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Learn to Swim...
Dec. 11th, 2008 10:14 pmI have all the aquatic grace and prowess of the 1973 VW Kombi.
But I'm working on it. I've been swimming twice this week, and there's been considerable improvement. ("Considerable improvement" means I could complete two laps before I had to stop and get my breath back, as opposed to just one.)
Increasing strength and fitness will be important. But technique is where the most improvement will come from. I need to learn how to glide through the water like a shark, as opposed to a rusted hippymobile,
So at the moment I'm working on rotating the hips, and using that to power the shoulder rolls. It's not that different from using the hips to power a punch in karate. Biomechanics are universal, I guess.
This article explains it a bit better: A Hip New Twist to Swimming.
And now - A Brief Note About Freestyle:
Freestyle is not a stroke, of course, but a type of race - one where the competitors are free to use any style they like. The stroke of choice in such events is the front crawl.
The front crawl was introduced to Europe during a swimming competition in London, 1844, where Native Americans competed against the British. Apparently, Londoners were shocked by their wild and savage style, preferring the genteel breast-stroke or side-stroke.
The only problem?
The Native Americans won. The front crawl is simply a faster stroke. That's why it's universally used in freestyle races.
But I'm working on it. I've been swimming twice this week, and there's been considerable improvement. ("Considerable improvement" means I could complete two laps before I had to stop and get my breath back, as opposed to just one.)
Increasing strength and fitness will be important. But technique is where the most improvement will come from. I need to learn how to glide through the water like a shark, as opposed to a rusted hippymobile,
So at the moment I'm working on rotating the hips, and using that to power the shoulder rolls. It's not that different from using the hips to power a punch in karate. Biomechanics are universal, I guess.
This article explains it a bit better: A Hip New Twist to Swimming.
And now - A Brief Note About Freestyle:
Freestyle is not a stroke, of course, but a type of race - one where the competitors are free to use any style they like. The stroke of choice in such events is the front crawl.
The front crawl was introduced to Europe during a swimming competition in London, 1844, where Native Americans competed against the British. Apparently, Londoners were shocked by their wild and savage style, preferring the genteel breast-stroke or side-stroke.
The only problem?
The Native Americans won. The front crawl is simply a faster stroke. That's why it's universally used in freestyle races.
