So I just started learning to swim. 23 years old. =)
Former Member
I didn't like the water when I was little and I've been ignoring the problem ever since.
Well, I went to Florida with my girlfriend a few weeks ago and she's quite a good swimmer -- effortless strokes. That did it. Time to learn, I told myself.
I ran into this forum searching the net, and I thought you folks wouldn't mind if I shared my experiences here. Maybe you can give me a pointer or two.
So I bought 10 hours of private lessons to start. My instructor is quite friendly and helpful.
I've had two hours of lessons so far. We've covered kicks, floats and breathing for now... no strokes yet.
On my back, without any assistance, I can swim a length of the pool just with my kicks, arms relaxed.
On my front I have no problem kicking either, but I don't have the breathing quite right -- it's been a bit frustrating.
(Swimming is hard! Can 99% of the planet really do this?)
I have several problems with the breathing:
1. I know I have to empty my lungs under water, but I blow bubbles, and more bubbles, and more bubbles... still more bubbles... and I find it hard to exhale completely. The water resists me.
2. When I turn up for air, due to the above problem, I usually haven't finished exhaling... so I finish exhaling out of the water (this would go
away if I could solve problem 1.) and then try to inhale. At this point I usually take in a bunch of water and I have to stop to catch my breath and cough up the water.
I think the major problem is actually 1. I have a feeling that if I could just empty my lungs fast enough while under water, I would probably be able to catch a very quick breath when I turn my head to breath.
Other than that, I'm also having minor problems with the front and back float. On the front float, my legs always sink. On the back float I do better, but I have trouble getting my midsection to the surface of the water, even with a really good push off the bottom to get me up there. But when my instructor physically pushes my skinny ass up there, then I can float for a bit.
I suppose my progress is pretty good for a complete beginner with a mere two hours in the water in his entire life, but it's also quite frustrating. I wasn't expecting breathing to be a big problem.
Right now I'm doing two lessons per week with my instructor. One half hour on Wed. and one full hour on Thurs. I have the time, willpower, and money to do more lessons per week... do you folks recommend this for someone at my level?
I think that's enough of my blabbing for now. =)
Parents
Former Member
The principle of sculling is well illustrated by sticking a flat hand out of the window of a car moving at highway speed (don't try this at home kids!). If the hand is angled at 45 degrees with the leading edge higher than the trailing edge you will feel a force both upward and back tending to lift your hand. The force is always at 90 degrees to the surface.
When treading water if you move your hands back and forth so that the leading edge is higher than the trailing edge the water will press up on your hands lifting you higher in the water. Note that each change in direction of your hands will require a change in the angle, in order to keep the leading edge above the trailing edge.
Egg-beater leg movements, like breaststroke kick, works on a different principle, basically you are lifting the foot with your foot aligned with the direction of movement (vertical) to minimize the amount of drag as it moves upward, you then turn the ankle so that the foot is horizontal and push back down again so that you are pushing down with a larger surface area than when you are lifting the foot. Again this allows you to raise your level in the water somewhat.
The principle of sculling is well illustrated by sticking a flat hand out of the window of a car moving at highway speed (don't try this at home kids!). If the hand is angled at 45 degrees with the leading edge higher than the trailing edge you will feel a force both upward and back tending to lift your hand. The force is always at 90 degrees to the surface.
When treading water if you move your hands back and forth so that the leading edge is higher than the trailing edge the water will press up on your hands lifting you higher in the water. Note that each change in direction of your hands will require a change in the angle, in order to keep the leading edge above the trailing edge.
Egg-beater leg movements, like breaststroke kick, works on a different principle, basically you are lifting the foot with your foot aligned with the direction of movement (vertical) to minimize the amount of drag as it moves upward, you then turn the ankle so that the foot is horizontal and push back down again so that you are pushing down with a larger surface area than when you are lifting the foot. Again this allows you to raise your level in the water somewhat.
