Things to Avoid

There is a natural tendency to "arm" the stroke. Arming it is using your biceps, triceps, and forearm to move the paddle through the water. Most people get more power by using the bigger back and torso muscles to transfer energy to the paddle.

Dragon boat paddling is different than canoeing. People who canoe typically use a "J" stroke that helps compensate for the tendency of the boat to turn during each stroke. Since a dragon boat is steered and there is an equal number of people on each side, the boat wants to go straight and adding an outward element to your stroke will only slow the boat down.

[Too often, paddlers in the front and back tend to follow the side of the boat with their paddle. Front of the boat paddles should enter the water straight ahead away from the sides of the boat and come straight down the side, which will end nearly touching the side of the boat at recovery. Back of the boat paddles do just the opposite, where the paddle is planted right beside the boat and coming straight back. Refer to the schematic below]

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