Need help with butterfly kicks

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Quoted message said:

After "kicking my arms out" of the water (kick #
2), I am having some serious trouble "kicking them in" (kick #1) again.
This is because I staighten my legs with kick two and somehow cannot
bend them at the knees again, because it feels completely unnatural to
do so. Feels totally opposed to my body dolphin. I've been watchin g
the TI tape alot and based on that, there wouldn't even be a kick#2.
They're like "It's all body dolphin, no overt kicking". Following the
TI way would be: arm pull (hips come down slightly), knees bent,
recover arms, hips come up and legs are extending naturally (basically
kick #1). Now this darn kick 2 is throwing me off. It doesn't come too
naturally with my body dolphin (hips and feet coming down at the same
time feels weird). And once I've completed the kick, it's effing up the
following kick, because I cannot rechamber those legs. Kick #1 the way
I do it is basically, trying to awkwardly push my butt towards the
surface, while legs are still straight from kick #2. Consensus seems
to be that 2-kick butterfly is the way to go, though. I also watched a
Video clip of Michael Phelps, probably a million of times. Still can't
get my body to catch the rhythm. So what am I to do to overcome this
barrier? Oh, and simply switching to swimming with one kick is not an
option for me. I will be graded on this.

Using two kicks per stroke cycle in butterfly is, for most people, a matter
of developing the armstroke in such a way as to take sufficient time for the
legs to fit two kicks in. Most beginning swimmers do not have an arm-stroke
that takes long enough.

There are a number of approaches to developing a long-enough arm-stroke.
One of the simplest is to swim a lot of fly in the situations where it is
easier to do two kicks - just following a dive or pushoff, or with fins, or
without breathing. Greater body speed helps the legs to fit two kicks in,
as each kick can be smaller.

Another is to make sure that you de-couple the head motion from the arm
action, when breathing. If your head goes back down in the water before
your arms pass the shoulder plane, you will have a better body position
(=more body speed) and as well, your arms will more easily travel to the
furthest forward position, giving a potentially longer stroke.

Some strength and flexibility improvements can also help. Controlling and
maximising the push at the end of the arm-stroke usually needs some muscular
training; and a smooth recovery is easier if shoulder flexibility is
adequate.

Quoted message said:

After "kicking my arms out" of the water (kick #
2), I am having some serious trouble "kicking them in" (kick #1) again.
This is because I staighten my legs with kick two and somehow cannot
bend them at the knees again, because it feels completely unnatural to
do so. Feels totally opposed to my body dolphin. I've been watchin g
the TI tape alot and based on that, there wouldn't even be a kick#2.
They're like "It's all body dolphin, no overt kicking". Following the
TI way would be: arm pull (hips come down slightly), knees bent,
recover arms, hips come up and legs are extending naturally (basically
kick #1). Now this darn kick 2 is throwing me off. It doesn't come too
naturally with my body dolphin (hips and feet coming down at the same
time feels weird). And once I've completed the kick, it's effing up the
following kick, because I cannot rechamber those legs. Kick #1 the way
I do it is basically, trying to awkwardly push my butt towards the
surface, while legs are still straight from kick #2. Consensus seems
to be that 2-kick butterfly is the way to go, though. I also watched a
Video clip of Michael Phelps, probably a million of times. Still can't
get my body to catch the rhythm. So what am I to do to overcome this
barrier? Oh, and simply switching to swimming with one kick is not an
option for me. I will be graded on this.

How about trying to NOT to kick at all but instead do strong body
undulation? Move your ass and the rest will follow. That helped me
with my problems (on timing).
--
Markku Stenborg
[email hidden]
Disclaimer: Uh? What??

Here is a suggestion thet might help. Forget about your legs for a
second. focus on the arching of the body and lead with your head. When
you are diving in, point your head down. When you start to pull with
your hands arch your back, point your head and torso up and let your
arms bring you out of the water. Work from the stomach and lower back
to arch your torso up or down.

A while back I read that we should lead the dive down and up with our
head. Also the post suggested exagerated dive in and dive out. That
seemed to work well for me. It reduced the power needed by my arms and
legs to pull me out of the water. Instead the body arching and the
momentum does part of that. The kick has become more relaxed and I can
do the fly with only one kick. Hope that this helps,

Andres

Get a kickboard, and grasp it atop...not on the sides. Then start your
dolphin kick from your thumbs. Your whole body should be involved in
both the kick and the stroke.

Bob

Try doing a "see"saw" drill. Face down in the water, pretend that you
have two buttons on your body - one on the center of your chest and the
second one on your belly. Arms stay at your side to begin with. Press
with your chest, press with your belly. Try this drill for 10-15
yards. Let your legs trail -don't force a kick. Once you get the hang
of the drill, the kicks are almost automatic.

Quoted message said:

After "kicking my arms out" of the water (kick #
2), I am having some serious trouble "kicking them in" (kick #1) again.
This is because I staighten my legs with kick two and somehow cannot
bend them at the knees again, because it feels completely unnatural to
do so. Feels totally opposed to my body dolphin. I've been watchin g
the TI tape alot and based on that, there wouldn't even be a kick#2.
They're like "It's all body dolphin, no overt kicking". Following the
TI way would be: arm pull (hips come down slightly), knees bent,
recover arms, hips come up and legs are extending naturally (basically
kick #1). Now this darn kick 2 is throwing me off. It doesn't come too
naturally with my body dolphin (hips and feet coming down at the same
time feels weird). And once I've completed the kick, it's effing up the
following kick, because I cannot rechamber those legs. Kick #1 the way
I do it is basically, trying to awkwardly push my butt towards the
surface, while legs are still straight from kick #2. Consensus seems
to be that 2-kick butterfly is the way to go, though. I also watched a
Video clip of Michael Phelps, probably a million of times. Still can't
get my body to catch the rhythm. So what am I to do to overcome this
barrier? Oh, and simply switching to swimming with one kick is not an
option for me. I will be graded on this.

regards