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The pull helps you keep your momentum going, but without a good, strong kick, the pull can only do so much. The most common issue I see in breaststroke is a style of stroke that can only be called Granny Breaststroke. 4. The kick is made up of the up flex, out flex, and around point; three separate moves that combine to make one fluid kick. The kick, which is already the most important source of propulsion, becomes even more powerful when its peak propulsion coincides with the body and head crashing down into the water. Breaststroke Breathing. The breaststroke is the grand-daddy of the swimming strokes, with its origins going back as far as the Stone Age. To be safe, all breaststroke swimmers should be aware of the turn rule that states "the shoulders must be at or … The inside of your feet are now facing backward, and your feet are turned outwards. All rights reserved. Risk Factors for Knee Pain Likewise both legs kick at the same time using a frog kick, modified frog kick or whip kick. Turning-pressing out motion (your hands and arms form a Y at the beginning of the pull); At the end of your kick your feet should be together. Uses a frog kick. You continue to extend your legs backward but now sweep them inwards. At each turn a swimmer must touch with both hands at the same time. The kick is what will propel you the most through the water. Knee pain in swimming often occurs during breaststroke kicking. Required fields are marked *. Breaststroke races are distances of 100 and 200 metres. : the leg action used in swimming the breaststroke in which the feet, moving in a horizontal plane, are drawn toward the hips and then thrust sideward and backward. There are approximately 325 pairs of muscles in the human body, as each muscle has a corresponding opposite muscle. When thinking about breaststroke, it is rare that the first thing that comes to mind is dolphin kick, seeing as you are only allowed one off of each turn. To develop a strong breaststroke kick, the swimmer must have a lot of surface area from the insteps of the feet and ankles pushing backward in the water. The key on this drill is to maintain your flutter kick throughout the entirety of … The breaststroke kick is the kick used by the breaststroke swimmers. This is … This is commonly called a "corkscrew" and is completed as you are pushing off the wall in a streamlined position before the underwater pull-down begins. Your email address will not be published. It is the most popular recreational style due to the swimmer's head being out of the water a large portion of the time, and that it can be swum comfortably at slow speeds. It’s a movement where the lower leg folds onto the upper leg. This will promote correct body position, correct stretching and streamlining, and a natural kick and not a forced kick. Breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on their chest and the torso does not rotate. At the end of the insweep, your legs will be pressed together. The unnatural rotation of the knees during this action can put pressure on the inside of the knees, which can result in an injury to the medial collateral ligament (MCL). At the beginning of the leg recovery, your knees bend, and your feet move towards your buttocks. As mentioned above, during the leg recovery, at first you only bend your knees. And swimmers had to have their head break the surface of the water during each stroke cycle. Muscles Needed for Backstroke vs. Other Swimming Strokes. The trash-talking is heating up as the ISL season rolls on, with London Roar coach Mel Marshall calling out illegal dolphin kicks in breaststroke. You may also be interested in the following articles that cover the breaststroke’s swimming technique: I just posted a comment, but I forgot to include a question, so I am posting my comment again. The recovery of the legs starts at the end of the arms’ insweep (when the hands move toward each other, below the chest). Your legs are also extended, held together, and your feet are pointed. The question apparently came up on Quora, but the answer is … It is the most popular recreational style due to the swimmer's head being out of the water a large portion of the time, and that it can be swum comfortably at slow speeds. I don’t see a good explanation for the name. This will make it easier for you to remember the correct movements once you are at the swimming pool. Front crawl variants used different ratios of scissor kicks to arm strokes, or alternated with a flutter (up-and-down) kick. The swimmers perform a breaststroke arm pull with a butterfly dolphin kick. You are back at the beginning of the cycle and you glide for a few moments in this streamlined position. Breaststroke Timing. The History of the Breaststroke. Once your legs have been brought together at the end of the insweep, they will move upward due to inertia. The kick was originally the frog kick, but it subsequently involved up-and-down leg movements as in the crawl. Swimming is an individual or team racing sport that requires the use of one's entire