Very pleased to announce the release of my new eBook, 'Row Your Fat Off!'. If you have just began using the rowing machine or recently purchased a machine for yourself, THIS is the ultimate guide to get you started in the right direction towards your fat loss goals! You can check it out from the link in the description box above! THANK YOU for all of your support!!
Separating out the specific parts and tools for each of the seven step assembly process steps was brilliant on the part of the manufacturer. For the price, I am impressed at how sturdy this ru-vid.comUgkxvObaTzoHoHQLL4lHbJQmExHqsrZQm-f7 unit is and it does go together easily. Well, I was puzzled at first at Step 5 and maybe the instructions should mention that rail #62 needs to be tilted upwards a little to get the rail to fit into the main part #44. I like it that the rower can be stored vertically in a really small amount of space, but be forewarned that this rower is top heavy and for safety you'll need at least two bungee cords to keep the unit upright, attaching them to something; in my case to a third garage door. I have had this unit only a short time, and I will post an update once I've had it for a year. As for working your legs, I have to admit that I'm mainly rowing for upper body strength and I use other forms of exercise for leg strength (like walking fast, biking, or using a trampoline. But if you pull as far forward as possible, then you can give preference to your legs for the first 4 feet or so of travel. I also admit to not taking the two electronic connectors apart at Step 7. I simply inserted the two batteries while the other parts remained connected. By the way, there is plenty of resistance here, even in the lowest resistance settings. Kudos to Sunny Health & Fitness !
I gotta say, Austin, your videos are absolutely the best. Your engaging presentation style; the way you the explanation the technical issues in a clear and concise manner without a lot of jargon are super. I’m coming back to the erg after a long hiatus and these are just the kind of vids I need.
Hey Mark! Thanks for reaching out man - that really means a lot! I do my best to make the videos as concise as possible! I really appreciate the support. Looking forward to hearing how your rowing goes in the future!
My calves felt totally fine before I watched this video. Now they are burning. I have to go stretch now. Thanks for the reminder! Going to start doing this all the time now.
I hate running in the cold between latter seasons and switch to the erg at the gymnasium. This video channel has taught me correct technique. I went from back pain to a 7:30 2k in no time.
Hey, Thanks for the response TT. I'm in the process of building a training plan equivalent to my "Half Marathon" weekly running routine. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work, I'm only 176cm wishing my stroke was as long as yours!
So helpful. Thank you! I’m new to rowing due to a nasty bout of Plantar Fasciitis. I was all heel raise & didn’t realize it. No wonder my PF wasn’t healing!
Me too. Purchased Concept 2 D model last week and quite enjoying while trying to know more better postures. Thanks for video. I have been riding road cycle very long time and can say ‘not bad’ but this rowing is quite different in another meaning. Wish this helps crossly each other. :)
With time you'll get better, I wonder how's your pace now... I do occasional rowing at the gym and this october's challenge is to row as fast as possible (from a stopped position) in 500mts. My best is 1:36min but I want to go lower than 1:30min...
Well done mate! Despite being an avid badminton player, my average time within the first month was about 2:20, but after 8 weeks of rowing, I’m now down to about 2:03. Being conscious of your technique and utilising your abs and hip swing - in which you will feel the contraction, certainly makes a big difference. Once you feel that contraction after developing good form, your motivation increases exponentially - I actually started smiling the first time I realised how much it contributes to your efficiency lol!!
Hi, I'm getting my rower tomorrow. I'm taking on tips and instruction on form. I find your videos clear and informative. ( subscribed) Looking forward to easing into my fitness again. I will come to watch regularly, to keep techniques right and keep myself on target. Thank you.
Thanks. I’m 2 months in and looking to get more meters out of my 45 min sessions as I build endurance and power. Focusing on my mechanics. Appreciate ur videos.
I have exactly the same problem, and sometimes feel that it affects my power output. Tight calves, or what squatting experts call limited ankle mobility, is certainly affecting my ability squat properly too. I’ve tried other ankle exercises but haven’t made any positive gains. I’m gonna try these immediately and comment with an update in a few weeks. Thanks for the tips!
Thanks for the video. I raise my heels quite a bit and it's a habit I want to break but I have pretty bad ankle flexibility. Going to give those stretching exercises a go every day and see if it helps. Was also thinking of doing resting squats every day, working up the number of minutes I can hold the position. I assume it would help with flexibility? Do you think it would work? Also Dark horse rowing channel had what seemed a cool way to get used to not raising your heels. Check during the catch how far forward your seat can be while still having your heels fully connected. Tie a cord around the rail at that point, stopping your seat from being able to go forward past it, and row with the cord like that for a while. Might give that a try as well. Seems like it would be a big adjustment period though but if it can help it will be worth the effort.
