The "J" stroke is probably the most important stroke to know when you're steering a canoe. It's probably used more than any other stroke (other than the
straight ahead type of stroke). With that in mind, I think I'll give you some pointers on how to do this very handy paddle stroke.
The basic stroke consists of a basic J type movement with the paddle. The paddle starts close to the boat, and then at the end of the
stroke, flairs out, away from the boat. Thus, you form a letter "J". The bottom of the "J" will always flair away from the boat, therefore, if you
are paddling on the right side, the "J" is backwards.
What this stroke does is turn the canoe in the direction of the side that you are paddling on. In other words, if you are paddling on the right side of the boat,
you will turn to the right. What happens is that by flaring the stroke away from the canoe at the end, you push the back of the canoe in that direction and
therefore turn.
And that's about it. Pretty straight forward.
