Nov 20 / 9:48am

Dragon Boat Canada New Coaches Newsletter - First edition!

NEW - Coaches Newsletter!

Posted November 4, 2009 by Chloe Greenhalgh

Welcome to DBC's first coaching newsletter!

The aim of this newsletter is to showcase the awesome talent we have in our coaches in Canada as well as compliment the material being taught in DBC Coaching Courses.

If you have comments, suggestions, tips or stories that you would like to share, please send them to us!

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via dragonboat.ca

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Nov 20 / 9:30am

History of Dragon Boat Racing - from Absolute Dragons

The History Of Dragon Boat Racing
by Shelagh Peirce
The Chinese dragon boat races will always be a symbol of Chinese culture and spirit. As one of the three largest Chinese festivals of the year, this mythical celebration can now be witnessed around the world. To experience a dragon boat race - either watching or participating - is a thrill in itself and can be enjoyed by everyone.
You'll watch as long, multicoloured boats, with frightening dragons' heads, long tails, and scaley bodies, splash through the water. You'll see men, women, and children grunt and sweat as they push themselves harder and faster to be the first to the finish line. You'll hear the crowds screaming and cheering for their favourite team, while the drummers pound on their drums and yell at the paddlers. The event is not intended to be quiet and peaceful but loud and exciting - a celebration!
To observe the Chinese dragon boat races of today, you can only dream of its meagre beginnings. A time when superstition determined how a person lived. In fact, dragon boat racing began more than 2000 years ago when a group of superstitious people believed that the boat racing would ensure prosperous and bountiful crops. Their celebrations took place on the summer solstice - the time of year typically associated with disease and death and when man felt most helpless against the powers of nature. The race has come to symbolize both man's struggle against nature and his fight against dangerous enemies.

The tragic tale of Ch'u Yuan further integrated the dragon boat races into the lives of the Chinese. Fourth Century B.C.E. is known as the period of the "warring states" in Chinese history. It was a time when numerous supremacy wars between feudal lords erupted. Many kingdoms had already disappeared, except for Ch'u, which was one of the mightiest kingdoms remaining. Ch'u Yuan was a poet and a minister and councillor to the king of Ch'u - truly a great patriot. He feared for the future of his kingdom and to do the best for his country, he gave advice to the king. To his surprise, the advice was not accepted and he was exiled. At the devastation of the kingdom of Ch'u and his exile, Ch'u Yuan, in desperation and sorrow, threw himself into the Mi Lo river.
The people of Ch'u loved Ch'u Yuan. They grieved over his death and spent much time trying to scare the fish and water dragons away from Ch'u Yuan's body by rowing around the river in their fishing boats, splashing their oars, and beating their drums. And to ensure that Ch'u Yuan never went hungry, they wrapped rice in leaves and threw them into the river. Rice cakes are still eaten today as part of the dragon boat festival celebration.
The dragon boat festival is typically celebrated "the Fifth of the Fifth" - the fifth day of the fifth month. Red is the prominent colour on the boats because it is the colour of the number five and symbolizes heat, summer, and fire. The lengths of the boats can range between 30 and 100 feet but are wide enough to barely fit two people side by side. Some of the original rituals are still practiced today, like the "Awakening of the Dragon" by dotting the eyes of the dragon's head on each boat. This ceremony is conducted to cleanse and bless the area of the competition, the competitors, and their boats. It also gives the boats and their crew the strength of the Dragon and the blessing of the Goddess of the Sea.
Nevertheless, much has changed in the festival. The crowd no longer throws stones at the rival boats and it is not imperative a boat capsize and at least one person drown - which was considered a special sacrifice to the gods and was, surprisingly, a sign of good luck.
Today the dragon boat races are primarily a form of amusement. It is no longer a necessary ceremony performed to scare away evil and call for a good year but entertainment that teaches people a little about Chinese history and culture. We are not nearly as superstitious as we were in the past but it sure is fun pretending!

via absolutedragons.com

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Nov 19 / 12:52pm

Ceremony, Tuan Yang, or Annual Dragon-Boat Festival 1930

How would you like to paddle one of these?

From the Collections @ Smithsonian

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Nov 12 / 11:17am

Monday Practice Account from Frank

Monday night, November 9, 2009

Night had rolled in quickly and we rallied around the dock gate at Johnny’s Restaurant eager to get out on the water. A quick count of heads indicated that we had enough paddlers for a full boat. Shannon silently bailed the boat farthest out as the rest of us chatted and talked about the weekend paddles. By the time I finished my yapping she was finished. I felt like I hadn’t helped my teammate but I was determined to make it up to her with some competitive paddling. The night was calm. The water was glassy and the crazy skies had stilled. It was warmer than the night before. Certainly warmer than Saturday. A few of us ached from Saturday’s drill but we were here. Attentive. Scott, our teammate and new coach, presented us with the stroke-and-return drill that Dorothy had shared with him: On the return, twist the T-handle outward like you’re looking down a gun barrel. Simple. It was an effective example. We all seemed to understand. It was dark as we left our mooring and paddled out. Karen had returned for tonight’s practice and steered us out into the still waterway. We paddled in-time. Scott kept count and stealthily paddled us through a few hundred meter runs. It was a great workout. Most of the time I seemed to be following well. The rest of the time I flubbed my transistions and failed to reach…it…out. I ust improve. The 30/30s were spot-on and our voices echoed through the marina as we counted. We were a team. We are a competitive bunch.

