Sculling technique: USE BODYWEIGHT TO ROW FASTER 

"At the finish, everything starts" - For something that makes such little sense in any other context, this makes so much sense

As always, this has been mindblowing. You are a great trainer, with such sensibility to put into words the exact motions and sensations that we need to perceive. Keep doing this amazing videos

Now had the chance to watch the whole video. Aram, I have watched scores of your videos, but this is the clearest explanation you have given yet on the critical points of the catch, and also the last third of the stroke. Your explanation of the difference between a linear erg and a boat, and why you don't need to tear the finish is brilliant. Also pleased you made the point that you can cheat the technique at 18-25 sam, but you can't over 30spm, and you can't at 12-14spm. I was taught to start the season/crew at 14spm at very low pressure so that you get the technique right. At this rate and pressure the athlete has the highest level of proprioception, and their feel for the boat/blade/water/body is not overwhelmed by the feeling of applying power. Love it! Thank you.

Calm water is the exception? That explains it. I was thinking I was living in the wrong part of the world and had to move. Great videos Aram, video quality is superb. The new camera is worth it. Thank you!

Morning Aram. I just watched this video. Should’ve found it a several weeks ago. It’s one of your best. I love the key messages. 1. Don’t bend the elbows 2. The power of the upper body. 3. Reaching out (not forward) to the catch. For what It’s worth, my analogies: 1. Until completing the legs part of the drive phase you think of the arms as strings attached to the shoulders, that way, no bending of the elbows 2. When reaching out (not forward) to the catch in a scull it helps to think of yourself as an albatross opening up those enormous wings and shoulders. Summary: 1. Weight of the upper body 2, Strings. 3. Albatross. Best, Wishes

Watched you for a while and the first time I ever commented. SO MANY FORGET THIS!! For years I rowed a fixed seat rowing boat. People always mention legs then arms but do not mention the body. Your trunk is way more powerful then your arms. On a fixed seat rowing craft if you dont use your body your boat will move very slow. This year I finally got a sculling boat and still I always remember your body is way stronger then your arms. USE IT WELL! And you are right to keep your arms loose on the catch extend you arms out do not reach. Reaching engages your shoulders. Using your shoulders also brings your center weight higher above the boat. You are also losing the force of the body weight.

Aram, awesome video! Agreed, Chile looks like an absolutely stunning place to row. With regards the video quality, it looks fantastic! Loving the Biorower warehouse background as well!!

I love watching your videos! I have fixed a lot of my own issues related to proper timing of the pivot (with a very noticeable and sustained drop in splits). This past summer especially I had injured my lower back. I was not able to properly stabilize and transfer the load with my core and had inadvertently learned to row with my shoulders and arms.... so much so that after a 4-5 km race my legs would have 0 burn, but my forearms would overwork to the point where I lost all sensation in my wrists/hands and could no longer grip the oar by the end (hands were shaking with no gripping ability). Your videos helped me retrain myself to properly engage my lower and upper body through the pivot (later in the drive rather than at the catch) and saved me months of agony in my arms once I had fully rehabbed. It has also really helped me identify and explain issues to the younger rowers when I help coach them! I have started to notice many of the issues you have pointed out in your analysis videos. I think chief among them is a tendency to lift with the shoulders at the catch rather than the arms, which causes an early pivot and typically causes the blades to be far too deep in the water. It appears to me this often comes from a weak core when I see the rowers almost resting their chests on their knees and rounding throughout the lower and mid back (and then rest their weight on the oar handles)... Once this occurs I believe they almost have no option but to pivot and this pivot leads to buried blades and a loss of force generation (I'm assuming this has something to do with the loss of ability to further engage the posterior chain)... especially at the weakest point when the force vector from the blades is not advantageous. My natural inclination is to involve more core and general upper body strengthening/endurance, but is there any additional advice you have for someone coaching through this problem?

As always, another great and really helpful video. Picture quality very good, sound crisp and clear. Looking forward to the delivery of our first Bio Rower from your good self, Aram, here in Graiguenamanagh Rowing Club.🙂

at 14:10 is most important part of this video. use weight before arms. easy to say difficult to do because rowing is not natural motion.... and that is why brain should always be engaged... Thank you Aram

New rental toys: much higher picture quality even on the mobile. Sound is crisp considering you’re in small warehouse with its echoes. Lighting, you need some background otherwise you’re looking a bit ghostly 😎 Excellent presentation as usual Aram and easy to follow explanation of technique.

Much better image imo with the new camera, Aram. Cheers!

Great video again Aram! And I think that your usual camera is fine, just the lighting is sometimes a bit off

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Much better image quality and setting.

Things for me to try out tomorrow, if I could only remember them 🙂Sigh, getting old is not for sissies 😂😂😂😂 Great input again Aram.

I need a rowing coach. Just switched from Paralympics Cycling and I want to try Paralympic rowing. For now, I want to spend the next 11 to 12 months developing good technique and fitness so that I can attempt a 2K test around June or July of next season.. currently, I am looking for a training plan so that I can have proper structure and approach to periodization. Could you recommend a referral or perhaps are you available as a coach? If so, what is your fee? Contract?

I think your face is a bit too brightly lit with this setup