Back Kicks

MJH · May 25th, 2006, 09:00 PM

I have realised that I really need to learn to back kick.

Now before you all shout fundies at me - I can't OK - not right now anyway.

So I want to try and work it out for myself. Any advice would be appreciated.

Jonathan kindly gave me this link and I thought I might share it as I found it useful.

http://www.divetekadventures.com/Images.htm

**Howard Payne** · May 25th, 2006, 09:11 PM

You only had to ask!

"Sneak" your fins back through the water with your feet together and your fin blades pointing backwards, then splay them out to the side and "Snap" them back in towards your body. As RichW says, the recovery part of the str*ke is more important than the snap: give yourself plenty of time on the sneak backwards. Once you get the rhythm going - you should make good progress. Play with the angle of your fins as you snap so that you feel stable in the water and to stop your legs taking you too "feet vertical". If you don't give the sneak phase long enough and get the fin blades flat enough parallel to your body - you just tend to move backwards and forwards in the water - so give that part of the "cycle" most time and concentration.

Its one of those things that just clicks after playing with it for a while. Does this mean I can take my thumb off your forehead next time we do an ascent together? lol

Gareth Burrows · May 25th, 2006, 09:11 PM

wraysbury next weekend?

GLOC · May 25th, 2006, 09:18 PM

Depends on the weather ie if its pants, we might be able to get something done next week in Plymouth, even if it is good, we can practice when the mandatory stops have finished.

I will also bring the 5thD DVD down for you to see how the drills are done!!

SCoach · May 25th, 2006, 09:25 PM

Two other things of mention:

1. Keep your back arched and your head up. I know for myself and others, the head tends to drop, and your kicks begin to move you upwards vertically in the water.

2. Mind your breathing. It seems some people tend to hold their breath unconsciously when doing this and tend to either rise or sink depending on the amount of air in the lungs. Try to develop a nice rythm of breathing where you exhale as you pull the fins forward, and a slow inhale as you move them back.

Best of luck!

**Howard Payne** · May 25th, 2006, 09:29 PM

Thanks for adding that - both good points - particularly the head back and arch to get your trim set in the first instance - it just makes everything easier

**neilh** · May 25th, 2006, 09:44 PM

I'd also recommend getting your trim nailed - I couldn't back kick for toffee despite practicing lots until I got my trim sorted - then it was possible to actually move horizontally

lamont · May 25th, 2006, 09:58 PM

I found it helpful to practice one leg at a time in the beginning. I still use that sometimes when I want to move backwards and turn one direction or the other... This can also help your helicopter turn since if you add back in the other leg kicking forwards then you'll be doing a correct helicopter turn.

Also, get your fin tips level, if they're up, you'll wind up going up. It helped me to take my c-5050 digital camera out and use its video mode and film what we were doing as well.

*JohnKendall* · May 25th, 2006, 10:03 PM

Try it in the swimming pool. Without any fins etc. Basically the power doesn't come from the fins, it's from the lower leg moving through the water.

Keep your head up and your back arched (Clench those butt cheeks)
DO NOT look at the floor if you start moving
You must be trimmed fairly close to horizontal
Be VERY slow moving your feet away from you, try and put the soles of your feet together (You need to twist your ankles to do this, not move your knees apart)
Be very careful once you've snapped your legs back so as not to cause yourself to go forward again.

HTH
J

TobinGeorge · May 25th, 2006, 10:14 PM

Lots of good advice here. I very much agree with John about trying it without fins. Most of the power does come from the side of your calf, and most of the problems come from the "load" portion of the manuever. Without fins the "load" is easier.

Another thing Iused that seemed to help was getting in a pool, and hanging on a ladder hand rail that extended below water lever. This kept my upper body "quite" while I focused on the leg movements.

Arching the back is very important.

