Steeplers - can u hurdle Africa style?

Not a steepler, but

1 yes

2 no

3 yes

4 yes

5 yes

6 classic hurdle technique is for maintaing speed,, not saving energy. And it's not for covering much distance off the ground for clearing a water jump.

Bad Wigins wrote:

Not a steepler, but

1 yes

2 no

3 yes

4 yes

5 yes

6 classic hurdle technique is for maintaing speed,, not saving energy. And it's not for covering much distance off the ground for clearing a water jump.

Thanks for the contribution.

WTF is African style?

mordechai wrote:

Where Africans just tuck their legs under their trunk and allow momentum to carry them over the barrier.

1. Have you even tried it?

2. Is it completely foreign/unnatural to you?

3. Is it more efficient/save energy/reduce clipping a barrier?

4. Have ever tried to fully clear the water jump (hurdling that barrier)?

5. Would that (#4) reduce water jump dunkings?

6. Any thing else you would like to contribute.

Please answer BY NUMBER.

Thanks in advance.

video link?

malmo wrote:

WTF is African style?

Watch the difference between jeruto and frerichs in that 3k steeple race yesterday.

I have had some of my better steeplers hurdle the barriers like this. It is not something to teach them. The good athletes will use the form that is most efficient for them, and it just works out like this sometimes.

Skirocer wrote:

malmo wrote:

WTF is African style?

Watch the difference between jeruto and frerichs in that 3k steeple race yesterday.

Useless without pictures.

American Style:

African Style:

FWIW, I actually believe the way the Africans do it is far more efficient and I'm not sure why more don't do it.

The faster your pace the easier clearing the barriers becomes regardless of technique.

Let’s not forget Animal Style:

https://domesticsuperhero.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IN-N-OUT-ANIMAL-STYLE-FRIES-COPYCAT-RECIPE-TEXT1-768x1152.png

I just noticed in DVGregori's photos that Kiyeng's literally being held together with duct tape.

Americans drive themselves crazy doing hurdle drills thinking there are style points while the Kenyans just run fast and jump what’s in front of them

I steepled "African style" in college (and still if I had to hurdle today) simply because 1) grew up playing Basketball and 2) never had a hurdles coach or classically trained and 3) never knew it was "African style" until I saw the 2000 Olympics. I ran 8:57 and it worked for me... never had to worry much about my steps compared to my competitors.

“African style” just signals that you have better fitness than technique. If you are fit enough you can get away with it. It requires jumping higher to clear the barriers.

There is a reason you will only see in in the 400h at the high school level. It is on par with starting without blocks.

Thanks for all the responses. Since Diamond League meets are so readily available on TV, I thought all of you would have been able to recognize Africa style hurdling VS traditional. Evidently not.

Question - if you were raised with traditional hurdling technique, would it be difficult to convert to Africa style at a later date?

Also, what is the WR Africa style for the 110HH?

Thanks again.

mordechai wrote:

Thanks for all the responses. Since Diamond League meets are so readily available on TV, I thought all of you would have been able to recognize Africa style hurdling VS traditional. Evidently not.

Question - if you were raised with traditional hurdling technique, would it be difficult to convert to Africa style at a later date?

Also, what is the WR Africa style for the 110HH?

Thanks again.

Since I was raised in the traditional hurdling style, I find Africa style to be completely foreign and unnatural to me. I wonder if Kenyans raised in the Africa hurdling style find traditional style completely foreign and unnatural.

Also, can Africa style hurdlers alternate leg hurdle?

awkward hurdling wrote:

“African style” just signals that you have better fitness than technique. If you are fit enough you can get away with it. It requires jumping higher to clear the barriers.

There is a reason you will only see in in the 400h at the high school level. It is on par with starting without blocks.

Good synopsis. And the blocks analogy is spot on. I also suspect that it helps to be a small runner. Hard to imagine a Ferlic or El Bakkali doing that the whole way, but I might be wrong.

Reality Bath wrote:

awkward hurdling wrote:

“African style” just signals that you have better fitness than technique. If you are fit enough you can get away with it. It requires jumping higher to clear the barriers.

There is a reason you will only see in in the 400h at the high school level. It is on par with starting without blocks.

Good synopsis. And the blocks analogy is spot on. I also suspect that it helps to be a small runner. Hard to imagine a Ferlic or El Bakkali doing that the whole way, but I might be wrong.

Lol Ferlic and El Bakkali. Those guys are at similar skill levels.

awkward hurdling wrote:

“African style” just signals that you have better fitness than technique. If you are fit enough you can get away with it. It requires jumping higher to clear the barriers.

There is a reason you will only see in in the 400h at the high school level. It is on par with starting without blocks.

Technique my ass. What the OP refers to by African style is flying across the whole damn water jump without even touching the barrier. It is by far the most efficient way to do it but unless you have supreme athleticism you will knock your front teeth out trying it.

There is a reason you are lucky to get 1 white dude to represent Team USA at the Worlds or Olympics level.