I have used the "Kaizen's" head down, lengthening and rolling technique on working out my crawl and it's coming along. Breasstroke I am not too bad on...and I just want to finesse my technique and such.
What tips do you all have for breaststokers like me? I lengthen and glide smoothly and can move along quite fast while really swimming slowly. I am mostly curious about breathing as the undulations of breaststroke work the traps and neck a bit.
I am trying to get my head face down on my glide, for streamlining etc. Just trying to see what others have to say about their breaststroke breathing.
Rich
Parents
Former Member
When teaching Breaststroke (as well as Fly) to "average" or developing swimmers, the default style I teach (and practice myself) is to try to breathe with chin touching surface, mouth barely clearing it and looking at the water just slightly in front of you -- try to avoid seeing the far end.
The higher breathing position is difficult for anyone lacking a high level of skill and coordination to do efficiently, so I treat it as a departure from the default form, which I will help individuals refine if it's their preference and they can do it to advantage.
As Allen noted, timing the hands is also critical. I sometimes use a focal point of "try to see your hands extended before your face goes back in." A second focal point for hand timing iss "Kick your hands forward."
Thanks Terry. I am on the right track. My big effort thus far has been getting into that torpedo postion with my arms getting out straight just ahead of my kick (so I cut through the water a bit). I had been donig this and simultaneously fcing the bottom and slightly lifting my head as I came up for air.
I'll have a try of the various methods...I know if I am sprinting I find it much easier to rise up (bodily) to breathe...the slower pace (working on my stretch etc) i have to use a little chin lift...
Thanks again to all I'll let you alll know how I get on.
When teaching Breaststroke (as well as Fly) to "average" or developing swimmers, the default style I teach (and practice myself) is to try to breathe with chin touching surface, mouth barely clearing it and looking at the water just slightly in front of you -- try to avoid seeing the far end.
The higher breathing position is difficult for anyone lacking a high level of skill and coordination to do efficiently, so I treat it as a departure from the default form, which I will help individuals refine if it's their preference and they can do it to advantage.
As Allen noted, timing the hands is also critical. I sometimes use a focal point of "try to see your hands extended before your face goes back in." A second focal point for hand timing iss "Kick your hands forward."
Thanks Terry. I am on the right track. My big effort thus far has been getting into that torpedo postion with my arms getting out straight just ahead of my kick (so I cut through the water a bit). I had been donig this and simultaneously fcing the bottom and slightly lifting my head as I came up for air.
I'll have a try of the various methods...I know if I am sprinting I find it much easier to rise up (bodily) to breathe...the slower pace (working on my stretch etc) i have to use a little chin lift...
Thanks again to all I'll let you alll know how I get on.
