This is great! Dr. Thora was an excellent addition as well, thank you. It's fantastic to replace the coaching dogmas with your more nuanced, technical approach. I'd love to see more videos on how different bodies/anatomies make certain rowing styles more or less suitable.

We use DIY trolley to demonstrate how momentum can help to increase velocity and what actually needs to get done with body (pulling boat- biorower towards yourself..

Fantastic!

@AramTraining

11 ай бұрын

Many thanks!

Hi Aram! Great topic worth discussing! I think “vertical shins” is a traditional visual tool that coaches use because it’s something they can see and identify from the coaching launch. I also believe that “vertical shins” has been used as a reference point to determine where to place foot stretchers so that rowers could “row through the pin”…which was difficult to measure. Now, perhaps rowing through the pin is an obsolete metric with the availability of technology that allows us to measure catch angles, finish angles, and force curves. Thoughts?

I just started using a rowing machine and my lack of ankle mobility was noticeable right away. I'm trying to go slow and focus on form right now, so I think I'm correct in thinking that on the machine I should focus on keeping my back straight and getting a rhythm for the movement timings and integrate ankle stretching into my current routine. Then I'll have good form and work up to being able to do the full range of motion.

@charleythora4037

Жыл бұрын

Yes, exactly… a very good idea for an approach Two tips, that helped me very much: think „tall“ (more of a ballet dancer than the hunchback of NotreDame 😉) And use a video of a good rower as a model, but not in a race (way to intense) and watch yourself either by camera or by mirrors (For example search : Zac Purchase UT 2 / UT 1 here on KZread)

I can't even squat, but I can do the most advanced stretch. Guess where I'm feeling it? In my hip area. Maybe I don't have a problem with ankle mobility but with hip and lower back mobility? 🤔🤔🤔 How can I improve my hip and lower back mobility?

So, after ankle surgery I'm at about 10% on the right foot and -5% on the left. By the time I get my heels down, the leg drive is over.

These videos are great, thank you! I have limited ankle mobility from a severe pilon fracture around a decade ago, perhaps 50-60% dorsiflection on one side. And a bad upper back. This may or may not be related, because I also cycle and do long hours at a computer... I was kind of hoping for some tips on how to row around the injury. So far, I have my shoes slightly lower in the boat - but the restricted plantarflexion limits what I can do with the foot plate angle without causing discomfort and loss of connection at the finish. My main solution is a very significant heel lift at the catch, and I definitely spring from the balls of my feet more than I used to. Any thoughts? Is there another less worse solution?

@charleythora4037

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice compliment. It seems like you have already found your workaround the injury. I am not an expert rower but that’s another „dogma“ to be questioned. No heel lift at the catch!! But why? Take a look at expert rowers: Most of them are lifting their heels quiet a bit at the catch In my personal opinion, I think it is important to have a good connection at the catch (ie if you put pressure on your feet, you should feels it directly in the hands, so no loss of energy), but not necessarily the whole foot on the plate. When I am rowing, I deliberately lift my heels a bit, in order to avoid going full force immediately But another question: is the limitation of movement caused by a bony restriction after the fracture (then there’s not much to better unless surgical interventions) or a tightness of the ligaments and the capsule (which could be softened albeit it’s going to take long)? And finally the tight upper back will definitely be a topic of one of the further videos (Aram is planning on moving up the body video-wise 😎)

@user-lc1vn7we1w

Жыл бұрын

@Charley Thora hi Charley, the upper joint surface was totally fragmented, and bolted, glued and sewn back together, with some help from bone from my pelvis. The surgeon was very gifted and happy with the shape he created, but it isn't perfect and it is likely a bone restriction. I can get slightly more motion from stretching, but the pain makes this not worthwhile at this stage. I am fortunate to have a joint at all. I agree that avoiding heel lift is a strange dogma. Olympic sprint cyclists seem to manage to generate 1500W without having their heels supported, don't they? I will watch the upper back pain video with interest!!

I did the mobility test with the paper and I’m smack back in the middle of my foot length. Maybe I have messed up body proportions but I can’t seem to do a deep squat while keeping a straight back. Should I keep working on ankle mobility? Thanks.

@stevenaller

4 ай бұрын

You may need more hip mobility then

What do you advise doing in the meantime while the stretching routine is taking effect? Row with very raised heels at catch?

@AramTraining

3 ай бұрын

The heels are neglectable...imho

I have a question: I am able to get my knees far over my toes when doing the exercises you describe (step 2), but in a deep squat I am not able to get nearly as far over my toes. Is it possible that sometimes something else (not enough core strength? hip flexor weakness?...) could masquerade as lack of ankle flexibility, and cause heels to lift at the catch?

@AramTraining

Жыл бұрын

Please try a super clean good morning with a broom stick. Can you go parallel to the floor with a straight back?

@rachel11235813

Жыл бұрын

@@AramTraining Yes, I can. At least 10 degrees past parallel, in fact.

Where does Dr Charlie row in Munich? I’ve never seen him on the regatta

@charleythora4037

Жыл бұрын

That’s because you’re looking in the wrong direction…. You’ve gotta look more downwards…. I’m the pale one, floating just below the surface…. I’m a „Trockenruderer“ only on the BIOROWER so far … until June 22nd with the rowing camp in Vienna where Aram promised to keep me from drowning (should I trust him?…🤔🤔)

@turboseize

10 ай бұрын

The regatta course in Oberschleißheim is not the only rowable body of water in respectively near Munich - there's lake Starnberg, too. Some clubs have boathouses at both: Starnberg for the panorama views, the regatta course for calm water. ;-)

Really interesting topic! I actually struggle with my ankle flexibility in the catch position and do have a large upper body. What I am known for is to sit to straight in the boat, but actually I have kind of problems to lean forward and get more length on the roll because of my ankles. It’s not a must for me because I get my length trough my arms . But my ankle flexion also costs me problems with my lower Hamstring tendons…

@charleythora4037

Жыл бұрын

Very common problem. And you’re actually compensating in a healthy way for your back. Most people compensate by rounding the lower back I’ll try to talk Aram into making a Video about exercises for flexibility and strength for the hamstrings and glutes

I'm not an expert rower, but doesn't the "shins vertical" also protect the knees from being overloaded? I noticed that going beyond the "shins vertical" my knees start to hurt when training over 30 kilometers per week (admittingly on a linear erg). Adding a bit more distance brought my legs in a more powerfull starting position, reducing the stress on my quadriceps.

@AramTraining

Жыл бұрын

Aha. Good point. There are two points I would like to make, without claiming that I am right: At the catch, it is more effective not to go hard with your legs immediately. I find it more effective to gradually increase leg force as the boat speed increases and the trunk/shoulders can transfer more. Second, the knee joint is in a better position in a deep squat situation than mid range depth, which would be more similar to vertical shins.... Maybe Charley can comment further...

@charleythora4037

Жыл бұрын

Yes I can add a little bit: I‘d guess that your ankle mobility is about 30% of the foot length or less. So, if you go beyond vertical, you increase the tension in the joints more central (knees, hips) unproportionally. So in your case I’d recommend not exceeding vertical, or work a bit on the ankle flexibility. But the most important thing is: Row as YOU feel comfortable… there is definitely no „one size fits all“ The other very important thing is: Don’t go hard at the catch, especially on a linear erg. Aram has made a video about the catch being quick but not forceful. Hope this helps…

@jaap_vanekris

8 ай бұрын

​@@charleythora4037Thank you for your answer, I've started working on my ankle mobility.