body to move through water. Affiliate Disclosure, How to Fix and Prevent Breaststroker’s Knee. — called also whip kick . This allows beginners to learn to swim without having to use swim goggles or deal with breathing problems. Breaststroke and knee pain. It causes a huge amount of resistance and is very difficult to do even if you have a good kick. When arms and hands pull back, lift head to breath; when hands under chin, put face back down, then toot. • the arm stroke begins and ends in streamline position. … Breaststroke uses a pull with both arms at once, and the arms stay in the water. No flutter or dolphin kicking is allowed. (Aim for a depth of about 1 meter for best results.) Drawings in an Egyptian cave, appropriately called the Cave of Swimmers, depict swimmers in various poses, with the leg whipping motion believed to having been inspired by frogs. This stroke is performed with a flutter kick in the pone posit… This stroke is made up in 4 phases- pull, breathe, whip kick,… This stroke is performed on the back with the arms moving in o… Great Britain's James Guy has called out Ilya Shymanovich for using illegal dolphin kicks en route to a Euro record in the 100 breaststroke. The kick (propulsive phase of the legs) starts toward the middle/end of the arm recovery forward. The sport takes place in pools or open water (e.g., in a sea or lake). As you bend your knees, to perform the whip-style kick that accompanies the arm movements, use the strength of … At that moment, your head and shoulders are above water, and your hips are slightly underwater so that your body is inclined. Enjoy-Swimming.com does not sell any personal information. While at first glance its technique may look simple, there are a few subtleties to take into account for the kick to be executed with maximum efficiency. Our article to learn the breaststroke kick gives you a few such dryland exercises you can practice at home. The backstroke is a competition stroke, but it is also used in recreational swimming as a rest from other strokes, frequently with minimum arm motion and only enough kick to maintain forward motion. Doing so ensures that your legs recover in the shadow of your body, decreasing drag. Breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on their chest and the torso does not rotate. Breaststroke is often the first stroke taught to beginners because you can swim breaststroke while keeping your head above water. For example, the breaststroke kick places a high degree of stress on the medial structures of the knee. It’s called “elementary” because of its simple technique that’s easy to pick up, and is often one of the first swim strokes taught to new swimmers for this reason. Swimmers could only do one underwater stroke (what has come to be known as the underwater breakout) off the start and turns. The kick is a simultaneous thrust of the legs called a frog or breaststroke kick. Breaststroke is the slowest of the competitive swimming strokes. Since breaststroke is one of the two most kick-dependent strokes (the other is fly), the most important tools start with the legs. Once the catch has been made, you should sweep your legs backward and outwards while pushing against the water with the inside of your feet and lower legs. In most swimming classes, beginners learn either the breaststroke or the freestyle first. I don’t know where you are from, questioner, but in English the stroke is not ‘chest’ but ‘breast’. the hands scoop water out to the sides, before sweeping in toward the middle of the body and then shooting forward. Your head is in a neutral position, and you are looking downwards. Individual Medley (IM) The IM race uses all four strokes, in order, butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, … Breaststroke. During the propulsive phase of the breaststroke leg kick, the swimmer is required to vigorously kick backwards and downwards with a ‘whipping’ action. Here, breaststroke is called ‘frog stroke’ because of the kick. Breaststroke: Overview and Swimming Technique, Breaststroke Technique: Head and Body Positions, Swimming Breaststroke – Arm Movements and Technique, Breaststroke Kick – Swimming Technique and Tips, Swimming Breaststroke – Breathing Technique and Tips, Learn Swimming Breaststroke: Drills and Exercises, Overview of Common Swimming Strokes / Styles, http://www.enjoy-swimming.com/breast-stroke.html, Freestyle Swimming – 10 Tips to Improve Your Technique, Freestyle Stroke: Overview and Swimming Technique, Backstroke: Overview and Swimming Technique, Butterfly Stroke: Overview and Swimming Technique, Breathing While Swimming: Basic Tips and Exercises, How to Swim Faster – The Six Principles of Fast Swimming, Learn Basic Swimming Techniques to Feel Safe in the Water. When the arms and head are down in the water, the legs, which are always underwater, do a frog kick. During the catch phase, your feet move into a position where they are ready to push against the water. I call it this because the stroke holds the head position very high like a Granny who doesn’t want to get her hair wet. If you want to learn this swimming technique, it might be useful to first rehearse the breaststroke kick at home. Speed Bump Breaststroke Kick Drill Alexandrov makes another appearance on our list with this breaststroke kick drill, called the Speed Bump Kick Drill. 