Swim !

It was 2nd July i entered the pool the first time. Been going there everyday since then, couldnt get the "water feel " only till few days ago. All this started when Stupe http://opstupe.blogspot.com and i had this conversation via email...read on..the chest press part was the key

From:
Lim Ee-Van (opstupe@gmail.com)
Sent:
Friday, 25 Jul, 2008 11: 24 AM
To:
barath kumar (barath_k@hotmail.com)
practice bro...i also need to get abck into the water soon. :( swimming is not like cycling...if u dun do it, u forget!
On Fri, Jul 25, 2008 at 11:17 AM, barath kumar <barath_k@hotmail.com> wrote:
yeap, it makes sense.....guess i'll just have to keep trying till i get it.....
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:15:23 +0800
From: opstupe@gmail.comTo: barath_k@hotmail.comSubject: Re: swim
bro..your head and chest should be inline...if done correctly, u will just be right at the top of the water surface. :) u only turn to breathe..and that rolling action will automatically make u come up for air...and u won't get fatigue on the neck like how u first say u kena.
:)

make sense?
On Fri, Jul 25, 2008 at 11:11 AM, barath kumar <barath_k@hotmail.com> wrote:
ok, kinda getting the see-saw part. but then my head sink leh...it will be underwater...shouldnt the head, just some part of the top part should be above water??? aiyah....have to swim with u guys someday soon la....
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:01:24 +0800
From: opstupe@gmail.comTo: barath_k@hotmail.comSubject: Re: swim
don't worry, i've been swimming with the wrong technique for years until last year i got a few pointers to tweak it
:)

use the lane underwater as a guidance for ur hand...if u aim ur hand towards the lane on both left and right, rest assured u hand will be straight and u will roll, that is the most important thing as rolling will make u go faster and more efficiently (initially u will feel pening la)

as to how to press the chest down...
ok, imagine this, you lie down a chair with ur tummy acting as the pivot (like see-saw). what is happening now is that ur upper body is high, so ur leg drop into water, creating drag. but if u push ur chest, ie the front of the see saw down, ur leg will raise, isn't it?

get it now?
On Fri, Jul 25, 2008 at 10:54 AM, barath kumar <barath_k@hotmail.com> wrote:
still have no clue of how to press the chest...yeap, got lanes underwater, at the floor... still trying to get right technique, ask people in the pool, but seems that everyone has a different style of swimming... i'm still learning, worried if i learn and get used to the wrong technique then if would be difficult to change later on...
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:46:42 +0800
From: opstupe@gmail.comTo: barath_k@hotmail.comSubject: Re: swim
bro..

pres the chest down as in not literally press ur chest with ur hand la...but push it towards the bottom of the swimming pool...get it?when u push ur chest down, your legs also will go up automatically.

no rope/lane, but under water, got line?

yes....that is right.

yes, that is right too.

perfect the techniquie first...then go for speed.
:)

my breaststroke is faster than my freestyle. :) but freestyle let me conserve more energy for the bike. so, i mis lor...

On Fri, Jul 25, 2008 at 10:40 AM, barath kumar <barath_k@hotmail.com> wrote:
1.how to press the chest ar ???2.The pool over here doesnt have any lanes/ropes set up to separate the swimmers.3. About the arm extention, learned that it should be fully extended/straight in front of the head (meaning if look straight, should see the hand straight in front) understand????4.When pulling the water, the elbow must do down, it would be better if the elbow actually stays in same position or go slightly higher. watch this, please review... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz27aYIY-SM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENgIRfj1l4c&feature=related
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:26:56 +0800From: opstupe@gmail.comTo: barath_k@hotmail.comSubject: Re: swim
Bro. 1.5k in 30 minutes for someone like me that has been racing for 4 to 5 years is SLOW. :P

freestyle use a lot of upper body. kicking is minmal, just to balance the body.

the trick to be fast is to ensure your legs are straight and not sinking down...how to do it is to press your chest into the water, automatically the leg will raise. :)

Also, don't bother about the S-shaped motion of your hand, those are ol skool. just make sure your hand are straight under the water...

if ur in the swimming pool, swim between 2 lanes..meaning you swim right in the middle with the two lines under the water on yoru left and right...

what u do is eveytime you hand reach out, make sure you are like touching the lines...that would make your hand open wide like kangkang...

but trust me, that is the correct way!

:P

On Fri, Jul 25, 2008 at 10:18 AM, barath kumar <barath_k@hotmail.com> wrote:
how u swim 1.5k in 30 minutes??????I was at the pool yesterday, was doing my newly learned freestyle, thought i was fast, then i look at my side, one guy doing breaststroke, nicely going pass me..how leh ???in freestyle, u use more of the leg power or the arms that do all the work ?the legs kicks just to balance the body ??


I also have to give credit to a 50++ year old guy that i met at the pool the same day i've wanted to try out the chest press down. The advice was damn simple, dont look forward, just look down and eventually u will reach the other end of the pool. And guess what, his advice was really great !!
Tiba-tiba, i was doing multiple laps non stop, only that i was much slower la...
But the key thing, i now know what it means to have the "water feel" and it feels great.