Breaststroke is a swimming stroke that involves a specific body position, leg action, arm action, breathing, and timing. Here’s a breakdown of each component:
Body position: The breaststroke body position involves lying flat on the front with the head facing down, arms extended forward, and legs straight behind. The body should be streamlined and the head should be in a neutral position.
Leg action: The leg action in breaststroke is known as the “frog kick.” This involves bending the knees and bringing the heels towards the buttocks, then kicking the legs outwards and backwards in a circular motion. As the legs kick outwards, the feet should be turned outwards, and as they kick backwards, they should be turned inwards. The legs should remain close together throughout the kick.
Arm action: The arm action in breaststroke involves bringing the arms forward and then out to the sides in a sweeping motion. As the arms sweep outwards, they should bend at the elbows and the hands should turn outwards. The hands should then sweep inwards towards the chest, and the arms should be extended forward again to complete the stroke.
Breathing: Breathing in breaststroke is done during the recovery phase of the arm stroke. As the arms sweep outwards, the swimmer takes a breath, and then exhales underwater as the arms sweep inwards. The swimmer can also take additional breaths during the stroke, but these should be timed carefully so as not to disrupt the overall timing of the stroke.
Timing: The timing of breaststroke is critical for efficient swimming. The arm stroke and leg kick should be synchronized so that the arms finish sweeping outwards just as the legs finish kicking outwards. This allows for maximum propulsion through the water. The timing of the breathing should also be coordinated with the arm stroke, so that the swimmer takes a breath during the recovery phase of the arm stroke. Overall, the timing of breaststroke should be smooth and fluid, with each component flowing seamlessly into the next.