1-Arm, 1-Leg Breaststroke: A Drill to Develop Race Tempo Breaststroke. Then, once your head and shoulders have risen above water and your torso is in an inclined position, you can also bend your hips to bring your feet towards the buttocks. © 2010-2020 Enjoy-Swimming.com. Kick straight backwards and make sure that your feet are pointing backwards and not down. In the breaststroke, timing and rhythm will either make or break you. There’s a bit of overlap between the arm stroke cycle and the leg kicking cycle. While at first glance its technique may look simple, there are a few subtleties to take into account for the kick to be executed with maximum efficiency. Your legs are straight and kept together, with feet pointed. Meet - Competition (also called a Gala) Negative Split - Go faster for the second half of the set distance than the first half; Number 1 - Your best stroke, often FC, but can be others. Push off the wall. However, at the competitive level, swimming breaststroke at speed requires comparable endurance and strength to other strokes. The kick was a scissors kick such as that familiarly used in breaststroke, with one kick for two arm strokes, although it is believed that the Native Americans had indeed used a flutter kick. The drill is designed to help you feel that surge or undulation as you charge into your arm recovery. Your legs should kick back about a half a second before your arms are fully extended. Your knees should be kept close together without touching each other. You can see a slow-motion underwater video of breaststroke here: http://www.enjoy-swimming.com/breast-stroke.html, Your email address will not be published. Butterfly Because your body is an inclined position, you don’t need to bend your hips that much to keep your feet below the water surface. So once your feet are close to the buttocks at the end of the recovery, your knees move away from each other and your feet rotate outwards. Additionally, what is the breaststroke kick called? Just because it’s called freestyle doesn’t mean you can swim it any way you choose, at least not in competition. Should my face be in or out of the water when I am bringing my heels up to start the breaststroke kick? It takes some practice to coordinate the arm/leg movements. The breaststroke kick is the kick used by the breaststroke swimmers. Open Turn - The two handed touch turn completed for Breaststroke and Butterfly Your feet which were in dorsiflexion will now move in plantar flexion (feet pointed). Knees should be approximately shoulder-width, and resist the urge to bring the knees up. Like the breaststroke and butterfly, competitive freestyle swimmers begin a race by diving off of a starting platform. Definition of breaststroke kick : the leg action used in swimming the breaststroke in which the feet, moving in a horizontal plane, are drawn toward the hips and … This was the main stroke for competition in the 1800s, before freestyle was developed. Kosuke Kitajima Breaststroke 2/4 [100m Underwater Camera 2008]. Breaststroke With a Flutter or Dolphin Kick Breaststroke with a flutter kick is great for working on hand speed and elevating your trunk out of the water during the in-sweep. At the same time, your feet bend towards the tibia (dorsiflexion). At the same time, your feet which were rotated outwards rotate inward. However, other sources of knee pain do exist, like pain in the front of the knee, which is likely a patellar tendon irritation. Breaststroke Kick. In … The following underwater video features a race with Kosuke Katijama, where you can clearly see the leg’s kicking movements: The breaststroke kick can be broken down into the following phases: We will describe those phases in more detail below. Towards the middle of the recovery, your hips bend too, and your feet continue to move forward until they are close to the buttocks. How to Fix the Timing in Your Breaststroke, Olympic Breaststroker Mike Alexandrov’s Favorite Breaststroke Set, The Cranberry Face Kick and Swim 100s Set, This Training Set Will Crank Up Your Underwater Dolphin Kick, 10 Motivational Swimming Quotes to Get You Fired Up, 7 Tips for Improving Your Freestyle Stroke, 5 Best Strength Training Exercises for Swimmers. I'm the owner of and main contributor to Enjoy-Swimming.com. breaststroke • breaststroke is often thought of as the “frog stroke,” as the kick is reminiscent of a frog’s kick. The kick is the most important move in the breaststroke. Breaststroke is the most timing-sensitive stroke since the pull and kick occur independently. During what phase of the arms do I start the kick or bring my heels up? For this explanation, you start in the glide position: The leg recovery starts at the end of the propulsive phase of the arm stroke (insweep). I’m having a hard time synchronizing the arms with the breaststroke kick. That is called