I am having siginificant difficulty learning the modern breastroke kick. I am still trapped in the ways of my youth with the wide frog kick.
When I try the more closed kick I see used today, I end up floundering and looking quite odd. By the end of every lap, I have confused the kick so badly that it is quite possible I may be moving either sideways or backwards.
Does anyone have any suggestions for how I can learn the newer kick?
Thanks
Former Member
Hello Aquageek!
I am surprised that no one has responded to your request for information. I thought you might hear from "Breaststroker" on this one. I can offer some amateur tips.
The new kick (whip kick) is a 2-beat kick instead of the 3-beat "up-out-together" frog kick. The whip kick has what I like to think of as a **** and fire action. The feet are drawn toward the hips, outside of the knees (which can be tough on the knees if they are not flexible and strong) then blasted back to a streamline position.
I think an easy way to get the hang of the rhythm and positioning is to do the kick on your back. You can take your time with each kick and think each part through. The positioning is not quite the same when you turn over, but if you can get comfortable with it on your back, you'll be a lot closer to getting it face down than if you are swimming sideways!
Below is Wayne McCauley's website that I discovered from these posts. It has been very helpful to me.
http://www.breaststroke.info/
Good luck! Breaststroke is the best stroke!
Kim
Breastroker has been so busy at work he isn't even going to nationals, and is really bummed. Thanks for the link to my web site, I do have articles that describe the new kick, and I have pics from a Marty Hull article on the new kick. I think it is important to say the new kick the feet are inside the knees, which reduces the strain on the ligaments.
If I can get a Special Olympian to kick breaststroke I could get you to do it right, but unless you are in Southern California it is hard to explain in words. I tell the swimmers,
Stand on the deck
Pull the feet back up directly behind the buttocks
Now just straighten the leg out to match the outher leg.
Now alternate the legs doing the same
Now try it in the water
Breaststroker
I didn't have anything to add, I just wanted to get this thread back up front. :D
RainMan asked about the breastroke pullout, which led me to this thread, the link to McCauley's web page, and then to the first article listed under "Breastroke Articles by other coaches".
Wayne has some good links on his web page. Encluded here is a page with breaststroker Dave Denniston in associaltion with Glenn Mills (breaststroker 1980 Olympics-the unfortunate olympiad). It will take some time to download the quicktime but it shows with clarity the timing of the stroke, and the kick.
www.goswim.tv/breaststroke.html
