I went paddling last week and as I was launching my kayak, another guy joined me. We launched out from the platform at the same time and when we were out in the water, he started chatting with me. We were initially going at around the same speed, and after a while, I realised that I had to put in more effort to keep up with him. The only reason I did that (keep up with him) was I was trying to be polite and carry on the conversation he started. But once the conversation ended, I simply slowed down naturally. I couldn't keep up with him. As I looked at him slowly pulling ahead of me, I couldn't help but notice that he wasn't executing the proper technique (at least not the way I was taught). He was not punching high enough, not having proper torso or shoulder rotation. One of the best display of the correct technique was shown by a Norwegian canoeist called Knut Holmann - three olympic gold medals, four times world champs in k1-1000m. Here's a very short clip of his paddling technique which I got from kayaksport.net:
and here you would find videos of some races he was in. I think the best one is the Sydney Olympics k1-1000 final where he was not leading at the start, then he took lead after 500m and subsequently powered ahead to win by more than a boat length. That was truly impressive. If you have a look at that clip, past the finishing line, Petar Merkov the Bulgarian guy who came in second seemed to be staring at Knut Holmann with amazement. Unfortunately he lost to Knut Holmann again the next day, coming in second in the k1-500 finals. But I digressed.
Back to the guy who was paddling ahead of me. I guess my point is that even though he was not having the best technique and in my opinion I was doing it (more) correctly (or at least trying to), he was going faster. The reason is simple: he has much better fitness and conditioning. He probably goes to the river much more regularly than I do. So even though I have been trained with good paddling technique and I still attempt to execute it, the end result is still lacklustre because I don't do it regularly and my body is not conditioned well for it.
This reminded me of my walk with God. I know that having an intimate walk with God is usually a result of communing with Him regularly; praying, reading and meditating on His word, and living by His word (Psalm 1). But knowing it is simply not enough. Knowing it and not doing it is pointless, and I will never have a closer walk with God simply by knowing it. So I need to actually do it and do it regularly; only then can I be an effective salt and light (Matthew 5:13-15).
and here you would find videos of some races he was in. I think the best one is the Sydney Olympics k1-1000 final where he was not leading at the start, then he took lead after 500m and subsequently powered ahead to win by more than a boat length. That was truly impressive. If you have a look at that clip, past the finishing line, Petar Merkov the Bulgarian guy who came in second seemed to be staring at Knut Holmann with amazement. Unfortunately he lost to Knut Holmann again the next day, coming in second in the k1-500 finals. But I digressed.
Back to the guy who was paddling ahead of me. I guess my point is that even though he was not having the best technique and in my opinion I was doing it (more) correctly (or at least trying to), he was going faster. The reason is simple: he has much better fitness and conditioning. He probably goes to the river much more regularly than I do. So even though I have been trained with good paddling technique and I still attempt to execute it, the end result is still lacklustre because I don't do it regularly and my body is not conditioned well for it.
This reminded me of my walk with God. I know that having an intimate walk with God is usually a result of communing with Him regularly; praying, reading and meditating on His word, and living by His word (Psalm 1). But knowing it is simply not enough. Knowing it and not doing it is pointless, and I will never have a closer walk with God simply by knowing it. So I need to actually do it and do it regularly; only then can I be an effective salt and light (Matthew 5:13-15).
