Why do Japanese women marathoners run with their arms down

I know it looks goofy but no dumber than the white women who have no bikini tan lines. C'mon, put some tan on down there. It creeps us heterosexual guys out.

Training for the 100 km where arms are basically useless.

I'm curious about this too. Since it wasn't just one atypical athlete, but two from the same country, it seems very possible they were coached to do this because of some whacky theory/study about energy efficiency. Paging Dr. Salazar...

Actually, the most bizarre case of this was a Chinese woman about 10-12 years ago. Ran low-2:20s with her arms locked down like rigor mortis.

On the flip side, I always notice how many of the top African female runners carry their hands extremely high. Some of them look like they are almost punching themselves in the nose with each stride. This can't be optimal either, can it? Very few African (or other) men carry their arms this way.

After tiring of hearing coaches yelling at high school runners about pumping their arms and watching them demonstrate a straight forward and back punching action, I starting watching arm action more.

I always felt that I was seeing East African runners showing a nice swing from the shoulders but the hands were quite high and frequently the palms were facing up. The angle at the elbow was rather acute.

What we saw today from the Japanese runner was virtually the opposite.

So, to what extent could the hand position affect blood flow and pooling in the extremities? Higher hands would seem to keep blood out of the hands, whereas it seems blood would be almost swelling the hands of that runner today and not going as easily to places that it is needed.

Thoughts?

amkelley wrote:

On the flip side, I always notice how many of the top African female runners carry their hands extremely high. Some of them look like they are almost punching themselves in the nose with each stride. This can't be optimal either, can it? Very few African (or other) men carry their arms this way.

As long as they're not actually punching their noses they're okay.

Parthenon wrote:

Actually, the most bizarre case of this was a Chinese woman about 10-12 years ago. Ran low-2:20s with her arms locked down like rigor mortis.

Her best time was 2:19:39.

Lincoln logs wrote:

I'm curious about this too. Since it wasn't just one atypical athlete, but two from the same country, it seems very possible they were coached to do this because of some whacky theory/study about energy efficiency. Paging Dr. Salazar...

I tried to run like that for a few KM today and it's awkward as hell. It's so unnatural I can't imagine how it could be in any way advantageous, but as you said it wasn't just the one of them - it was two of them, so clearly there was thought put into it at some level.

You're talking about "ninja runner" Yuka Ando. Here's a story about her and he odd running style from Japan Running News:

https://japanrunningnews.blogspot.com/2017/08/ninja-runner-yuka-ando-leads-japanese.html

No, it wasn't Sun Yingjie, she uses her arms.

That was Sun Yingjie wrote:

Parthenon wrote:

Actually, the most bizarre case of this was a Chinese woman about 10-12 years ago. Ran low-2:20s with her arms locked down like rigor mortis.

Her best time was 2:19:39.

I wonder how much time they can shave without this stupidity. Funny thing, when they crossed the finish line they started jogging with a regular arm swing. So stupid. So many wierd forms in the women race. Allison Dixon is also wierd as hell. Looks like she's walking- no back kick at all. The only normal form there was of Edna. The most efficient arm swing is Kipchoge's- loos arms close to the body- not 90 degrees like all those stupid movies teach.

It may be more efficient. Save all energy for legs. I also think it is more relaxing.

[quote]That was Sun Yingjie wrote:

I think there must be some underlying structural difference that affects arm carriage. You have the high, tight across-the-body running form typical of east African women, the by-the-sides style of most Americans,this Japanese low arm carriage, and lots of variations in between and within different groups.

I wonder if it's not just training but underlying joint angles and bone lengths that make different arm carriages comfortable and perhaps more or less efficient for a given runner.

Kipchoge is the Gold Standard for form.I think that women marathoners have such weak arms they just don't know what to do with them.

Kid running after kipchoge wrote:

http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/yuka-ando-of-japan-competes-in-the-womens-10000m-during-the-hyogo-picture-id524458968?s=612x612

I wonder how much time they can shave without this stupidity. Funny thing, when they crossed the finish line they started jogging with a regular arm swing. So stupid. So many wierd forms in the women race. Allison Dixon is also wierd as hell. Looks like she's walking- no back kick at all. The only normal form there was of Edna. The most efficient arm swing is Kipchoge's- loos arms close to the body- not 90 degrees like all those stupid movies teach.

Parthenon wrote:

No, it wasn't Sun Yingjie, she uses her arms.

Sun Yingjie

Nah, Sun tries to keep her arms low, but reverts to more normal arm carriage.https://media.aws.iaaf.org/media/LargeL/a4127a13-3ed3-4506-8f74-cf75c9a50ca3.jpg?v=1073676074The one I'm thinking of was slower but absolutely had her arms on lockdown start to finish.

Wrong ~ here she is wrote:

Parthenon wrote:

No, it wasn't Sun Yingjie, she uses her arms.

Sun Yingjie

https://image.ibb.co/nzKihF/sunyingjie.jpg

Parthenon wrote:

Nah, Sun tries to keep her arms low, but reverts to more normal arm carriage.

https://media.aws.iaaf.org/media/LargeL/a4127a13-3ed3-4506-8f74-cf75c9a50ca3.jpg?v=1073676074

The one I'm thinking of was slower but absolutely had her arms on lockdown start to finish.

Wrong ~ here she is wrote:

Sun Yingjie

https://image.ibb.co/nzKihF/sunyingjie.jpg

Dude looks like Kim Jong Il.