Break Through with my Effortless Swimming

[HereBeADragon]

Last night during my practice I tried some new ideas that really elevated my swimming practice. I did my 400yds in about 10 minutes less time than it normally takes and didnt have to take a break or change my stroke throughout the session. I think I'm on to something with this. I'll try to describe this. I'm using something of a side stroke with this protocol, I begin on the right with a sharp exhale like the ones used in effortless running. I keep in this position and kick my legs until I have finished my exhale/inhale then go to a left side stroke holding my breath. I then repeat my right side stroke with the exhale/inhale while kicking my feet to keep momentum. Back and forth like this for 400yds. This is probably not a hugh departure for those who regularaly swim but I feel this has made a major difference in my swimming. Exciting progress for me.

[Coach Gostnell]

Just reading about it makes me want to try it. Alas, the gym I belong to now doesn't have a pool & the one that does wants like 15 bucks for just single visits... :cry:

[Joseph David]

Brian,
Nice variation. I would be carfull not to"hold" your breath and look for the controled puase at the bottom of exhalation.

Here is a description of a body flow type stroke that I came up with this summer. You might like it. Start in back stroke position. inhale as arm goes up/back. Pull with leading arm allow torso to rotate to face down to crawl. Exhale with compresion. As the next arm moves into the pull phase, pull and allow the torso to rotate to back position. Inhale arm up oppisite side, repeat. See if this drill can help you find the rest phase in each segment of the stroke.

enjoy

[HereBeADragon]

I see what your saying about the control pause in the breathing. I tried a variation of this where I exhaled and basicly did the same movement on each side. I found this to actually be very ineffective for swimming and ended up robbing me of a controlled breathing pattern. I use the breath hold because with this stroke it seems to help me actually keep something of a breathing tempo. When I do my exhale/inhale cycle on the right side I kick my legs to keep momentum, I them swing my left arm out to do the next stroke for which my face rolls through the water and back to the right stroke. The breaking pattern I am using very close to the pattern used in effortless running, exhale every 4th step. My pattern is right stroke, exhale/inhale while kicking my legs, followed by left stroke back to right and repeat exhale/inhale leg kick. I will try the method you developed too it sounds interesting. But the one I've found works very well for me. I think my best course of action is to try and refine this movement and see where it will take me. My current goal is to be able to swim a mile and last night when I used my pattern I felt like I could have done it. Very exciting to feel that strong even after a squat routine and a 400yd swim.

[Connie Brown]

This is very cool stuff. Thanks for posting, Brian.

When I read it I thought you had found a good place for your control pause. Are you saying that it's more a breath hold than a control pause? Just curious. I'm not a swimmer but I am interested in performance breathing which this is.

[Joseph David]

Sounds good Brian. As you go deeper it will only sophisticate and you'll try new thing. Lots of fun in the water!!

[HereBeADragon]

Connie yes its a controle pause I'm just used to associating holding the breath with swimming so I'm more inclined to use that term but yes its meant to be a controle pause on the left hand stroke.

[Ben Waddell]

Brian, just saw this thread today so I have no real idea where you are at with your swimming, but as a swimming enthusiast and instructor myself I couldn't help but offer this drill I give to adults who ask me about breathing when doing freestyle.

Level 1

Freestyle, but breathe on both sides every single stroke.

This gets them used to the idea of letting all of their air out before taking a new breath. If you follow the "body as bellows" concept from Be Breathed, the air will just flow back into your body if the lungs are empty and you relax the throat. This holds true even when swimming.

Level 2

Freestyle, breathe on every second stroke.

I'm not sure, but I think this is the stage you are currently at. However I know you mentioned holding your breath. As something to explore, try letting all your breath out by simultaneously using your mouth and nostrils and relaxing to let the air go. This is similar to a static drill in some ways as you are resetting the head each time before performing the same action.

Level 3

Freestyle, bi-lateral breathing, 1.2.Breathe.1.2.Breathe

Now try breathing every third stroke. This means you should rotate the side you are breathing on each time. For relaxed swimming this is about as efficient as it gets. The pause in between breaths where the body is aligned straight instead of twisted slightly for breathing lends a hydrodynamic pose to your swimming, much like a torpedo. There's less turbulence because the body is twisting less around the axis that runs from the top of your head to your toes, and the time spent without holding your breath, as you are constantly exhaling keeps you relaxed.

Level 4 and above

Basically, to progress from here is to enter a true Control Pause with your swimming practice. Exhale all of your air over the course of three strokes, and then progressively increase the number of strokes after this before you take the next breath. eg 4 strokes before breathing, 5, 6, etc. But the goal is to take strokes when you have no air.

Hope this helps. One of the most important things to do when swimming is to exhale and relax rather than hold the breath, as to move through the water you need to be supple and relaxed. Hope it goes well