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The Javelin
There are
not many young athletes that see themselves becoming experts in the use
of the javelin. It is not a sport that gets a lot of media coverage nor
is there a whole lot of money for athletes in the sport itself
(commercial endorsements notwithstanding). Athletes that eventually hit
on the javelin as their sport of choice do so because they enjoy the
challenge of it. Becoming a top athlete with the javelin is one of the
most difficult things to do because it not only requires the proper mix
of speed, skill and strength but it also requires a large amount of all
three.
The speed
element of the javelin throw comes in during the pre-throw movements of
the athlete and if they are lacking in this aspect they will not
generate enough momentum to guarantee themselves a good starting
velocity for the javelin. The strength element comes in during the
throwing action and finally the skill comes in during the pre-throw, the
throw and in the follow through. Having a good handle on all three areas
of training for the javelin is the only way for an athlete to be truly
successful at the sport.
There are
three major parts to training to become good at the javelin; speed
training, strength training and technique training. The technique
portion of training for the javelin is very specific to the event itself
since it deals with concepts like optimal release point and the angle of
the javelin. These types of skills can not be utilized in other sports
but there are many other parts of the training that can be.
The speed
training that is utilized in order for an athlete to become proficient
in the javelin toss is usually a combination of muscle shaping exercises
and plyometric elasticity exercises. These types of exercises will be
designed to mirror the actual movement as closely as possible and in the
case of the javelin the actual movement is a run stride. Likewise in
strength training the movement is a hurling movement and can be likened
in terms of the muscles being used to throwing or hitting a ball. All of
these exercises will very likely help the athlete in any other sports
that they might be participating in simultaneously to the javelin toss.
There are
seven stages to the full technique of a javelin throw: start, carry,
withdrawal, transition, pre-delivery stride, delivery and recovery. The
aim of the start and the carry is to allow the athlete to really get
into their stride well and also to enable them to carry the javelin in a
manner that is best suited for their arm muscles and will also allow
them to throw it well when they get to the line. If an athlete is right
handed (this assumption will be made throughout the rest of this article
to further explain the techniques of javelin throwing) then the javelin
should be held in the right hand with the tip facing forwards and in the
same direction as the right elbow joint.
The athlete
will then start-forward and maintain the javelin's position relative to
them as they do so. In approximately fifteen strides the runner will be
at the point of withdrawal. Once they reach that point they must cease
their physical holding of the javelin in place and accelerate in front
of it to allow them to use the slingshot motion in order to get more
force applied to the javelin in order to make it travel farther once it
reaches the air. During the transition the athlete will transfer their
stride from one of running up to the line to one of preparation for the
eventual hurl and therefore it is designed to be a lead in to the
pre-delivery stride. During the pre-delivery stride the opposite leg to
the athlete's throwing arm, the left leg, will stride forward and all of
the athlete's body will be rigid and in line with the direction of the
throw. Once that has all taken place the delivery occurs with the next
stride which should be more of a push-off and thrust than the previous
ones as it will occur simultaneously with the athlete's throwing of the
javelin. Once that has happened then the athlete might take a few
strides in order to halt themselves and remove any forward momentum that
they may have been carrying.
While many
athlete's will not choose the javelin, but rather discover the aptitude
for it, it is nevertheless a rewarding sport, that requires great
strength and overall athleticism, and anyone who masters the skill of
javelin throwing stands an excellent chance of competing in the Olympics
and winning a gold medal, and what greater glory is there than that.
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