This is humbling but necessary.Thanks Dark 🐎 Horse

Oh my gosh I'm so excited for these!! THANK YOU! New to rowing as I'm clawing my way back into good shape after falling into sedentariness during Covid. I'm incredibly psyched about it and loving it so far. I'm devouring the DH rowing vids and had my first "A-HA!" moment just the other day as I experienced a really good spring-like action out of the catch because I heard Shane's voice saying, "BRACE!!" in my head. My torso and arms stayed locked in shape as I moved and the power was so much more than it had been before. I saw the wattage on the display jump to where everyone else usually says they're working. I'd never been able to sustain a decent number before. I continued and rowed for 30 minutes that session - so many things started clicking. I can't wait to see continued improvements over time and these focused videos are going to be just what I need. Thank you again. Taking this down to the gym right now to practice. Much love!

Shane thanks for another new video you been helping lots of us

Awesome video! Best instructor on KZread!

Excellent video...I have in the past entered and done quite well in some rowing comps probably off of strength and determination...definitely not skill or finesse. After watching this video, I now see how to load up the body and also place the shoulders and back in a safe position. My 80 year old in laws recently purchased and C2 and now I can help them use it safely and properly as well...THANK YOU for this series!

Thanks for the video. It is really helping me row properly

Thank you. Very much needed.

Fantastic instructions! Thank you so much for stressing the importance of every detail and going through them in such an easy to understand and at the same time entertaining way. Follower for life, for sure. Keep your good work up

Thank you for covering this stuff. I just got into rowing about 2 months ago and I absolutely love it. I learned everything from watching your videos and workouts. I started by doing the Ultimate Beginner Rowing Machine Workout for about 2 weeks to get my form going. Thank you!!

This seems like a great video tutorial~! I'm fairly new to rowing...just got my rowing machine (Hydrow) today...and I'm stoked to get going. I've used rowing machines in the gyms at various duty stations (I'm retired Army), but only a couple machines to service hundreds of GIs. I'm very excited to have my own now and I'm happy to have found your channel to get my rowing going the right way from the get go~!!

This is great. Thank you!

Useful video. Cheers

I'm a 62yr young 🇨🇦 "gym rat". Wieghts and muscle mass were my priority until lockdowns.Without knowing anything I sat down on a Concept 2 and taught myself thru trial and lots of errors rowing basics. After becoming a Dark Horse "viking" life has improved (huge understatement) P.S. I forget I had a TKR "total knee replacement" 2&1/2 yrs ago.My quads,calves,abs,lats etc are definitely looking and feeling better than ever.. I'm late to this channel but here to stay.I recommend DH to every newbie I meet ✌️🏋️ from 🇨🇦

Best freaking rowing tips ever! Thank you so much! 🙏🏽😊

Great job Shane.

Got my razorback tshirt this morning and literally giggled! So excited!

Enjoy your videos! I just bought a rower and going through all of your Beginner videos.

@DarkHorseRowing

2 жыл бұрын

Great to have you along for the row, James. Have fun!

Love these...thanks

Another informative video, you never disappoint!

@DarkHorseRowing

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you think so!

I always learn more every time I watch you. Waiting on next video. You cant bring them fast enough for me. LoL

Please Stay Blessed SHANE🙏

great vid!

Thanks!

great advise

Thanks- engaging the lats was what i think im missing.

That hurts. Brand new to rowing. The tutorials are fantastic.

I love this. I used some pillows to raise my butt and now I’m practicing the catch as I watch tv. I can only hold it for a minute but I’m starting the 12 weight loss program next week so I’m working up to it.

Thank you for yet another great video... Like many viewers I am newish to rowing..I'm in my 60's and had bilateral knee replacements last year so compressing my knees to get into a deep catch has been and is still a big problem for me since started back on the rower....I use the Watts display to try see a "consistent" power curve during the drive, rotation and pull.. With the mental reminder to brace my back and push from my heels I see a quick ramp on the power from the leg push but I get a dip before the rotation and arms kick in..If I keep a slow stock rate 14 s/m its more consistent but as soon as I get to 18s/m and higher I loose that power from the legs and the power curve is a steady climb..Pre-surgery I was doing a 1:50 -1:53 split over 1000 and 2000m..I am currently at 2:13...I know I have lost 4-6 inches from my stroke length due to the lack of knee compression. Can you show a cut away view of the display showing the Watts so we can see what the power curve should look like..... is it simply a case of going slow to get more reps to get more consistent ? any advice

@jessdicarlo7159

Жыл бұрын

Hope you’re feeling better from your surgery. It’s awesome that you’re exercising even with knee replacements. Too many times we make excuses instead of doing the best we what we have. Which brings me to my advice on your situation… The amount of compression at the catch is far less important than the relationship of your shoulders to your hips. In other words, if you can get only into a half-compression starting position at the catch, you can still get a killer workout and a ton of power on your drive IF your shoulders are in front of your hips AND you PUSH your hips back, keeping that same hip angle for most of the drive with the legs.

