RE: [Paddlewise] Kayaking - crossover to other activities

John Kirk-Anderson wrote:
<snip>>>>>>It was simply that I paddled "At one with the kayak", and seemed
to use no energy to surf, paddle and turn.
Once I noticed that I was using the water's dynamics properly, I started to
analyse my mindset, and realised that I was actually thinking about Jiu
Jitsu and Judo, martial arts that I started a couple of years ago. The
principles of using energy from another source, either water or an opponent,
to achieve the required goal, are similar in both paddling and some martial
arts.<<<<<<<<<

Bradford wrote:
>>>>>>>>On every paddle trip, I get tired after one minute of paddling. Then
I take a thirty second rest. On my second attempt I usually enter a Zen-like
phase where I don't feel much of anything except the wind in my face, moving
water under the hull, and an exhilarating sense of freedom.<snip>>>>>>>

Wow, Jiu Jitsu and Zen. And I always thought I was just lazy so wanted all
the help I could get. That's probably why I ride the lift up and mostly sit
way back in my ski boots (much like I'm in a rocking chair) during those
gravity powered descents.

Back when I was younger and more ambitious/competitive (and had fallen in
with a bad crowd of kayak racers) I too experienced a lot of muscle fatigue
during the first mile of a race. Sometimes my shoulders especially would
feel very tense and ache during the earlier parts of the race. I attributed
that to a quick lactic acid buildup in the muscles that needed some time to
dissipate. After that thought I wouldd try to paddle real hard for five
minutes or so about 15 minutes before the start of the race and then rest up
and dissipate the lactic acid during the rest before the start. That plan
worked like a charm. 
The other problem that Brad may be experiencing is that he started out
paying attention to his fatigue and then once he took his mind off himself
he wasn't so bothered by it. I also learned during my racing days that by
wearing headphones and listening to fast paced Rock and Roll music (Billy
Idol was my favorite for this) I could paddle to the beat and not notice the
pain (unless the music stopped). I theorized that this is probably the same
reason that soldiers march in formation. Maybe even marching to the beat of
a drum to induce that mindless "Zen-like" state.

Well, back to the void.
Matt Broze
www.marinerkayaks.com  
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