Breaststroke Kick

There are different names with which one can refer to the breaststroke kick. One of the other commonly used name is the frog kick. From this name a person should not be under the impression, that a person kicks like a frog, when he is doing this kick. When doing this kick, it is important to be well versed with the finer nuances of it, so that you are able to derive maximum benefits of swimming. Although it is an easy kick, most people find it difficult, for they are not taught the right technique. The tips mentioned below will be of help, if you wonder how to teach this swimming technique.

Breaststroke Kick Technique

The breast stroke kick is one of the four official styles, which are included in competitive swimming. It is also the slowest of all the styles. The fastest speed at which one can swim with this style is 1.57 meters every second. However, most swimmers will agree that although it is a simple kick, mastering the kick is the most difficult. These days a lot of trainers have started teaching this kick after the wards have mastered the butterfly. This is because it is important to master the timing and coordination of the legs properly. Having said that, let's turn towards the breaststroke technique.

To master this kick, you should first know the right method to use the legs. Often it is seen, that a lot of people use the top of their feet to kick, however this is an illegal method. One must make use of the sole of the foot. You may want to take up some ankle exercises, which will help you with more flexibility and you will have a better kick. You may practice this, by sitting on the edge of the pool. The aim of this movement is to push water away from the wall.

After having learned to push water away with the sole of your foot, this is the next step. Sit on the edge of the pool. Bring the right leg out of water, bend the knee such that the heel of the right leg is closer to the butt. Now gradually turn the toes of the right foot towards your right, however, there should be no movement in your hips or your knee. Now, using the sole, push the leg straight away from the wall. When you are doing this there is no movement in the knee and it stays aligned with the shoulders. When you are kicking the sole of the right foot will face forward and at the end it will face left. After you are done with the kick, you will realize that at the end of the kick both the feet clap together. When you are new to the technique, it is best to do this breaststroke drill only with one leg. After you are done with the right leg, repeat the same with the left leg as well. When you are comfortable, you can start doing the same with both the legs simultaneously. A lot of people often ask, want to improve this kick, but they do not repeat the drills for the same as regularly as they should.

Now we will see the complete breaststroke swimming stroke. One of the first and most important of the breaststroke tips is to remember that the movement of the hands and feet is in a streamlined position. During the entire breaststroke workout, the body is in level with water. The movement of the hands is in a circular motion, starting off slowly and then picking up speed, where the elbows are placed in front of the shoulders. When you dive in and the hips are moving ahead the hands begin the in-sweep of the circular motion. At this time the head is up, while the feet make a quicker movement towards the buttocks. When the swimmer is at the flat style prayer position, he is at the height of the stroke, where the shoulders move into a shrug movement. The start of the kick is when the head of the swimmer goes ahead and then down. It is important to note, that the elbows are always closer to the surface of water during the entire duration of the stroke. The palms of the hand face the flooring of the pool and the sole of the feet are clasped together. The start of the next stroke is in the streamline position.

After you have mastered the kick, you can go onto learn backstroke flip turn. Just a quick tip, before I close this article, is not to overemphasize the pushing of the entire torso out of water, as it will waste a lot of energy and the swimmer will be very tired.