Thanks for these videos. Does rowing help someone with knee arthritis

On Water Rower - Aching but feels good😅 Thanks Arnaud H for sharing this video and many more 🤗

Thanks, this is great technique info it has really changed my bad habits. I also appreciate your comment that falls in line with my training philosophy; If I don't hate my trainer at least once during a workout, he's not doing his job :)

Could never figure out how to tighten latts. Thank you!

@DarkHorseRowing

2 жыл бұрын

Happy to help!

Great to see Elliott from E.T. doing so well! When did he switch from cycling to rowing?

New to rowing and loving these videos! Does "shoulders reaching" mean rounded shoulders? And should we pull in our shoulders blades into the middle of the back or keep them extended out?

@laszlobalogh7112

Жыл бұрын

Same question here.

So I’ve been watching A LOT of your beginner videos, practicing and trying to perfect my form and I think I understand the sequence of events but what I see watching your videos and in my own practice is that the arms begin engagement before the body is at 11:00. It seems to me that arms start as hip angle is opening. Is this correct? Also, any tips on helping mid-back (thoracic) fatigue or is this just something that will improve with fitness?

Great video. Also, I noticed your weights and bench hanging on the wall. Where did you purchase that?

@DarkHorseRowing

2 жыл бұрын

Here you go! prxperformance.com?sca_ref=949901.YsdYQnr07v

Hi Shawn, I just started up the weight loss program today. I already am a member of the community. My comment is why are there so many ads that come up in the middle of these videos. I understand that you probably make money off of then, but I just paid good money for your program. It should be add free.

Love your material, Shane! I’ve found it to be both engaging and helpful. I exclusively used a Matrix over my first four months of rowing (got up to a half marathon (1:38:50)). I tried a C2 for the first time this week and the catch seems SUPER loose, like the fly wheel is still spinning too fast to give me good tension for the next drive. Any advice?

@MrMockaMock

2 жыл бұрын

Increase the drag factor. Makes the wheel slow faster so more resistance on the pull.

@NeverMindJeff

2 жыл бұрын

@@MrMockaMock I do all of my rowing on Matrix at level 6. I had to take the C2 up to 10 to get the same feel. Definitely a different feeling between machine types. I put in an estimated 300,000 meters through my four beginner months, all on the first machine type I used. Probably just need to force myself to use both intermittently in an effort to eliminate what appears to be a “muscle memory induced preference”.

@MrMockaMock

2 жыл бұрын

@@NeverMindJeff fair enough.

@jessdicarlo7159

Жыл бұрын

The tension comes from the position of your body at the catch. If you keep the shoulders in front of your hips when you push, that position is what gives you something to push against. The trick is that muscles between your feet and hands need to work to allow for that suspension. It’s why rowing is such a killer core workout (abs, glutes, lats, to name a few). The tension is not in the drag. The drag just slows the flywheel down so the load feels heavier with the muscles you’re currently using. If you want to feel a really heavy load, learn to *suspend* your body weight between your hands and feet. That’s the crux of rowing efficiently. Don’t believe me? Try the drill in this video, paying close attention to what Erin Cafaro is saying. Once you feel it, that makes it 💯 clear, without words. Good luck! kzread.info/dash/bejne/pml7ks-nkZPgkdo.html

This is awesome. Any advice for the belly getting in the way of the 11:00 catch position. I have to either splay the knees or move towards 12:00. Any advice?

@jessdicarlo7159

Жыл бұрын

I copied my response from the other question from the person who had knee replacements…hope it helps! (Just one thing to add: I’d recommend not compressing as much rather than splaying the knees, just because I think it’s better to get a stronger push and less compression) The amount of compression at the catch is far less important than the relationship of your shoulders to your hips. In other words, if you can get only into a half-compression starting position at the catch, you can still get a killer workout and a ton of power on your drive IF your shoulders are in front of your hips AND you PUSH your hips back (making sure to move the handle in tandem with the seat), keeping that same hip angle for most of the drive with the legs.

@lindad4672

Жыл бұрын

@@jessdicarlo7159 helpful. Thanks.

Great Video Dark Horse. Question- At the catch my knees are inside of my elbows. They are not on top of them. Is that alright?

@jessdicarlo7159

Жыл бұрын

It’s hard to say for sure without seeing a video of you rowing, but it sounds like you might be more compressed than you need to be if your elbows are a lot lower than your knees. But it could also be that the lengths of your shins, femurs, and arms are such that you’re in a powerful catch position and that’s just where your elbows are. I’d say the important things at the catch are the angles of your hips and ankles, and the relationship of your shins to the floor (roughly perpendicular). Similar to a good deadlift position. If you can push off the footplate with good power, and keep your shoulders in front of your hips, I wouldn’t worry as much about your elbows and knees.

Hi Shane! I was a swimmer turned rower in university a few years ago. I have the fundamentals but I feel like I’ve developed some bad habits. I’m starting from scratch and working away at my technique. My issue at the catch is sacrificing the legs under arms to get extra length. I’m definitely restricted in my available hip hinge range due to my abdomen. Would you recommend prioritizing the position over the length?

