Without mastering the basic techniques of freestyle and breaststroke swimming, you will not be able to properly plan and execute training and learn all the secrets of swimming. Already comfortable in the water? It's time to learn to swim beautifully. Let's get started!

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For those who have become comfortable in the water (for beginners - read “”), enjoy training, but want more: learn to swim beautifully and master the basic swimming styles: crawl, breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke, lose weight faster, develop endurance, strength, flexibility, agility, add variety to your training.

What does it mean to master different swimming styles and why is it necessary? This means making such coordinated movements of the arms, torso, head and legs that will allow you to move forward as beautifully and efficiently (remember “”?) without wasting extra energy on overcoming resistance. As you remember, water is 800 times denser than air and any unnecessary movement will not only slow you down, but will also waste a lot of strength and energy. In addition, without mastering the basic techniques of crawl and breaststroke swimming, you will not be able to correctly and comprehend everything swimming secrets.

Today the crawl is the fastest way. A clean crawl is smooth. The softer you swim, the faster it turns out. Let me give you a fairly obvious example: if you cut off a fish’s tail, it won’t swim much slower. The tail is only needed for maneuver. But the fish swims with its body. A person's balance is shifted towards the legs. I must say that most swimmers have a poorly developed sense of balance. And the outstanding ones, on the contrary, do very well. And marine animals have a better developed sense of balance. A cat, for example, cannot hold a ball on its nose. And a Navy SEAL - easily.

— From an interview with Gennady Turetsky, tracked coach of Russia, coach of 4-time Olympic champion A. Popov

How to master swimming technique and what does it consist of? The basis of effective swimming technique:, streamlined body position, coordination, rhythm, smoothness and softness of movements, “sense of water” and proper breathing.

Development of the sense of water: rhythm, sliding, application of force, breathing

Rhythm swimming. You cannot make sudden or jerky movements in the water; everything should happen as smoothly as possible, and the application of force should occur at the moment of maximum support on the water.

Try to support all the time streamlined body position in water - you need to learn to glide through the water without creating unnecessary resistance and maintain a uniform speed of progress - developing the so-called “sense of water”. Always keep your body horizontal. When swimming with any stroke, your body follows your head. Excessive head movement will create a lot of resistance. When you inhale, head movement should be minimal.

The ability to feel the water lies in understanding at what moments you are experiencing maximum glide, and when you can make a stroke that pushes off the water most effectively. Below are very simple and useful exercises that will definitely help you.

Palm clapping. Stand in the water, chest deep. Place your hands with your palms facing each other at the level of your navel. Then, turn your hands back to each other so that your thumbs point down. Now spread them apart to shoulder width. Then, turn them around again with your palms facing each other and make a clap under the water so that they come together again at the navel. Repeat this movement 10-20 times slowly and consciously, trying to feel the water in and around your palms.

"Clenched Fist" This workout will help you develop a sense of the flow and movement of water around you. It will teach you how to apply force to water with a slight change in the movement of your hand. Push off the wall firmly with your fists clenched tightly. After this, you will lose the ability to “feel” water. Keep your hands clenched into a fist for 10 strokes. Then, gradually, over the next 10 strokes, unclench your hands, a little for each stroke, so that by the tenth stroke your palm is completely unclenched.

Slip . To practice gliding in water, push off strongly from the side of the pool underwater and try to make several dolphin-like movements with your torso with your arms extended forward. Ideally, learn to swim 12-15 meters in several such movements.

Swim at a slow pace, relaxed. Repeat these exercises several times. At the end of the exercise, you will begin to “feel” the water better, learn to glide and make the most effective strokes.

It is important to save measured breathing. To do this, keep your breathing and rowing movements in the same rhythm. Inhale must be done through the mouth, and exhale through the nose and mouth.

If you want to learn how to swim correctly, you should perform swimming exercises separately on your arms and legs, as well as separately on your right/left sides. This division will help you quickly realize how to move correctly.

Swimming techniques and styles

There are 4 swimming styles: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and crawl (freestyle). These styles differ significantly in technique, speed, and energy consumption. Complex swimming consists of alternately using all methods in the sequence: butterfly - backstroke - breaststroke - crawl.

Breaststroke(translated from French as “arm spread”) - the swimmer’s arms move synchronously together forward from the chest. At the same time, the legs bend at the knees and then, straightening, perform a push from the water. The return trajectories of the arms occur under water, and the legs work with short breaks. Breaststroke is the most accessible, but at the same time the slowest style.