This ankle tip is great. I will try it next time I hit the gym. I want to do 500mts in less than 1:30min (my best is 1.36min). About the height, I think it is important but, for example, Fernando Pimenta (several times european champion and 3 times world champion in K1 1000 and 5000) is 1.78m (about 5ft10) so it didn't stop him from being a great champion. Of course he's not short, but not tall either...
I know that I can go below that, but the problem is that I only have till the end of the month to try to take 6 secons to my best time. I am 5/8, so I'm not the tallest guy in the world. Keep up the good tips! Best regards from Portugal!
Yo bro! awesome videos man! congrats! Is there any video of "rowing for short distance vs long distance technique" coming soon? or have you already done it? I do CF and we do both. Cheers mate, thanks!
Thanks a lot, Antonio. Yes, actually! I am filming a rowing "sprint" technique guide this week, which means it will most likely be up on YT by the end of NEXT week. Stay tuned! Have an awesome day!
I have been watching your videos for a couple of weeks now that I have been rowing. I am wondering if you have made a workout plan that included per-streches, warm up, work out program, cool down, and post-stretches for beginners? There is just a lot to take in on the videos and I was hoping to make my learning process a little more fluid.
Hey Abigail! I am currently in the process of designing a full 6-week rowing program! It should be completed in the next upcoming months so stay tuned for it :)
Training Tall heck yeah! I am subscribed so I look forward to it. I appreciate everything you've shared so far is been very educational and has helped me in this new journey. I also love that you're plant based! Have you read fold over knives or watched the movie?
I love your videos. They have been very helpful. So glad i found your channel. Thank you! Last time when i rowed i went to almost 1500m and noticed tight shin muscles. Am i doing something wrong? Maybe pushing off with the ball of my foot? I want to get my form proper. Thanks
Thank you for the kind comment! It is not necessarily wrong to push off of the balls of the feet, but I like to think of it as 'pushing off with the midfoot' when rowing. So try to lift your heels only slightly, and try pushing off of the midfoot and see if that helps!
Hi! I just started rowing and i really appretiate your videos help me a lot with it. Do you suggest how many mins of rest after how many mins pf rowing?
Thank you, Murat! It all depends on the workout. I recommend checking out my rowing workout programs which you can find in the video description! They tell you how long to work and rest for!
Hi, I have a waterrower professional series and have started (after a lifetime of other workouts) rowing regularly--I have watched all your videos to improve my form. I have done and am doing all your drills to improve things has allowed me to make small adjustments and feel like I am getting a lot out of my rowing workouts--so thanks! however--this heel raise thing--you mention a small raise in the beginning is up for debate--my question: If I am not experiencing any pain, am initiating the leg part of the stroke with a midfoot to heel compression (staying away from the ball of the foot) to engage the hamstrings and glutes, but my heels come up a little bit on the return part of the stroke--is this ok? I have tried raising and lower the footplate and even the rubber band drill to find the exact spot where the heels come up, but those changes make the stroke super awkward and unnatural. I am, luckily, very flexible (for my age--51yrs) and stretch regularly--so I don't think it is that. thank you and sorry for the long comment--didn't know how else to contact you :-). Great job on the videos--I was a fitness instructor for 15 years--it is a calling to want to help others meet their goals--thank you for sharing your knowledge and time!
Hey Audrey! Thank you taking the time to comment! I am happy to hear that you have gotten some info from my videos to help make your rowing better! I am trying to picture your 'heels coming up a little bit on the return part of the stroke'... If that means what I think it means, it sounds like you are 'pulling' yourself up with the footstraps. If you have not tried it yet, I recommend trying to take some practice rowing strokes with your feet ON TOP of the foot straps (and not actually buckled in). Does this occur when you do this? Let me know! We can figure this out together!
Training Tall I do that drill a lot...great one to train the muscles to NOT pull on straps. I think my heels come up a bit because I can compress (knees, hips)a lot on the return. I always try to be mindful of lowering the heels down before pushing off. My heels don't come up as high as you demostrate in this video so I think it is ok, but wanted to check. I think my stroke looks a lot like the videos you show in the beginning of this one demonstrating the heels coming up (though not as fast :-)) and hopefully long run it isn't detrimental. Thank you for replying.
My right hamstring always tightens up to the point I have to stop, as soon as I have stood up and shake it off for 10 seconds and it's alright to go again. I have a dodgy left knee, could this be a sign of my right leg doing all the work or bad form? Thanks for always writing back, because you know your stuff.
I’m new to rowing and im 5’1, I have been watch videos just to see the feet, so I’ll try the stretch, but I think I did it incorrectly because my knees hurt 😞
I wondered what Jay was doing now that Silent Bob took a break to work on other projects. Very glad he found rowing, his other hobbies weren't terribly healthy. wonder what LaFours is doing these days...
