Courtney wrote:
It is encouraged that a low brace is used by keeping the elbow down and
using the back side of the paddle blade to skull.

So why not just use a high brace with the elbow down? A low brace on a wave
that's shoulder high is not exactly realistic.

I don't think that throwing a good brace away just because there's a risk is a
good plan. I've seen lots of instructors teach a high brace with elbows tight
to the side. Even the Duffek is taught with top arm in front of the body. I
teach side sculls and running draws with the arm in front of the body too. All
these approaches minimize risk to the shoulder. As a paddler with bad
shoulders, I wouldn't do these things if I though they would be a problem.

This sounds like a liability fear more than good instruction policy. "First we
kill all the lawyers..."

Mike