4 Basic Swimming Strokes Every One Must Know

Main Topic: 4 Basic Swimming Strokes Triathletes should know and demo on how to do them quick video

4 Basic Swim Strokes That Triathlete Swimmers Should Know About

Most triathletes swim freestyle in a triathlon, but knowing the four basic strokes will greatly improve your efficiency.

We recommend checking out your local Master Swim Class. Masters Swim coaches teach technique and interval training to a group of athletes right from the pool deck. Swimming workouts can include all IM Strokes, such as free, butterfly, back, and breast stroke.


Joining a master swim program will improve your feel of the water as each stroke uses a different set of muscles and energy systems. You'll improve your swimming overall even if you only compete in triathlon or freestyle events.

Full blog: http://bit.ly/SwimBasic4

4 Basic Stokes:

Free Style

Float on your back in the water, face down, stretching your body as far as possible.


Keep your legs long and your toes pointed. Kick your legs up and down (alternating sides every beat), making your ankles as floppy as possible and your feet act as flippers. Kick your legs repeatedly and quickly.


Begin by extending your arms in front of your head as far as they will go. Pull one arm all the way to your thigh, all the way under your body.


As you prepare to enter the water in front of your head, take your arm out of the water and sweep it across the surface, stretching it.


Continue to pull your arms in a continuous, fluid motion so that one arm enters near the head and the other exits near the thigh.


Take a deep breath by turning your head to the side. Turn with one arm in front of you and the other on your thigh.


While your your head is turned, try to keep one ear in the water. Return your face to the water and exhale as your arm sweeps over it.




Breaststroke

Float on your belly, face down in the water, stretching your body as far as possible. Keep your hands clasped together.

Stretch your toes and keep your legs long. Slowly bend your knees and bring your feet to your bottom. Bend both your ankles and point your feet outwards, then kick back and slightly downwards, snapping your feet together like a clap.

Keep your head in the water and your arms out in front of you. Turn your hands so that the thumbs point down, and press out and round with both hands. Turn your hands so that the thumbs are pointing up and draw your hands together in a small circular motion in front of your shoulders.

Lift your head to breathe in as your arms begin to come back in together, then stretch your arms out and return your head to the water to breathe out. Breathe with each stroke: "Pull, Breathe, Kick, Glide."

Backstroke

Float on your back, ears just below the surface of the water, eyes up; stretch your body as far as possible.

Maintain long, pointed toes; alternately kick your legs up and down, making your ankles as floppy as possible and using your feet as flippers. Knees should be kept submerged in water, and toes should make a small splash. Kick your legs repeatedly and quickly.

Begin by stretching your arms down the side of your body. Keep your arm straight and bring it out of the water in an arc motion over the top. Enter the water with your little fingers first palms as a slight angle, keeping your arm straight. Pull your arm all the way under the water, all the way to your thigh. As one arm enters, the other is ready to exit at the thigh, so keep pulling your arms in a continuous movement.

A breath is taken on a regular basis as needed, and at least once during the stroke.

Butterfly

Float on your back, face down in the water, stretching your body as far as possible.
Undulate your body in a whipping motion from head to toe, bending and straightening your knees. Push down on the water with the tops of your feet, keeping your feet just below the water's surface, while keeping your legs and feet close together.

Enter the water with both hands at the same time, shoulder-width apart. Draw your arms all the way under your body, all the way to your hips. Recover your arms over the surface of the water, ready to begin again.


Take a breath by pushing your chin forward; the breath should be taken near the end of the pull. As your arm sweeps across the water, return your face to the water and exhale. Perform two kicks to each arm cycle for a butterfly stroke, kicking at the start of the arm pull and again at the end of the pull. “Kick pull your arms in, kick pull your arms out."

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