I tried doing the breaststroke on my back yesterday - we used to do this when I was little and called it the back stroke, even though it isn't really THE back stroke. I noticed right away that it worked my inner thighs and my abs. I did 100 yards of it and realized I wouldn't be able to move today if I continued.
Just wondering if others have tried this. I really need ab work and plan to include a few hundred yards of this with my regular workouts. I've just been swimming since October but things are going well.
Marian
Parents
Former Member
mbriones,
All real breaststrokers do a lot of breaststroke on our back. If you are in breaststroke shape it is easier on the legs and helps work on streamline.
We coaches look to make sure the knees never break the waters surface when doing it on our backs.
It sounds like you kick needs work, the inner thighs are not used on the modern breaststroke. It sounds like you are squeezing your legs together instead of just using the lower legs. There is no squeezing of the legs at any time.
think of the breaststroke kick like this:
Stand up, pull one foot to your butt, keeping the two knees together.
Now straighten the leg.
That is the modern breaststroke kick.
Now in the water, when both lower legs come together, snap the ankles so the soles of the feet crash together.
That is the Kitijima (and all great breaststrokers) ankle snap.
Now glide after the kick as much as possible.
mbriones,
All real breaststrokers do a lot of breaststroke on our back. If you are in breaststroke shape it is easier on the legs and helps work on streamline.
We coaches look to make sure the knees never break the waters surface when doing it on our backs.
It sounds like you kick needs work, the inner thighs are not used on the modern breaststroke. It sounds like you are squeezing your legs together instead of just using the lower legs. There is no squeezing of the legs at any time.
think of the breaststroke kick like this:
Stand up, pull one foot to your butt, keeping the two knees together.
Now straighten the leg.
That is the modern breaststroke kick.
Now in the water, when both lower legs come together, snap the ankles so the soles of the feet crash together.
That is the Kitijima (and all great breaststrokers) ankle snap.
Now glide after the kick as much as possible.