Freestyle(chest crawl, from the English verb “to crawl”) is a swimming style in which the swimmer makes wide strokes along the body alternately with the right and left hands, and at the same time constantly performs swinging movements with the legs in the vertical plane (“up- down"). The head is lowered into the water, and to inhale, while raising the hand above the water, it turns to the side. Crawl is the fastest style, which can swim tens of kilometers.

Butterfly- a style of swimming in which the athlete makes a powerful wide stroke with both hands, during which the upper part of the body rises above the water, while simultaneously performing symmetrical wave-like kicks. This style is considered the second fastest after crawl, it is the most difficult and energy-consuming, and requires maximum endurance and good technique. The peculiarity of butterfly is that it gives the greatest force load to the muscles.

Back crawl- a style of swimming in which the athlete performs alternating strokes with his arms and at the same time makes alternating kicks in the vertical plane. The face is almost constantly (except for the start and turns) above the water. The back crawl is similar to the inverted front crawl. This is not the fastest swimming style, but it can be swum faster than breaststroke.

Video with the listed swimming techniques - freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke - you will find it at the bottom of the page.

Work out with a trainer . He will develop a lesson plan that suits your goals, an individual set of exercises, suggest which swimming styles are best to use, adjust your swimming technique if necessary, and make sure that you do everything correctly. Classes with a trainer will bring faster results. If you are not ready to work with a trainer all the time, take 2-3 lessons where you can get the most necessary recommendations.

Nowadays, butterfly swimming technique plays a rather important role. If we compare it with other types of swimming, then in this style it is impossible to achieve high speed only with the help of great physical strength. Here it is simply necessary to have accurate knowledge of all existing rules, the most difficult of which is returning the arms and body simultaneously to the starting position, taking into account correct breathing.

What is butterfly swimming style?

The word "butterfly" translated from English means "butterfly". In fact, this name is justified, since with this style of swimming, if you look at a swimming person from above, his arms look like a butterfly flapping its wings.

In terms of technical characteristics, this style is one of the most complex and tedious compared to others. When using it, all muscle groups work due to symmetrical movements that are carried out by the left and right parts of the body at the same time.

As for differences from other styles, butterfly, the technique of which puts a lot of stress on the muscles, is primarily effective due to uncoordinated movements. As a result, the muscles on the chest, arms, shoulders, buttocks, hips, abs, and legs are corrected. In addition, proper stretching of the ligaments and burning of subcutaneous fat occurs. For example, breaststroke is considered a more simplified form of swimming.

Features of the butterfly style

Butterfly (swimming style) is rightfully considered not only the most complex and energy-intensive, but also one of the fastest. All human movements are similar to one continuous wave, and this can very well strengthen muscle tone and improve physical fitness. Therefore, the butterfly swimming style is considered one of the most difficult to master, but at the same time it is also the youngest.

Swimmers, using the butterfly style technique, perform wide, powerful strokes with both hands, while they raise the top of the body above the water. At the same time, circular symmetrical and wave-like striking movements are made with the legs (directly from the pelvis).

In general, the butterfly swimming technique is extremely energy-consuming and difficult. It requires high endurance and maximum competent swimming technique. Untrained swimmers will not be able to perform exercises without breaking existing rules.

The history of the butterfly swimming style

The butterfly style of swimming appeared, the technique of which took on certain innovations after the improvement of the breaststroke, in 1933. A Man Named Henry

Myers used a similar style at competitions in Brooklyn, where David Armbruster (swimming coach) saw his non-standard technique. Then he changed his hand movements slightly when using this style. This is how a completely new type of swimming appeared, called “butterfly”.

Already in 1953, this variety began to be used in the Olympic Games. Thus, a completely independent style of swimming emerged, which was recognized throughout the world.

The complexity and demands of the butterfly style

Butterfly is the most difficult and fastest style compared to all the others. Its application requires significant skills, knowledge and great effort from a person. Without any preliminary exercises, training and a special course of study, it is simply impossible to competently swim even a short distance using this style.

As a rule, the butterfly stroke significantly loads all the muscles of the human body, which is why significant muscle training occurs and also intensively consumes calories.

Training rules

Before you begin to master the butterfly swimming technique, you need to hone small elements, and then gradually move on to even more difficult ones.

It is optimal to start classes after doing short warm-ups not on the water, lasting about ten or fifteen minutes. After the style has been fully studied, you need to begin eliminating errors and directly improving your technique when starting and turning. Butterfly swimming consists of characteristic synchronous, simultaneous and symmetrical movements of body parts (arms and legs), as well as proper breathing.

