, it's good fun, I also empty half my lungs and sink to the bottom in the dive pit (-3.5m) and walk slowly accross the bottom. I do all sorts of little "games" underwater for fun other than just dynamics and statics to improve my ability and movement underwater.

neshamah:
"Of course you need some weights" need might be a bit strong, I seem to be able to swim underwater with a reasonable neuttral bouyancy I just wondered if a small amout of wieght would be worth it Vs. hydrodynamics. I'll give it a go though, thanks I just need to get a weight belt now

It's great to hear about everyone's techniques and other types of training & practises

Martin

 

[Juniorre]

For DNF I would recomed makeing yourself a neck-weight rather than using a weight belt. Or, if you want to have a perfect neutral bouyancy you can use both. If you experiment little by puting more weight to belt or to neck you can find a configuration in witch your torso and your legs will stay at ideal horizontal possition during a long "glide phase".

After some training as your rib cage gets more elastic and you can take more air for your dive you may need to add some weight to stay neutral.

I use only 2,5 kg neck weight for my dynamics and it works very well for me.

Piotr

 

[naiad]

I need a lot of weight. I am thinking of getting a neutral buoyancy suit, so I can use a 2kg neckweight.

The only way I can sink without weights is with a forced exhale. That is without a suit. With a suit I can't do it, even a 2mm shorty. If I have a 5mm suit and no weights, I can't get down from the surface at all.

Lucia

 

[Evita]

I use only 2,5 kg neck weight for my dynamics and it works very well for me.

Me too, but not 2,5 kg all the time. I also do dynamic laps without the neck weight because it is harder, and therefore good training.

I found, however, that with a monofin I can carry less weight around the neck. Don't know why that is...