Good Luck,

Tobin

May 25th, 2006, 09:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
MJH(Offline) Mask? Oh yes, I thought it was cold.... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Orpington, Kent Posts: 389	Back Kicks I have realised that I really need to learn to back kick. Now before you all shout fundies at me - I can't OK - not right now anyway. So I want to try and work it out for myself. Any advice would be appreciated. Jonathan kindly gave me this link and I thought I might share it as I found it useful. http://www.divetekadventures.com/Images.htm

May 25th, 2006, 09:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
Howard Payne (Online) Never Knowingly Underfabu Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London Posts: 1,198	You only had to ask! "Sneak" your fins back through the water with your feet together and your fin blades pointing backwards, then splay them out to the side and "Snap" them back in towards your body. As RichW says, the recovery part of the str*ke is more important than the snap: give yourself plenty of time on the sneak backwards. Once you get the rhythm going - you should make good progress. Play with the angle of your fins as you snap so that you feel stable in the water and to stop your legs taking you too "feet vertical". If you don't give the sneak phase long enough and get the fin blades flat enough parallel to your body - you just tend to move backwards and forwards in the water - so give that part of the "cycle" most time and concentration. Its one of those things that just clicks after playing with it for a while. Does this mean I can take my thumb off your forehead next time we do an ascent together? lol __________________ The Foxturd Chimp

May 25th, 2006, 09:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
Gareth Burrows(Offline) Chimp 2 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Horsham, West Sussex Posts: 365	wraysbury next weekend? __________________ Garf Amusing and Clever Signature under construction.

May 25th, 2006, 09:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
GLOC(Offline) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fleet, Hants Posts: 1,949	Depends on the weather ie if its pants, we might be able to get something done next week in Plymouth, even if it is good, we can practice when the mandatory stops have finished. I will also bring the 5thD DVD down for you to see how the drills are done!! __________________ Gareth Images of Life Photography DIR Team Foxturd Travels Underwater and Further Afar If you don't have the time to do something right, where are you going to find the time to fix it? - Stephen King

May 25th, 2006, 09:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
Howard Payne (Online) Never Knowingly Underfabu Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London Posts: 1,198	Thanks for adding that - both good points - particularly the head back and arch to get your trim set in the first instance - it just makes everything easier __________________ The Foxturd Chimp

May 25th, 2006, 09:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
SCoach(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: N.FL. Posts: 10	Two other things of mention: 1. Keep your back arched and your head up. I know for myself and others, the head tends to drop, and your kicks begin to move you upwards vertically in the water. 2. Mind your breathing. It seems some people tend to hold their breath unconsciously when doing this and tend to either rise or sink depending on the amount of air in the lungs. Try to develop a nice rythm of breathing where you exhale as you pull the fins forward, and a slow inhale as you move them back. Best of luck!

May 25th, 2006, 09:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
neilh (Online) Haemoglobin on the bus... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Barnsley, UK Posts: 1,900	I'd also recommend getting your trim nailed - I couldn't back kick for toffee despite practicing lots until I got my trim sorted - then it was possible to actually move horizontally

May 25th, 2006, 09:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
lamont(Offline) APLP Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 181	I found it helpful to practice one leg at a time in the beginning. I still use that sometimes when I want to move backwards and turn one direction or the other... This can also help your helicopter turn since if you add back in the other leg kicking forwards then you'll be doing a correct helicopter turn. Also, get your fin tips level, if they're up, you'll wind up going up. It helped me to take my c-5050 digital camera out and use its video mode and film what we were doing as well.

May 25th, 2006, 10:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
JohnKendall(Offline) GUE Instructor/DIRX Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 1,097	Try it in the swimming pool. Without any fins etc. Basically the power doesn't come from the fins, it's from the lower leg moving through the water. Keep your head up and your back arched (Clench those butt cheeks) DO NOT look at the floor if you start moving You must be trimmed fairly close to horizontal Be VERY slow moving your feet away from you, try and put the soles of your feet together (You need to twist your ankles to do this, not move your knees apart) Be very careful once you've snapped your legs back so as not to cause yourself to go forward again. HTH J __________________ John Kendall http://www.guetraining.com/ GUE Instruction, Santi and Halcyon Equipment NEW - Online Santi Shop

May 25th, 2006, 10:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
TobinGeorge(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 565	Lots of good advice here. I very much agree with John about trying it without fins. Most of the power does come from the side of your calf, and most of the problems come from the "load" portion of the manuever. Without fins the "load" is easier. Another thing Iused that seemed to help was getting in a pool, and hanging on a ladder hand rail that extended below water lever. This kept my upper body "quite" while I focused on the leg movements. Arching the back is very important. Good Luck, Tobin