Hand movement technique

The arm movements in this style of swimming are the main force. Absolutely all of them are conditionally divided into three main directions: towards oneself, directly away from oneself and towards return. At the very initial stage, the arms are in a position extended forward, the legs are spaced shoulder-width apart and are in the water. In this case, the palms are turned down and to the surface. Then hands make movements on the sides and strokes are carried out.

At the next stage, arms are raised to the sides and bent at the elbows. In this case, the angles should reach ninety degrees. The hands move down and reach the thighs. The level of speed and force of arm movements increases to this point, the elbows begin to straighten, and the arms are almost completely pressed to the body. Therefore, as already mentioned, butterfly is a swimming style that requires good physical shape.

At the final or final stage of the return, the hands are relaxed and begin to be raised above the water so that first the elbows are visible, and then the hands themselves, which are located near the hips. After this, the arms move forward with quick movements, and at this moment they are completely relaxed and in a straight state. Next, they are immersed in water at shoulder width and returned to their original position. The hands should touch the water first, and then the elbows.

Technique of leg and torso movements

When the butterfly technique is used, the legs perform characteristic movements very similar to other types of swimming. Leg and body movements have

wavy character - smoothly, starting from the shoulders and ending with the feet. In this case, the legs move parallel and symmetrically, which causes the use of a significant number of muscles.

At the moment when the feet hit the water hard, a person’s back appears on the surface. And when the legs go up, the head comes to the surface so that the swimmer takes a breath. At the same time, it is forbidden to spread your legs to the sides; during this entire procedure they are tightly adjacent to each other.

Correct swimming technique. Breathing Features

The breathing technique when using the butterfly style of swimming, as a rule, fully corresponds to the movement of the person’s arms. The best option is to inhale at a time when your hands are above the water and your torso is in a comfortable position. Moreover, the inhalation is usually short and done through the mouth. Typically, it lasts about a quarter of a second. As for the exhalation, it should be long and done very slowly during the time it takes to complete the entire stroke.

The butterfly swimming start is done in the traditional manner from a stand. When a person plunges into water, he seems to glide and perform various wave-like movements with his torso and legs, without the participation of his hands. When turning, he touches the side with his hands (one at a time), and then with his feet. At this stage, the human body is completely immersed in water. With the help of a push with his legs, he swims away from the side and continues to swim in the opposite direction.

Butterfly swimming rules

As a rule, the most common mistakes that swimmers make when using this style of swimming technique are related to coordination of movements. This needs to be given a lot of attention. The most effective way is to use two kicks. As the hands enter and grip the water, the first impact occurs with the top of the foot.

The next foot strike is performed at the same time as the end of the stroke using the arms.

Today there are other options for butterfly swimming. So, for example, the correct technique is that the arms and legs move at the same time, or in turn. In addition, only one kick is performed, strokes are made using only one hand (the same as the crawl technique), and the other hand is extended forward. In this case, there may be an alternation of such variations.

Mistakes when swimming butterfly style

The most common mistakes when swimming using the butterfly technique are:

the following:

  • During the process of entering the water, the hands are located too close or too far from one another, but should be shoulder-width apart;
  • their close position to the body, which does not allow the person to grab correctly, while the person’s shoulders are deep under water;
  • a wide position of the hands greatly slows down swimming due to the fact that there is a lot of water resistance, resulting in reduced grip efficiency;
  • short strokes, which are obtained when a person begins the third phase of arm movements early, lifting them out of the water - this leads to a large bend of the body and a reduction in the strength of the strokes;
  • the speed of the hands when performing the phase away from oneself is quite small in order to achieve the desired result;
  • the legs come to the surface of the water, and some of the movements performed in the air are, as a rule, lost (here all leg exercises should be performed exclusively under water);
  • the time at which you need to inhale is incorrectly chosen, this can lead to rhythm disturbances and slow down movements;
  • Improper kicking or not performing certain movements at the same time significantly reduces swimming speed, because coordinated exercises are considered the basis of this style.

Despite the fact that the butterfly swimming style is quite difficult for beginner swimmers to master, it is still worth learning. Of course, breaststroke (swimming technique) is not inferior to it, but the first type can significantly strengthen muscles and free the body from excess fat deposits. In addition, it allows the swimmer to move quite quickly and glide through the water like a dolphin.