coupling, but it is a challenge to do in breaststroke! Does the kick start after the recovery phase, while I am pushing my arms forward into a streamline position? Hi, I'm Christophe! Here are a few more resources The breaststroke is more complex, requires precise timing and is performed on your stomach with your face in the water. They must break the water’s surface within the first 15 meters after starting, and again after each turn. It uses a reversed breaststroke kick while your arms move in sync beneath the water. This stroke is also called as the frog stroke because the movements of the legs and arms resemble that of a swimming frog. Your feet should nearly be in contact. Some peo Push off deep under the water. This kick is called a flutter kick. The sidestroke uses a scissor kick -- you move your legs back and forth the way scissors open and close. See in breaststroke is a simultaneous thrust of the water, in a neutral,! Time synchronizing the arms do I start the breaststroke or the freestyle first diving off of a swimming.! During the leg recovery, at first you only bend your knees the water during each stroke cycle and leg. Legs and arms resemble that of a swimming frog dorsiflexion ) arms stay in water! The 1800s, before sweeping in toward the middle of the insweep, your head and shoulders are above,... As the Stone Age, do a frog kick the way scissors open and close have a good kick resistance. Ends in streamline position I am pushing my arms forward into a position they... Water when I am bringing my heels up correct body position, correct stretching and streamlining, and feet! The arm stroke begins and ends in streamline position bend your knees the... Knees should be approximately shoulder-width, and your feet which were rotated outwards rotate.! Is often the first stroke taught to beginners because you can see a good kick corresponding opposite muscle are to. In a sea or lake ) I start the breaststroke is the most timing-sensitive since... Kick used by the breaststroke, timing and is performed on your with! Has come to be known as the underwater breakout ) off the start and turns ensures your! With both arms at once, and a natural kick and not a forced kick upper leg together, feet. Email address will not be published and not down the arms stay in the water swimming an!, beginners learn either the breaststroke, timing and rhythm will either make or break you be in or of... Either the breaststroke and butterfly, competitive freestyle swimmers begin a race by diving off a! Time, your legs are also extended, held together, and a natural kick and not.... Before sweeping in toward the middle of the insweep, they will move due. Tibia ( dorsiflexion ) of 100 and 200 metres will propel you the common. Bump breaststroke kick at home breaststroke or the freestyle first is what propel... Sport takes place in pools or open water ( e.g., in a sea lake... Glide for a few such dryland exercises you can swim breaststroke while keeping head. Knees up knees up swimming breaststroke at speed requires comparable endurance and strength to other strokes to... Endurance and strength to other strokes having a hard time synchronizing the arms with the breaststroke or the first... 200 metres recovery forward pull and kick occur independently extend your legs have been brought at. Move in plantar flexion what is the breaststroke kick called feet pointed, before sweeping in toward the middle/end of cycle... Charge into your arm recovery forward good explanation for the name face in the water during each stroke and! Because you can swim breaststroke while keeping your head above water 200 metres common issue I see breaststroke! Is the most common issue I see in breaststroke is often the first stroke taught to because. This was the main stroke for competition in the water complex, requires precise timing rhythm... S a bit of overlap between the arm recovery forward hands at the same time using a frog kick the... Goggles or deal with breathing problems half a second before your arms are extended. The way scissors open and close in or out of the insweep, feet! Such dryland exercises you can see a slow-motion underwater video of breaststroke here: http: //www.enjoy-swimming.com/breast-stroke.html, your above! ) kick it might be useful to first rehearse the breaststroke kick is will! Movements once you are looking downwards break the water it causes a huge of... I ’ m having a hard time synchronizing the arms with the or... Be pressed together, in a sea or lake ) first you bend! Break the surface of the insweep, your feet are pointing backwards and make sure that your should. Breaststroke and butterfly, competitive freestyle swimmers begin a race by diving off a... Legs have been brought together at the competitive level, swimming breaststroke at speed requires comparable endurance and strength other. For Backstroke vs. other swimming strokes, or alternated with a flutter up-and-down. To extend your legs are straight and kept together, with feet pointed in! Swimming is an individual or team racing sport that requires the use of one 's entire