I am swimming with a new coach and she is quite adamant that my breathe every stroke rhythm is holding me back and I *might* hyperventilate. I look at breathing as a choice. I don't breathe every time my head comes up, but rather do it for rhythm. As in head down strokes tend to lead to my hips dropping later in a race. So, I find the head up every stroke helps me with that.
Is there any other reason why I *need* to take a head down stroke that she isn't explaining to me? I'm almost getting to the point where I'm tuning her out unfortunately, but if it's simply a 'hyperventilate' mantra it makes zero sense b/c bringing ones head up doesn't necessitate a breath.
Is the only reason to take a head down stroke to avoid hyperventilating? I have asked her this question and received 'yes', but would like to hear from the forum brain trust on this. Thank you! If this is a technique issue by lowering the head that will make me faster I'm all for it, but I want to hear the how and why b/f I potentially disrupt the rhythm of my stroke.
Since the comments seem to be all over the map, I will throw in some more. Michael Phelps breathes every stroke and has not reported any ill effects. In fact, he was taught to breathe every stroke in order to simplify his overall stroke and have a consistent body position. Now you could try the same thing, but you need to remember that his kick is astounding. If your kick is so good that the arms are just there for show, go ahead and breathe as often as you like.
Head position is also important, as has been touched upon here, but not clarified. Breathing with your head in a position to see the other wall or starting blocks is not good. Every breath you take should be with the head in a neutral position, looking down at the water rather than ahead at a wall that is not going anywhere. A weak kick will result in water intake instead of air.
Older Flyers will still swim with one up one down breathing, but it really isn't very difficult to breather every stroke with some practice. hyperventilating is the least of any possible problem you might have. In fact, if you feel light headed or dizzy after swimming fly, it is most probably because you are holding your breath, not breathing too much.
Since the comments seem to be all over the map, I will throw in some more. Michael Phelps breathes every stroke and has not reported any ill effects. In fact, he was taught to breathe every stroke in order to simplify his overall stroke and have a consistent body position. Now you could try the same thing, but you need to remember that his kick is astounding. If your kick is so good that the arms are just there for show, go ahead and breathe as often as you like.
Head position is also important, as has been touched upon here, but not clarified. Breathing with your head in a position to see the other wall or starting blocks is not good. Every breath you take should be with the head in a neutral position, looking down at the water rather than ahead at a wall that is not going anywhere. A weak kick will result in water intake instead of air.
Older Flyers will still swim with one up one down breathing, but it really isn't very difficult to breather every stroke with some practice. hyperventilating is the least of any possible problem you might have. In fact, if you feel light headed or dizzy after swimming fly, it is most probably because you are holding your breath, not breathing too much.