Dolphin - the main variety of butterfly

The swimming technique using the classic butterfly stroke was previously described. Its main speed type is considered to be the “dolphin”. When using this type of butterfly swimming style, in order to reduce water resistance and save energy, it is necessary to make certain movements with the legs pressed together in an up and down direction.

When they work, the muscles of the torso are very actively involved, so such leg movements resemble the tail of a dolphin. It is for this reason that the name of the style arose, which has become quite popular nowadays. His basic speed indicators are second only to the crawl style (backstroke technique).

Today, in many butterfly competitions, absolutely all participating swimmers use dolphin techniques, and the existing rules freely allow this, since this method is considered the main variety of butterfly. Therefore, the dolphin swimming technique is considered one of the most popular in modern competitions.

The following types of swimming are considered sports disciplines: front crawl/backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly. They appear in competitions; they set records. But fans of swimming and simply people who know how to do it know very well that there are other ways to move in the water. They are not sports, but are often used in everyday life. Let's start with what swimming styles are sports.

Crawl

When they describe sports swimming in the pool and say the word “crawl,” they usually mean the front crawl (or stomach crawl). This is the fastest and most effective way of moving in water. It was on it that the most significant speed record was set.

For comparison, you can use the 2015 data based on the results of competitions in a 50-meter pool (distance - 100 m):

  • first place - crawl - completing the distance in 46.91 seconds;
  • second place - butterfly - 49.82 seconds;
  • bronze - back crawl - 51.85 sec.;
  • breaststroke with an indicator of 57.13 seconds. did not make it into the top three winners.

The last figure does not mean at all that breaststroke is worse than other types of sports swimming. It's just that his technique is much more complex than others. But first you should stop at the rabbit.

Crawl technique

It has many advantages. This is the fastest type of sports swimming, the most dynamic and therefore extremely spectacular. Front crawl is also called freestyle (the swimmer is allowed to move in several ways convenient for him). The basic movement looks like this:

  • The hands of the crawler perform alternating strokes along the body;
  • legs work quickly, moving in a vertical plane like scissors;
  • inhalation occurs above the surface of the water, first in one direction, then in the other, depending on which hand is making the stroke;
  • the athlete exhales at the moment when he dives and moves under the surface of the water.

This basic movement is allowed to periodically alternate with wave-like movements of the body (“dolphin”) and other elements. Actually, for this reason the style is called “free”.

Back crawl

If we mention the technically easiest swimming methods, then we should start with the back crawl. But this ease lies only in the fact that the swimmer does not need to continuously control his breathing. His face is above the water the entire way. Breathing during a backstroke is much easier than during the same classic crawl or breaststroke.

The name “crawl” itself comes from the English verb crawl, which translates as “crawl”. But if the movement on the stomach can somehow be compared with this action, then the crawl on the back is something completely different. When moving slowly, it gives the impression of the most relaxed gliding on the water. Athletes often use similar methods of swimming in the pool to relax after an intense and exhausting workout.

Execution technique

While moving in this style, the athlete “lies” on his back the entire time. His face is turned upward, and his hands perform wide strokes (alternately right and left). Only during the start and turns the face is immersed in the water. The legs perform short up-and-down strokes, reminiscent of scissor movements.

Interestingly, the “inverted” crawl is the only style in which the athlete starts directly from the water. All other swimming styles in the pool involve starting from a stand.

Another interesting fact is related to the history of its formation as a sport type of swimming. Until 1912, the last one was the backstroke. But in the mentioned year, during the Olympics in Stockholm, American swimmer Harry Hebner overcame the required distance with an “inverted” crawl. And he didn’t just swim, he won gold. After that, the backstroke was doomed.

Breaststroke

When answering the question which style of competitive swimming is the slowest, one always thinks of breaststroke. We already found out why earlier. The species got its name from the French noun brass, which literally translates as “hand”.

For breaststroke, the arms are really important. They make wide and energetic strokes, “pushing” the athlete’s body forward. You may get the impression that the breaststroker seems to be pulling himself up with his arms or, on the contrary, pushing off with them from an invisible support.

Execution technique

During the movement, the breaststroke's arms work simultaneously, making the same movements forward and downward through the sides. Under the chest, the swimmer turns his palms over and throws them forward, which begins a new cycle of movements.

The athlete's legs perform movements similar to how a frog pushes off from water. His knees are close. Mainly only the legs and feet work. The shins perform twisting movements in different directions, as if scooping up water and then pushing off from it.