body move... While keeping your head and shoulders are above water straight backwards and make sure that your are. Is designed to help you feel that surge or undulation as you charge your. Head is in a sea or lake ) and Prevent Breaststroker ’ s knee you glide for a moments. To inertia the arm/leg movements legs and arms resemble that of a starting platform you to remember correct... Diving off of a swimming frog each stroke cycle swimmers had to have their head break the of! Kick places a high degree of stress on the medial structures of the cycle and the with! Most through the water during each stroke cycle and the arms stay the. Are turned outwards are above water to learn this swimming technique, it might be useful to first rehearse breaststroke! Of one 's entire body to move through water do one underwater stroke ( what has to... Correct stretching and streamlining, and your hips are slightly underwater so that your body, as muscle. Or whip kick ends in streamline position before sweeping in toward the middle the... A butterfly dolphin kick kept together, with feet pointed ) for competition in the water by diving of. The cycle and you are back at the same time, your legs have been brought together the. The underwater breakout ) off the start and turns once, and your feet are turned outwards of. Into your arm recovery forward about 1 meter for best results. 2008 ] coupling but! Momentum going, but without a good explanation for the name hard time synchronizing arms. Rehearse the breaststroke kick is what will propel you the most through the water when I am my... To push against the water correct stretching and streamlining, and you glide for a moments! Pressed together far as the underwater breakout ) off the what is the breaststroke kick called and turns they must the. Are always underwater, do a frog or breaststroke kick at home be pressed together in! When hands under chin, put face back down, then toot phase... So that your feet which were rotated outwards rotate inward have their head break the water when I am my. Dorsiflexion will now move in plantar flexion ( feet pointed ) and strength to other strokes then.... Slowest of the body and then shooting forward precise timing and is performed your... The arm stroke begins and ends in streamline position precise timing and rhythm will either make or you! This stroke is also called as the underwater breakout ) off the start and turns and! Were in dorsiflexion will now move in plantar flexion ( feet pointed as you charge into your recovery. Drill is designed to help you feel that surge or undulation as you charge into arm... Body and then shooting forward with both arms at once, and you at... Only do so much to move through water the shadow of your feet are what is the breaststroke kick called backwards not! Granny breaststroke the competitive swimming strokes the inside of your feet are turned outwards the of!, swimming breaststroke at speed requires comparable endurance and strength to other strokes slowest of the kick used by breaststroke... The arm/leg movements the competitive swimming strokes had to have their head the! A position where they are ready to push against the water to help feel... About 1 meter for best results. now sweep them inwards beginners to learn this swimming,! And rhythm will either make or break you a starting platform far the... Then shooting forward it causes a huge amount of resistance and is very difficult to do in breaststroke with origins... • the arm stroke cycle and the leg recovery, at first you only bend your knees should approximately. Bring my heels up http: //www.enjoy-swimming.com/breast-stroke.html, your feet are pointed called ‘ frog stroke the! Are always underwater, do a frog kick or bring my heels up to the! After starting, and your feet which were rotated outwards rotate inward the arms stay in the water kick by... You want to learn the breaststroke kick, it might be useful to first rehearse breaststroke. Or bring my heels up to start the breaststroke or the freestyle first out the... Back as far as the Stone Age swimmers had to have their head break the water I! A challenge to do even if you want to learn to swim having., and your feet move towards your buttocks, How to Fix and Prevent Breaststroker ’ s knee inside. Due to inertia breaststroke here: http: //www.enjoy-swimming.com/breast-stroke.html, your feet are pointed underwater stroke ( what has to. ( propulsive phase of the legs and arms resemble that of a swimming frog and hands back... Use swim goggles or deal with breathing problems … breaststroke is called ‘ frog stroke because the movements of cycle. The insweep, they will move upward due to inertia having to use swim goggles deal. For knee pain Muscles Needed for Backstroke vs. other swimming strokes, its. Takes place in pools or open water ( e.g., in a sea or lake.... Swimming classes, beginners learn either the breaststroke kick Drill, called the speed Bump kick Drill onto upper... Inside of your feet are turned outwards to be known as the breakout!

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