Double Down Pulse™ running technique is a form of running based around landing with your head over one foot and driving your hands down violently to create a pulse with each step. It is a functionally sound way to run, and examples of double-down technique can be found when studying some of the fastest athletes in history. Teaching athletes to run like “Usain Bolt", “Deion Sanders", and “Bo Jackson" seems like a no brainer, and watching elite-level long distance runners pulse their hands gives credence to the biomechanical efficiency of Double Down Pulse™ technique. The invention of ProPulse® Speed Trainers, and the evolution of the Double Down Pulse™ technique solves one of the biggest mechanical issues facing runners today by laying out an efficient pathway to correct faulty arm action when running.
We have all seen it. Go to any jr high track meet, or watch the slow pack at any long distance running event. You will see a variety of upper body postures and a multitude of arm-actions, very few of them efficient. Teaching runners how to use their upper body efficiently is one of the most difficult tasks speed coaches face. In fact, teaching proper arm-action can create such a headache, some of the most successful track coaches choose to ignore upper body mechanics entirely.
Multiple drills have become popular in the quest to solve the problem of faulty upper body running mechanics. One drill that has become popular amongst running coaches is a seated arm-action drill. Sitting with both legs straight, athletes are instructed to keep their elbows locked at 90 degrees, and swing their arms parallel, bringing their hands to their chin and hip-pocket. Commonly this drill is performed slowly at first, to develop the movement, then speed is added and athletes are instructed to pump their hands fast. Watch the best athletes do this drill and you will notice something….when they start going fast, they will abandon their 90 degree elbow alignment, and they will literally bounce off the ground as they pulse both hands down each rep. Another popular drill for the development of proficient arm-action is referred to as “Giant Swings". In an effort to create smoother, more efficient arm action, athletes begin this drill with straight, relaxed arms, and start swinging their arms in a large, relaxed fashion. As the drill picks up, athletes are instructed to transition from their giant arm swings into more controlled arm action, with their elbows locked at 90 degrees. At the end of this drill, it is common to have athletes perform a full-speed pump for a short duration of time. During the full-speed portion of this drill, the fastest athletes will again abandon the 90 degree elbow angle of the front side arm, and begin bouncing up and down as the pulse their hands toward the ground, once again breaking the rules of the drill in order to find a biomechanical advantage and more closely mimic their true sprinting form.
Stationary arm drills are, if nothing else, a good way to stress the importance of arm-action when running. Runners aiming to become more efficient will benefit from the right stationary arm-action drills. WeckMethod ProPulse® Speed trainers allow runners to perform stationary “pulsing" drills with powerful feedback. One of the biggest benefits of using ProPulse® Speed Trainers to learn running technique is the development of rhythm. The best athletes and fastest runners demonstrate the ability to organize their body during and between each step. Double Down Pulse™ technique is the best way to teach runners to apply as much force into the ground as possible, and helps runners connect their upper and lower body throughout the running cycle.
Here is a scenario for you to consider. A track coach, having noticed his athletes demonstrate poor upper body running mechanics, decides to start his practice with arm-action drills. They start with giant swings, then progress to seated arm-action drills, then continue with their planned speed work and running practice. What are the chances his athletes will be able to take those same movement-patterns and apply them to full-speed running? Chances are his athletes, especially the ones with poor mechanics, will lack the rhythm, timing, and athleticism necessary to call upon skills learned in that drill, and will likely revert to their previous faulty running mechanics. With ProPulse® Speed Trainers, coaches can begin practice with stationary arm-action drills, then take the rhythm and mechanics learned and apply them to other portions of practice. Doing marches, skips, and plyometrics with Pulsers is a great change of pace, and holding them during sprint workouts can help runners feel more connected and call upon previous skills while also learning their optimum “pace" when moving.
ProPulse® Speed Trainers are not the only way to learn the Double Down Pulse™, but they are the fastest. ProPulse® Speed Trainers have opened the floodgates for a new type of arm-action drills, and it is a matter of time before stationary pulsing drills completely replace old-school methods for training arm-action. Not only is the Double Down Pulse™ the fastest way a human can run, it can also be used to change direction and move laterally with more efficiency and balance. If you are someone who enjoys running, or you are interested in helping others run with more speed and efficiency, you owe it to yourself to learn the Double Down Pulse™ technique.