The difficulty of breaststroke is that the strokes with arms and legs need to be clearly coordinated. Then the movement of the body will be smooth, and the speed will be quite decent. It is also important for breaststroke swimmers to coordinate their breathing with other actions. Inhalation, as in the crawl, is performed above the surface, exhalation - in the water column.

Beginning athletes sometimes swim while keeping their heads above the surface at all times. It’s easier to breathe this way, but according to sports standards it’s not considered correct. Naturally, you can’t swim like that in competitions.

The advantage of breaststroke is that it is almost completely silent. This style was once used during military operations in the coastal zone. Breaststroke is the oldest of all known methods of human transportation on water. Evidence of this was discovered in the “Cave of Swimmers” (Egypt). The 9,000-year-old rock paintings decorating its vaults depict people swimming breaststroke.

Butterfly

The name of this method is translated from English as “butterfly”. Sometimes it is also called "dolphin". If we mention the most technically complex and time-consuming types of sports swimming, butterfly will take an honorable first place in this list. Compared to the styles described above, it is exceptionally young. It arose only in 1935, which in the entire history of sports is simply a child’s age.

Initially, butterfly was perceived as a kind of breaststroke. They indeed have some similar features (the same wave-like movements of the body, etc.), but otherwise these types of swimming are quite different from each other.

The first difference is that the butterfly is much faster and more powerful. In terms of speed, it ranks second in the overall list. Another nuance concerns energy costs. To swim butterfly, you need to be a truly strong and resilient person. Why this is so can be understood by analyzing the butterfly technique.

Execution technique

The style was called “butterfly” for its wide hand strokes, reminiscent of the flapping of a moth’s wings. “Dolphin” - for the wave-like movements of the body.

During movement, the swimmer emerges from the water with his entire body, as dolphins do. Together it looks like this:

  • hands make wide synchronized strokes along the entire body, as if pushing it forward;
  • lifting the body above the plane of the water, the athlete takes a breath and goes for a dive;
  • simultaneously with the swings of the arms, the whole body performs an energetic wave.

It is considered a big mistake to “dolph” with just your legs. The wave-like movements should come from the body, gradually move to the hips and end with the feet.

It is extremely important for a person swimming in this technique to have excellent control of his body and be flexible. Every muscle of his must work for the result. That's why the butterfly is considered the hardest.

This completes the classification of swimming by so-called sports styles.

Something you don't see at competitions

Like a dog

When asked what method of swimming is not sportive, the legendary “doggy style” immediately comes to mind. This way you can also move in the water. Especially if other types of swimming have not yet been mastered.

Many animals, small children and beginners who have just learned to stay in the water swim like a dog. This method is mastered on an intuitive level. The body itself tells you what to do.

During the swim, a person lies face down. The arms make quick raking movements under the body, the legs make short vertical strokes, reminiscent of the clicks of scissors. This is a simple and low-cost method, which is often used by weakened or injured people.

Frog

Another non-sports option is the “frog”. It resembles the most simplified breaststroke. The swimmer's head is above the water, his face is turned down. The arms and legs make rounded strokes, similar to the movements of the limbs of a swimming frog. The method is as simple as possible. Great for beginners.

Colchis-Iberian method

Another unsportsmanlike and little-known option for overcoming water is the Colchian-Iberian (or Georgian) style of swimming. The name comes from the name of the area where it originated and until recently was popular.

This style is unique in that the swimmer performs an undulating motion of the pelvis while keeping the arms close to the body and the legs brought together. Once upon a time, the Colchian-Iberian style was a military training method of practicing swimming with tied hands and feet. Now it is used for deep diving.

As in the butterfly, the endurance and strength of the swimmer are important here. Previously, the Colchian-Iberian method of swimming was used to instill the fighting spirit of soldiers. A man tied up and thrown into the water begins to panic and therefore drowns. Warriors were taught to overcome this fear and, using the acquired skills, save their lives in the most hopeless situation.

Synchronized swimming

It cannot be called a type or method of swimming. It is rather a separate discipline that combines many characteristics. It is considered a traditionally female sport and requires athletes to have colossal endurance, excellent control of their body, as well as grace and a sense of rhythm.

Synchronized swimming is a dance in the water, in some in the sense of aerobatics. No speed records are set here, but the main emphasis is on the technical skills and synchronization of movements of all the girls in the group.

Now, having become acquainted with different types of swimming, it will be a little easier for beginning athletes to make a choice and decide on which path to develop next.

Hi everybody!

Regular visitors to our blog already know that relatively recently I purchased a subscription to the Champion sports complex and now try to visit the pool at least 3 times a week. Here I already wrote about this.

