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May 9, 2019

Learn the Breaststroke: A Beginner’s Guide to Swimming Technique

Breaststroke is an efficient swimming stroke that works both the upper and lower body. However, breaststroke doesn’t have the same popularity as freestyle or backstroke because it’s more difficult to learn and perform.

But if you persevere with your training, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful, flowing breaststroke swimming style that will give you a high level of fitness in no time at all.

Here’s how to learn breaststroke correctly…

What is Breaststroke Swimming?

Breaststroke is a swimming stroke in which the arms are moved alternately. It is a front crawl stroke that is performed on the breast, with the arms moving forward underwater while the legs are kept straight and together. The swimmer can use this stroke to swim long distances at a fast speed, but it’s also useful for beginners because it helps them to learn how to keep their heads above water while they’re practicing other strokes like freestyle and backstroke.

Breaststroke swimming style should be performed smoothly, with no jerks or splashing motions; instead, there should be a continuous flow of movement from one arm stroke into another until both arms are extended forward again for another cycle of alternating strokes.

Breaststroke Meaning

The breaststroke is a swimming stroke that can be done in either the front crawl or freestyle positions. It’s also called the backstroke, but it’s not the same thing as that popular recreational stroke!

The breaststroke has three main parts: the catch, pull, and recovery. In order to get better at this stroke you will need to work on all three parts of it equally so that they become one smooth movement instead of separate steps.

breaststroke drills for beginners

Breaststroke drills for beginners are important to improve your breaststroke technique. If you’re a beginner, it’s good to practice these drills every day until you feel comfortable with them.

There are two main types of breaststroke drills: “open water” and “pool-based”. The difference between the two is that in open water, your body will be moving through the water while in a pool-based breaststroke drill, only one arm moves at a time while the other remains stationary on top of the water (like a breaststroke).

To do an open water drill, start by swimming freestyle or backstroke first then turn around with your head facing down towards feet and kick strongly with both legs together until they reach their highest point in front before returning back down again towards hips where hands should be moved slightly forward for support during recovery phase which is done by bringing arms back into position at chest level parallel with floor level; repeat this process several times until it feels comfortable enough before proceeding onto next step…

How to learn to swim breaststroke correctly step by step.

The breaststroke is a swimming stroke that is performed in a prone position, with the body horizontal and only the arms and legs moving. It’s the slowest of all four breaststroke swimming strokes but is also the easiest to learn.

The breaststroke uses an easy-flowing motion as you move your arms and legs together in unison while keeping your body straight. You can swim this way by putting both hands on one side of your head at shoulder level (or slightly higher), then raising them up over your head until they’re pointing toward each other above your head before repeating this sequence with the opposite arm/leg combination.

breaststroke swimming technique

The breaststroke swimming technique is a popular stroke that’s used in competitions and for fitness. It’s also a good choice for beginners because it’s easier than the freestyle and backstroke, but still offers many of the same benefits.

The strokes themselves are known by different names:

  • The front crawl (or freestyle) is also called “butterfly” because of its unique arm motion that resembles a butterfly flapping its wings in flight.
  • Backstroke involves moving your arms while keeping your legs straight behind you–like riding backward on an imaginary bike or sled in wintertime! This style can be tiring if done continuously or quickly enough to achieve any speed at all; however it does have some benefits over other styles: it doesn’t require as much strength from either side of the body (since only one side needs to propel yourself forward), so people with shoulder injuries often find backstroke easier than other styles; additionally, this style allows more freedom for movements such as twists and turns within each stroke cycle (what we call kicks).

How to do a breaststroke kick?

When you’re doing the breaststroke kick, your legs should be straight with the knees bent and hips up. Your heels should be together and your toes pointed.

The most important thing to remember when kicking is to keep your chest out of the water and only use the power from your upper body and arms, not from kicking with just your legs.

Breaststroke Swimming Style

The breaststroke swimming style is a smooth and continuous movement.

Unlike the butterfly, which uses a fast kick to propel you forward, the breaststroke relies on your arms and legs to move you through the water. The idea behind this technique is that if you can make all of your strokes as smooth and seamless as possible, then it will be easier for you to swim faster without tiring yourself out too quickly.

breaststroke knee

  • Keep your knees bent at a 90-degree angle and in line with your hips.
  • Don’t let your knees rise too high or drop too low. Your body should be straight in the water, with both feet pointed down and out to either side of you.
  • Don’t bring your knees too close to your body, as this will create drag and slow down your stroke speed.

How to stay on the water?

To keep your body straight, lift your head and chest out of the water. Your arms should be extended in front of you with your hands open and together. Your legs should be straight, together, and pointed downward at all times.

Kick technique for breaststroke

The breaststroke kick technique is a powerful stroke that propels you forward in the water. It involves using both legs to push off the wall and then flexing your ankles to raise your knees high.

The speed of your breaststroke will depend on how fast you can move your legs through this motion, so it’s important that you practice this kick as much as possible during warm-up exercises, drills, and actual races if possible.

preparatory exercises

Before you get into the water, it’s important to warm up. Swimmers should do a few minutes of stretching and light jogging to prepare their bodies for activity. Once you’ve stretched out, it’s time to swim!

  • Breaststroke swimming drills: These drills help you learn how to swim breaststroke by practicing the proper technique on land first. They can be done in any order but should always be preceded by some kind of warm-up so that your muscles are loose and ready for exercise.*

Freestyle drills for beginners

Freestyle drills for beginners are a great way to improve your swimming technique. The key to doing freestyle drills correctly is ensuring that your body position is correct, from head to toe. If you’re not sure how to do this, try some of these tips:

  • Keep your head straight and aligned with the rest of your body. Don’t tilt it too far forward or back–this can cause pain in the neck and shoulders over time!
  • Bend at both knees so that they form 90-degree angles; don’t lock them out completely (see picture). This will ensure that there’s no unnecessary strain on any joints as well as give yourself more power when pushing off from the wall during starts/turns later on down the road if needed!

basic movement technique

Basic Movement Technique:

  1. Glide: Start by floating face down in the water with your arms stretched out in front of you.
  2. Pull: Pull your arms back towards your chest, while simultaneously bringing your knees towards your chest.
  3. Kick: Extend your legs outwards and then bring them back together quickly, while pushing your hips towards the surface of the water.
  4. Breathe: Lift your head up to take a breath, then put your head back down in the water to complete the glide.

final tips

  • Don’t forget to breathe! It’s easy to do when you’re concentrating on other things, but it’s important that you remember to take a breath every time your head goes underwater. If you forget and start hyperventilating, it could lead to a panic attack or even passing out.
  • Don’t forget to relax! Swimming requires muscles in the body that aren’t used much otherwise, so they can tire quickly if we don’t relax them while we swim. Try focusing on relaxing the muscles in your arms and legs while they’re moving through the water–this will help keep them from getting tired out too fast before reaching their destination (the wall).
  • Enjoy yourself! Swimming is fun; why wouldn’t anyone want to do it? The more enjoyment comes from what we do as athletes mean better results overall because we’ll be more motivated by our goals than discouraged by failure along the way (as long as there isn’t too much failure).

Conclusion

So, if you’re looking for a new stroke to try out in the pool, consider giving breaststroke a shot. It’s great for beginners because it’s less strenuous on your joints and muscles than other swimming techniques like butterfly or freestyle (aka front crawl). Plus, there are plenty of resources available online that can help guide you through all of those tricky details–like how to perfect your kicking technique!

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Guest article.

The above may not coincide with the methodology and opinion of the SwimRight Academy Team.

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