Before I knew it we were headed back to the dock. Our strong, tough practice was coming to an end. But not before Scott ordered a quick run around the base of the old bridge. I paddled hard and stole a glance upward to see what was happening in the dimly lit and musty bridgetender’s shack The lights were on. We thought that it was abandoned. Then I heard the spirited sounds of the crew singing “Row, row, row your boat.” After which came, “Puff, the Magic Dragon.”

It was a definitely fun and aerobic night.

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Nov 12 / 10:56am

Saturday Practice observations from Frank

From our TDBA paddling member Frank:

Saturday morning, November 7, 2009

"Today’s Dragon Boat practice began with the bailing of the boats. The Rain Gods let us know their power by dropping the temperature, filling the skies with bluster and drenching us with raindrops that fell heavily as we boarded the boat and leveled out. Only for a moment did I reconsider paddling in this foul weather. The smiles and amperage of my teammates gave me the motivation I needed for the next hour and half. Before departing Mike and Curt’s precise instructions, and technique demonstrations from the dock, fueled us. I sloshed my first two back strokes and then fell into the tempo as we back paddled from the dock. I envied Dorothy who sat two seats in front of me. She looked warm. The raindrops plinked off her coat. The drops fell onto my raingear and seemed to pierce the nylon. Chilling me with each cold drop. Once we cleared the marina and entered the Waterway we plowed through some chop and set out to do the deed: what we had come here for. Be it a good workout to wash away the week, enjoy the camaraderie or to get competitive and to hammer down this new stroke. For most of us on this thinly manned boat, I think it was the latter.

We began to warm up as we stroked and transitioned out under the old bridge. We then headed north into the narrow channel west of the fuel dock. We paddled vigorously in the gray waters. Mike observed our form and encouraged us to make improvements when he thought necessary. We complied. Curt tillered the boat like it was old hat. Geese scattered as we approached them bobbing in the water and they ascended quickly above our heads, briefly blocking the rain with their span. We paddled through the Middle and St. Paul Waterways. A concrete dry dock shielded us from the rain for at least 600 feet. We are a strong, competitive bunch."

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Oct 26 / 1:39pm

Krumlovský vodácký maraton 2009

via youtube.com

Now here is the way to go Dragon Boating... White water and beer...

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Oct 8 / 8:44pm

My DailyBurn | Preseason Dragon Boat workout - Custom Workout

My Personal Workouts → Pre-season Dragon Boat workout

Description

Workout to manage body strength pre-season.Working on general purpose strength and conditioning.

Exercise Routine

	Romanian Deadlift Put a barbell in front of you on the ground. Standing on a box if needed, grab the dumbbell with a little wider than shoulder width grip. Bend the knees slightly. The position should be shins vertical... Routine: Set 1: 10 reps Set 2: 10 reps Set 3: 10 reps
	Split Squat Push Press Take one step forward with one leg. Hold a dumbbell with the opposite arm and raise it up to your shoulder. Lower your back knee to the ground until about 1-2 inches from the ground. Then in one motio... Routine: Set 1: 10 reps Set 2: 10 reps Set 3: 10 reps
	Bent-Arm Dumbbell Pullover Lie on a bench, head over the end, with your feet flat on the floor. Lower weights in a semicircular motion towards floor. Go as low as you can without pain. Go back up using the same path. Keep your ... Routine: Set 1: 10 reps Set 2: 10 reps Set 3: 10 reps
	Pullups Reach up and grab the bar with a firm overhand grip. Your hands should be roughly twice your shoulder width apart. This helps work more of your lats, rather than your biceps. Straighten your arms and ... Routine: Set 1: 10 reps of 0 lb Set 2: 10 reps of 0 lb Set 3: 10 reps of 0 lb
	Side Lateral Raise Stand upright, with your feet about shoulder width apart and your arms to your sides. Hold a dumbbell in each hand, with your palms turned toward your body. Keeping your arms straight, lift the weight... Routine: Set 1: 10 reps Set 2: 10 reps Set 3: 10 reps
	Leg Curls - Lying Lie face down on a leg-curl machine and hook your heels under the roller pad. Your legs should be stretched out straight so that the pads rest on the back of your ankles. Grasp the handles under the b... Routine: Set 1: 10 reps Set 2: 10 reps Set 3: 10 reps
	Ball Floor Bridge Lie on your back resting your head on the floor. Make sure your head, shoulders, and lower back are all touching the floor. Place your feet flat on a stability ball. Brace your abdominal muscles and p... Routine: Set 1: 10 reps Set 2: 10 reps Set 3: 10 reps
	Back Extensions Lie face down on a hyperextension bench, tucking your ankles securely under the footpads. Adjust the upper pad if possible so your upper thighs lie flat across the wide pad, leaving enough room for yo... Routine: Set 1: 10 reps Set 2: 10 reps Set 3: 10 reps

via dailyburn.com

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Filed under // dragonboat preseason strength training

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Oct 8 / 12:12pm

Pull up with knee up - Yes!

This is a very effective exercise addressing the core abdominals and back muscles. If you are able to do it physically, it will help your paddle strength. It combines two of the essential exercises for most preseason training sessions. It's also fun to do!

Take your basic knee up (a great abdominal exercise) and add the wide grip pull up that emphasizes the lats. A variation of this, called the Gorilla Crunch is done with arms in a chin up position, hands facing you, about 12" apart.