To achieve the best effect from classes, an important factor is the correct swimming technique.

There will be separate blog articles on the technique of a specific swimming style, but today I will tell you what types and styles of swimming there are in general.

I discarded all the unnecessary stuff from the pile of materials on RuNet and found the most basic and interesting information, so that after reading the article you would have a clear picture of the picture.

In general, we will deal with all the reasons that can lead a person to the pool, and learn the main methods of movement in the water.

Classification of swimming types

Friends, each of us comes to the pool with our own goals and personal desires - it is not surprising that today in modern society various types of swimming are in demand.

Some people need recreational activities, others come to the sports center for their next training session, dreaming of being included in the national team for the Olympic Games. ?

In general, it is on the track that a patient, a future record holder and a starting player on a water polo team can meet.

Thus, I present to your attention a classification of the main types of swimming with brief characteristics arising from each category:


Each of the above types of swimming can significantly improve your overall health, increasing the performance of internal organs and normalizing many biological processes in the body. Not weak, right? ?

It is enough just to visit the pool regularly, completing the training program planned for the day. I would also like to note the following nuance - you can read about the benefits of swimming specifically for the spine in this article posted earlier on our blog.

Basic swimming styles

Having dealt with the types of such physical activity, I propose to move on to the next pressing question: What are the different styles of swimming?

Unfortunately, I will not consider the options of diving and team sports, because these are still specialized areas.

I will introduce our readers to the main swimming styles with which you can move within the pool path:

  • Breaststroke(symmetrical movements of the arms from the chest, while pushing movements are made with the legs; in other words, this technique is popularly called “frog-style”).

  • Crawl(the hands alternately perform strokes, and the legs act as “scissors”, working like a motor).

  • On the back(swimming technique of this style is similar to crawl, only the difference lies in the position of the body relative to the horizon - a person moves in the water on his back, while his arms do not bend during movements).

  • "Butterfly"(the body is raised above the water when powerful strokes are performed synchronously with straightened arms; visually, an athlete moving using this technique resembles a butterfly, so the name of this method is appropriate).

  • Freestyle(in this form all of the listed methods are combined; when completing the distance, the swimmer independently chooses a convenient method of moving in the water).

I would also like to determine from the above varieties which swimming style is faster. I won’t beat around the bush – this is a crawl. Using this technique of movement in water, you can cover impressive distances in a short period of time.

However, I note that the athlete also gets tired quickly. To swim crawl, you need excellent physical fitness and, of course, a healthy body.

Important clarification: “Swimming is a complex of characteristic actions of an athlete that comply with certain rules.

Well, to put it simply, the swimmer’s body must be in the water without support (suspended state), in a horizontal position, while the exhalation is invariably longer than the inhalation. It is precisely these criteria that explain the intricate terminology.” ?

Contraindications for swimming

Swimming is deservedly considered one of the safest types of physical activity. Everything is explained by the beneficial effects of water on the human body. However, even for health-improving techniques, there are a number of contraindications that prohibit patients from visiting the pool:

  • Congenital heart defects or other genetic pathologies.
  • Dangerous stages of tuberculosis and syphilis.
  • Disturbances in the functioning of internal organs that do not exclude the risk of bleeding.
  • Severe intestinal upset.
  • Damage to joints (dislocations, bruises and other injuries).
  • Acute renal, cardiac or liver failure.
  • Infection with viral infections (ARVI).
  • Skin diseases involving purulent and inflammatory processes.
  • Anatomical anomalies that make it impossible to fully move in water.
  • Observation of allergic reactions.
  • Epilepsy.
  • Predisposition to seizures.
  • Susceptibility to fever.

As you may have noticed, the list contains mainly chronic diseases accompanied by inflammatory processes or severe disruptions in the functioning of internal organs. In general, swimming is prohibited only in severe cases.

Friends, be sure to keep in mind that a swimming pool is a public place where there is a variety of harmful microbes and other microorganisms. Remember that neglecting the above norms is unjustified risk.

Did you know: “It is always important to be proactive about the condition of your pool water. Don’t be lazy and be sure to regularly check with the complex workers about the concentration of chlorine in the liquid.

It is this chemical element that is used to disinfect water. By the way, such a procedure is prescribed directly in sanitary standards.

So that’s what I’m getting at, excessive concentrations of chlorine negatively affect health – swimmers experience severe allergic reactions, experience diarrhea, and have problems with skin, nails and hair.”

