The Hong Kong Island Paddle Club have a detailed training manual - click here to visit it, or you can visit the Paddlers Anonymous description of the stroke Below :- synchronised perfection from New Zealand's Black Dragons at the end of a race ! For the start of the stroke (and at "Attention" when starting to paddle) this is what you should aim for - notice the inside arm is held high the paddle will enter the water almost two seats ahead, aiming forward like an assigai about to stab into the water to acheive this a paddlers back is not only bent forward, but twisted so paddling pairs almost face each other. This gains those extra inches. the paddles enter the water against the boat's side (so close you initially often bang your thumb)