@shirahonig6051

Жыл бұрын

I'm not an expert, but I've done some rowing and I'd say yes. Short people with great technique can row as well as tall people (one recent piece of evidence to support this is the Cambridge men's 8 that beat Oxford in this year's Boat Race). Probably also a good idea to work on your strength and mobility outside of the erg (hips, ankles, core, lats). I've found it to be critical for improving my power as well as my stroke.

You communicate well.I'm fortunate to have discovered rowing and very grateful for finding DH shortly thereafter.. Thankyou young man for the great channel ✌️🏋️ from 🇨🇦

I am a 68 year old pensioner from Scotland who used to be quite fit but am presently making good recovery from cranial surgery. Is it worth having a go on a very cheap basic machine which I have been able to source? ' any advice on starting as cheaply as possible? Thank you.

@Sharon-pb7so

2 жыл бұрын

Ask your surgeon for approval first.

Shane, this is great- Question for you, I am 6"5" but my legs are much longer than my torso. When I try to set up correctly with my arms and shoulders relaxed, my arms are hitting the top of my knees. If I raise the arms, then the shoulders, neck tighten and my range of hip swing reduces- I lose efficiency. Any tips to improve?

@waltblackadar4690

2 жыл бұрын

I don't think you have to improve. Depending on your flexibility, you might be able to take your arms wider but overall that's just the way you're built. You can't change that. That's the problem with these videos. While instructionally great, they don't take into account that people are built differently. I'll never get my knees tracking directly under my arms - they'll always flare out some. I have limited hip and hamstring flexibility and always have - it's genetic and not something that I could fix. The trick for me is to not let them flare too much (puts unneeded stress on the knee) but to get in the position that Shane is advocating I'd literally have to tear my hamstrings. So I do the best I can and move on.

@DarkHorseRowing

2 жыл бұрын

Steve, It's very hard to know without seeing you in person. How is your posture? The ability for you to sit up will elevate the arms above the knees and allow you to let the traps relax while engaging the lats to help you maintain good tension.

@DarkHorseRowing

2 жыл бұрын

Walt, Every body is unique and yes the ability for me to anticipate every possible body type is impossible. Hip and hamstring flexibility are not determined by genetics for the most part and can always be improved. You may be an exceptional case, but there is always room to work on and improve these areas save for a genetic trait that determines otherwise.

@stevebouralexis7162

2 жыл бұрын

@@DarkHorseRowing- posture can definitely be improved but it isn't bad- As my core gets stronger this will help. My problem will be my hips, they are not too flexible (old sports injuries). I made some adjustments based on your video and my last rowing session was awesome, had much more consistent split and power, this gave me a better distance row too. As I get stronger, I should improve more. I went from a 10min 2000m to 7min and 40 seconds 2000m in 7 weeks. I think this not too bad coming from a low base of cardio fitness. Your video's have helped so thanks a bunch from down under!

@stevebouralexis7162

2 жыл бұрын

@@waltblackadar4690 Thanks bud, you are right as a Scientist I know my genetics, that can't be changed, but through trying to get as technically perfect as you can is will reduce injuries down the track from overuse.- My hips are not that flexible, never have been courtesy of scoliosis in the lower back. It didn't hamper my athletic career back in the day, but as an older guy that is out of shape it is impacting. My natural position is to have my arms a bit wider and it stops my knees from flaring (Arms act kind of like a train track). I don't seek perfection but want to establish as good a technique as I can (as I am re-learning to train) in order to reduce injury.

You take the apple & you feed the giant??? I mean, I never played organized baseball, so perhaps I just missed that saying...or that was the silliest example I've heard in 17 days.

I just got a Concept2 Rowerg. My belly is too big and legs not flexible enough to get into a proper catch (greatest issues are hips not behind shoulders and the inability to slide forward). Will this come with a combination of weightloss and stretching?

@a5nelson

2 жыл бұрын

I’m in the same boat. I too just started with a C2.

This has got to be the best...and the worst😉...training videos ever. I both love and hate it. I'm sure you can understand why.

Slide .. AND ... the rollers or they get pitted and don’t roll smooth.

You are a great teacher! But…longest 2 minutes ever.

I think I'm having my back too straight in the catch. I don't know how to fix it. 😆

Lose the music please as very distracting

Please please please! Skip the music. So annoying! 🥵 Loved your videos for many years but these music backgrounds do suck big time. The spoken word is suffering from this. Makes me wanna abandon the video. Remember, When rowing we need to put the level higher... PLZ No more music. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

@ddowns509

2 жыл бұрын

What about those of us that like the music?

@paulthorade6977

2 жыл бұрын

You mean the music for a whole 1 minute and 46 seconds. Dude relax you're not breathing right or meditating!

@yinyangstudios

2 жыл бұрын

When someone goes to these lengths to deliver high quality content, film it, produce it, master it, etc and then give it to us for free - I really don't think they deserve to be criticised publicly. If you feel strongly about this then would it not be better to email Shane and start a conversation in private?

@Sharon-pb7so

2 жыл бұрын

@@ddowns509 Right! Plus I was so focused on what Shane was saying that I didn't even realize there was music. 🤣 Now I'm going to rewatch.

@MattSwain1

2 жыл бұрын

My issue is the music is too loud relative to the voice, background music should be in the background which this isn’t