Combat stroke

I'll bite - what IS the "combat stroke" ? Masters compete armed, I mean using their arms, but I don't think we are allowed to carry actual real weapons. That's especially if they are usable as pacing devices, non-permeable or increase buoyancy. Hand-paddles with sharpened edges in practice are about as close as we get. Sometimes a really wide breaststroke kick can be dangerous too.

I'll bite - what IS the "combat stroke" ? Check out YouTube - US Navy SEALs Combat Swim Joshua, I've never seen anyone race open water using the combat stroke, but if if it works for you, go for it. Just be careful with the kick.

I thought he was referring to the first 100 yards of a triathlon. :) When the horn sounds it can get pretty scary out there.

Watching that makes me dizzy!

It does look a bit like a cross between sidestroke and front crawl.

I watched the video, since I had no idea what the combat stroke was. Leave it to the military to invest the most efficient means of swimming while carrying gear and weapons. That being said, if you are competing in OW and this stroke feels most comfortable for you, then go for it. I suspect, if you are using this stroke as you go-to option for this event, then finishing in great health is more important then finishing quickly. I very well could be 100% incorrect on that statement, but it just doesn't look like a fast stroke option. Best of luck to you. I think it will be fine to use this, especially amongst the crowds.

We did something similiar in the Army when I trained in Scout Swimming, the stroke is not to make things easier or faster but to reduce one's visibility to enemy observers. My instructor kept up the refrain "look like a seal" I always thought he meant the aquatic mammal and not a Navy swimmer. :) For open water we alternated freestyle with sidestroke to rest our muscles. Also most of that training was done with fins on. If it works for you, more power to you. I look forward to hearing about the OW competition.

OK guys n' gals, thanks for your thoughts. First of all, in order to set the record straight, I do not intend to swim with an M-16 and blast competitors out of the water. That's only permitted in water polo :D. Here's the full story: I adopted the combat stroke because I myself suffered a combat injury in my right brachial plexus which prevents me from freestyle stroking with my right arm. Previously I did *** / left arm freestyle when doing longer swims. The combat stroke is more efficient, less strenuous and faster for me. Yes, I realize that in the real combat stroke fins are used since it is being used for military purposes. The main difference is in the kick. And yes, as was pointed out, the combat stroke is indeed kind of a cross between the freestyle and side stroke.