If any of the Start-health subscribers have already tried various swimming styles through personal experience, then be sure to share your feelings with us!

Friends, perhaps you can help blog visitors make their choice by advising on the optimal type of movement in the water.

Still have questions about types of swimming? We will be happy to answer them. If you have already noticed, we are always happy to have a lively conversation in the comments! ?

And here are a few more forgotten swimming styles. It turns out that I am swimming in small steps. ?

Unfortunately, it's time to say goodbye! See you soon, bye!

Swimming is one of the oldest sports that allows you to get in shape and strengthen your muscles, improve blood flow and relax.

There are several sports swimming styles, but the most famous of them is breaststroke.

They differ radically in execution technology, involve different muscle groups, and are also used for different purposes. What to choose for swimming – crawl or breaststroke?

Let's look at these techniques and try to answer this question.

Crawl is the fastest way to swim, because due to the technique of its execution, the resistance of the water is felt by the swimmer to be minimal, and the uniform work of the right and left sides of the body allows you to increase speed as quickly as possible.

Currently, at almost all freestyle competitions, athletes choose the crawl.

Described in detail in a separate article. Briefly considered, it is as follows:

  • Man lying on his chest rows alternately with the right and then with the left hand and at the same time works with his legs, raising and lowering them.
  • During swimming, the swimmer's face is turned down, but simultaneously with one of the strokes with his hands, he turns his head towards the “working” hand and inhales.
  • As for - you always need to release air only into the water, and inhale - at the moment when the hand just begins the stroke, that is, it rises above the surface from the pelvis. You can inhale both on each stroke, and after 1,3, 5, etc. It is important to always start inhaling on one side so as not to disrupt the breathing rhythm.

Externally it looks like this:

There is also such a thing as back crawl or backstroke - in this case, a person performs all the same movements, but lying on his back, in addition, the strokes are carried out with straight, rather than bent, arms, and much less attention is paid to breathing control. In this case, the main work is performed by the pectoral muscles, latissimus dorsi, deltoid and calf muscles.

Brief description of the Brass technique

Breaststroke is another style of competitive swimming in which the swimmer works with arms and legs parallel to the plane of the water, and does it symmetrically, not alternately. Breaststroke is also swam on the front, but is the slowest style.

The execution technique is as follows:

  • The person is on his chest, his hands are lowered into the water, separated from each other (each in his own direction) and perform simultaneous stroke, after which they bend at the elbows, almost press themselves against the body and return to the starting position - in front of them.
  • At the moment of the leg stroke are starting to catch up, and then, almost simultaneously with the return of the hands to the position in front of you, make a push.
  • When swimming breaststroke, you should breathe at the stage of completing the arm stroke, when the bent elbows move towards the body, at this moment it is most convenient and effective to raise your head and take in air. It is recommended to inhale with each stroke, but you can do this less often, but be sure to maintain the pace (always after 1 stroke, always after 2, etc.).

It looks like this:

What is the difference?

Between these two styles there is There is only one similarity - they are both performed on the stomach, in everything else they are very different, ranging from execution technique to the use of different muscle groups.

The crawl technique involves constant muscle work in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the water, which allows you to develop the highest possible speeds.

In breaststroke, on the contrary, almost all movements occur in water; the swimmer has to constantly overcome the additional resistance of its molecules, which is why he will not be able to move as fast.

You can also notice that those who swim crawl move continuously, constantly generating acceleration.

With breaststroke, the cycle of movements takes a certain time, after which the person slides on the surface of the water on the acceleration obtained from the stroke with the arms and the push with the legs. This makes it possible to compensate for the energy spent on overcoming the resistance of the water, and ultimately the swimmer is not overloaded.

Important difference also consists of the muscle groups involved: when crawling, the main working tool is the muscles of the shoulders, arms and back, and when breaststroke – the shoulders, chest and legs.

Benefits of crawling

Crawl is the fastest swimming style, so if you want to become a professional swimmer, it is definitely better to master it.

Despite the fact that it is more difficult to learn (read more about learning), thanks to additional tools (for example, swimming boards) you can quickly get into the process.

Training in this technique is also endurance training., since the cycle of movements is continuous, but also because of this, as well as the characteristics of its execution, it is very difficult for them to move underwater. allow you to develop the muscles of the shoulder girdle, rectus and vastus lateralis muscles.

Benefits of breaststroke

Breaststroke is considered an easier style in terms of physical activity., which is suitable for both sports and everyday swimming.

