What type of swimming

Some are swum moving both arms together. Some are swum moving each arm separately. But there are many more distinctions and commonalities within the strokes, as well as the individuals that swim them.

This can be a more difficult stroke, though, so consider getting private swim lessons to learn the proper technique here. Float with your stomach facing down, then move your arms in a half-circle motion in front of the body. This is a great workout and is recommended for those who swim for exercise. An excellent workout and common competitive stroke—possibly because it tests a mature swimmer—the butterfly is performed by bringing your arms up above your head, then pushing them down into the water to propel yourself forward.

Your legs perform a dolphin kick, in which they stay together and kick simultaneously in a bobbing fashion. This is a very difficult stroke to learn, but if you take swimming classes in private, you can work diligently to learn this challenging stroke.

A swimming teacher will help you learn proper technique and guide you until you perfect it. Although not one of the official four strokes in competitive swimming, the sidestroke is a great survival technique. This way, there is always something working to continue forward movement. The butterfly is an advanced swimming stroke that provides an excellent workout. It can be more difficult and tiring to learn, but it is also a lot of fun. It is the second fastest competitive stroke, and the favorite stroke of Olympic legend Michael Phelps.

To perform the butterfly stroke, start horizontal with your stomach facing the bottom of the pool. Bring your arms simultaneously over your head and push them into the water to propel you forward and bring them up out of the water again to repeat. As you move your arms into the water, you will push your head and shoulders above the surface of the water. Move your body in a fluid wave-like motion. The best time to take a breath will be when your arms are just starting to come out of the water, just before you begin the next forward thrust.

Lift your head straight in front of you during this move and do not turn your head to the side. This is an older swimming style that is not typically used in swim competitions, but is still an important stroke to learn for safety reasons. It is most commonly used by lifeguards when they rescue someone, as this stroke most easily allows you to pull something along with you.

It involves swimming on your side, as the name implies, propelling yourself forward with a scissor kick and alternating arm movements. One way to remember the sidestroke is by comparing it to apple picking. Your first arm will stretch above your head and pick an apple, then your hands will meet in front of your chest. The first arm hands the apple to the second arm the side of the body that is on top and partly out of the water.

The second arm will reach out to toss the apple behind you as the first arm reaches above your head for another apple. This is a variation from the typical backstroke you see. Too much sag in your hips will slow your forward momentum. As your arms pull you through the water, your legs will be using the same flutter kick performed during freestyle. Your legs will be slightly bent as you kick in a flurry of alternating motion.

You can decide on the frequency of kicks depending on how fast you want to move. The beauty of backstroke is that you only need to concentrate on your arm and leg movements. There is no breathing technique to worry about because your face is always above the water. Swimming backstroke will burn approximately calories in 30 minutes.

The pros and cons to swim strokes can often depend on what you are looking to get out of your time in the water. Backstroke offers plenty of benefits distinct from other strokes. For example, backstroke can help improve your posture since your muscles need to work to keep your back straight in the water.

It can also help improve your hip flexibility. Just like other swimming strokes, it will also work your arm, leg and core muscles. The position of your head is one small downside of backstroke to consider. Since your line of sight is directed upwards, rather than in front of you, some people feel slightly nervous not being able to see where they are going in the water. You can overcome this by counting how many strokes it takes to complete a lap.

Sidestroke can be done on your own or with the help of a kickboard. You may be less familiar with this stroke because it is not used during competitive events. Here is a look at the technique and benefits of sidestroke :. Just like the name suggests, you will swim this stroke on your side. Begin by positioning your body on one side in the water.

Stretch the arm beneath that side of your body forward in the water. The arm on top will rest on top of your horizontally positioned body.

Rest your head on the arm stretched out straight in front of you. Your head will not move from this position the entire time you swim sidestroke. Since your face does not enter the water, you will not have to worry about your breathing technique. Both of your arms will move during sidestroke. The arm stretched out in front of you is referred to as your lead arm.

Your lead arm and the arm resting on the side of your body will both sweep downwards through the water, bent at the elbow. Your hands will come toward one another in front of your chest and then sweep upwards back to the straight, starting position. During sidestroke, most of your forward momentum will come from your legs. You will move your legs using a scissor kick, which means your legs move back and forth beneath the water in an alternating motion.

As you kick, your arms will move toward one another and then back to a straight position. You can burn more than calories swimming sidestroke for 30 minutes. While not a competitive stroke, sidestroke is often used by lifeguards to perform in-water rescues. So, knowing how to swim sidestroke can come in handy if you are ever in an emergency situation. You will use your arm and leg muscles to propel you forward, while you will work your core muscles to maintain a smooth, horizontal position in the water.

From purely an exercise standpoint, sidestroke allows you to keep your face out of the water while working multiple muscle groups. Of all the different swimming strokes, the butterfly is probably the most challenging. Butterfly requires a great deal of strength and coordination that takes time to develop. Here is what you should know about this swimming stroke:.