Dragon Boat Paddling Resources

It’s important to look at how each paddler learns, in order to teach to their strengths. There are three basic learning modes, visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Visuals learn by seeing something done and picking up visual cues, auditory learners learn by being told and learning audio cues, and kinesthetics learn by doing and learning the physical cues. Visual learners are the ones who pick up timing more easily.

All people are a mixture of styles, but, usually, one will be dominant. Go through the three basic concepts and watch the results of each to determine the best methods for each paddler.

Visual:

1. Teach them to watch the top hand, up and across the boat, and match position and timing on that cue.
2. Watch the blade of the paddler in front of them, matching position, angle and timing. Which you choose depends on your stroke and body position. We have an upright stroke, but a body position that faces the water in front of us, so we teach to cue on the blade in front.

It’s important for the paddler to be able to see their own motion as they are watching timing in front of them. Peripheral vision is key, as they watch the blade in front, they should be able to see their own blade and make it’s position match. As they watch the top hand, they need to see their own hand as it moves and be able to match the position. It’s important to visually cue on both the catch and exit. By Cueing on paddle position and angle throughout the stoke, timing should come as a result.

Auditory:

1. Teach them to hear the entry of those in front of them, and listen for their own. Make them match. Benefits of this are hearing a sloppy catch.
2. Teach them to count as you have, 1-10, then start over.
3. Listen for the audio cues in the boat, and learn what each means. Entry has a specific sound, and they should be able to match it. Exit has a different audio cue, which can also be matched. Like the visual, if you teach the hear the sound of entry and exit, timing should come as a result.

Kinesthetic:

1. Lay the paddle down the middle of the boat, and have them place their outside hand on the outside shoulder of the paddler in front of them applying light pressure. Have them keep the same level of pressure throughout the stroke, for a few minutes of paddling. The paddler in front should have good rotation and reach. Have them concentrate on their body position, and how it feels as they match the paddler in front.
2. Coach should learn to move a paddler through the stroke, as they paddle. Standing next to the paddler, place your thumb and fingers along the collar bone on both sides of center. Your other hand should be on the back in about the same location. Then apply pressure in time with the stroke to aid them in cueing. Start with forward-back motion cues, then begin to add rotational cues by applying pressure towards the outside on the back and the inside of the collar bone as they reach.
3. Have the paddler lay the paddle down and simply sit and feel the motion of the boat, then have them start to move with the motion, then have them go through the stroke motion with everyone else, still without a paddle. The whole time have them concentrate on their body motion in relation to the movement of the boat.

Additional helpers

Paddlers usually have a consistent failing in timing. They either rush or lag. If they rush, then have them see, hear, or feel a pause just prior to driving their blade. This may help them stop from rushing the catch. If they lag, concentrate on the exit, seeing, hearing or feeling the location, sound or feel for timing of that portion of the stroke.

Breathing can also be used for an Audio or Kinesthetic cue. Teach paddlers to concentrate on breathing in one stroke, and out the next, or in for two and out for two, depending on the intensity of the practice piece you are in.

How to tell learning styles:

Visuals usually look sharp, well matched. Auditories are usually less well kept, and use terms like “I hear” or “It sounds.” often, during their casual conversations. They are often good story tellers. Kinesthetics usually wear clothes that are comfortable. They cannot sit still for long periods, and are touchers.

Conclusion

There are many cues you can develop for each learning style to teach different aspects of the stroke. For example, for rotation, make sure a visual can see their inside shoulder disappear as they reach and rotate, an auditory can hear their PDF slide around their body as they rotate, and a Kinesthetic can feel their hips move with their shoulders, and feel their PDF rotate.

Often, giving a paddler a very specific task that relates to timing can be of great benefit. Seeing or hearin the exact instant the paddle in front of them enters the water, and matching that. Feeling the surge of the boat on the pull, and concentrating on minimizing this feeling as they paddle.

Learning styles are good to teach to, because they can produce results, but once you know what style a paddler accepts best, be sure to have that paddler check in with the other aspects. A visual may need to be reminded to hear their catch, and feel the boat (have them paddle eyes closed). An auditory may need to be reminded to see their blending, and feel the boat. Kinesthetics may need reminding to see their blending and hear their catch.