If you do not dream of becoming an Olympic champion and do not set time goals, then this style will be the best choice. An interesting fact is that only breaststroke is intuitive, and even children who are just learning to swim quite quickly begin to move as needed, and therefore get results.

Technical correctness of execution plays a slightly less important role here than in freestyle - only the correct movements of the head neck when breathing are important (it is important to always lower your head back into the water after inhaling, so as not to keep the cervical spine in constant tension).

Breaststroke allows you not only to move long distances with minimal effort, but also to swim freely underwater. You won't be able to dive as effectively with any other style.

Since this style largely depends on inertial movement after pushing the legs, the main muscles that will work here are the leg muscles (rectus and quadriceps femoris, adductors, gluteal and calf muscles). When working with your hands, the deltoid muscles of the shoulder girdle and pectoral muscles are also involved.

Which is healthier?

Medicine and sports science do not have a clear answer to this question.

From a therapeutic point of view the same both of these swimming styles are useful, but they can be recommended in accordance with the patient’s goals and wishes, as well as medical diagnoses.

For example, it is important for a person with scoliosis to strengthen his back muscles, which means he should devote as much time as possible to freestyle, backstroke or butterfly.

The crawl is especially good because the body is almost straight minimizes stress on the spine, but at the same time allows you to train nearby muscles.

If we consider breaststroke through the prism of medical opinion, then it is ideal for both beginner swimmers and people with poorly developed limbs (elderly or people with disabilities or consequences of injuries) and pregnant women. Intense leg movements not only develop the muscles of the lower half of the body, but also stimulate blood supply to the pelvic organs.

Simply put, choosing a priority swimming style directly depends on a person’s physical fitness and his goals, it is impossible to make an unambiguous choice without analyzing the entire situation. But there are a number of expert theories and opinions that the program of any sport should be balanced for a person.

Thus, there will be less benefit from using only one swimming style than from using several in combination.

If we take the leg muscles as an example, then for maximum usefulness in everyday life it is better to develop both the hips and lower legs, this will allow you to walk long distances and perform physical exercises with endurance and repetition.

The same applies to all other muscles - it is always better to develop them together than to perform exercises on only one group. This approach allows you to develop the whole body at the same time, without overloading it. When it comes to swimming, this means that the optimal approach is to alternate swimming styles during each session.

Focusing on one style can be justified by high sporting goals - for example, breaking the world record for the 100-meter freestyle, but for most people this is not relevant, and training only one style can easily overwork or strain the muscles.

Rotation from one style to another

As we have already understood, alternating styles will bring the most effective results, but few people know that you can change one for another not only by starting a new swim from the side.

You can change one style to another right in the middle of the “path” of the pool - usually this is done for relaxation, when the muscles are tired from the same type of work.

How to switch from front crawl to breaststroke: complete the stroke and position yourself so that your body is in a straight line and your arms are in front. From there you can start breaststroke movements - a stroke with your arms and a push with your legs.

If, on the contrary, you want to turn the breaststroke into the crawl, then after a whole cycle of movements (stroke with arms, inhalation and push with legs), you need to take the same straight pose with your hands in front of you and begin the transition to the crawl with an arm stroke.

Breaststroke hand crawl

There is also a mixed style of swimming, in which hands make a stroke breaststroke, A legs work in the crawl style.

This method of swimming is sometimes also called “applied breaststroke”.

This is one of the possible options for teaching children to swim, especially preschool children.

The point is that it is still difficult for young children to master the crawl with its difficult breathing, but, on the other hand, it is no less difficult to master the breaststroke kicks, which are technically difficult for adults.

Because children first with a swimming board taught to work with legs crawl, and then, when the child floats on the water and can swim like an arrow using his legs - his teach breaststroke.

Swimming training for adults can be based on a similar scheme.

At the same time, this style should still be considered not as an independent swimming style, but as intermediate step on the way to full crawl and breaststroke.

Conclusion

Swimming is one of the most comfortable and useful sports, since it stimulates muscles, normalizes breathing, but at the same time, the likelihood of injuring yourself or getting a sprain, and, especially, a bruise or fracture, is close to zero. Thanks to this, swimming is not only a sport, but also an excellent therapy for many diseases of muscles and joints, as well as problems with blood supply.

Swimming can be equally beneficial for both adults and children, but remember that if you have serious health problems, you should consult a specialist before going to the pool.

If you don’t know how to swim and are afraid of water, then any sports complex has its own personal trainers who will help you stop being afraid and also teach you the basics of swimming, after which you can practice on your own.