The Art Of Swimming - Containing Some Tips On: The Breast-Stroke, The Leg Stroke, The Arm Movements, The Side Stroke And Swimming On Your Back

William Henry

Description

This antiquarian volume contains a comprehensive and novice-friendly guide to swimming. With information on the breast-stroke, the leg stroke, the arm movements, the side stroke, and swimming on your back - this timeless guide is ideal for anyone with an interest in improving their swimming skills, and would make for a great addition to collections of vintage sporting literature. William Henry (1859 - 1928) was a British freestyle swimmer. He co-founded the 'Royal Life Saving Society' and won numerous national and European championships during his lifetime. Many vintage texts such as this - particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before - are increasingly hard to come by and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this book now, in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition. It comes complete with a specially commissioned new biography of the author.

Informations

• Publié par: Read Books Ltd.
• Date de parution: 06 août 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781528762908
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

THE ART OF SWIMMING
CONTAINING SOME TIPS ON: THE BREAST-STROKE THE LEG STROKE, THE ARM MOVEMENTS, THE SIDE STROKE AND SWIMMING ON YOUR BACK
BY
WILLIAM HENRY
Contents
THE BREAST-STROKE
THE LEG STROKE
THE ARM MOVEMENTS
THE COMPLETE SWIMMING STROKE
THE SIDE-STROKE
THE OVER-ARM SIDE-STROKE
THE TRUDGEON STROKE
SWIMMING ON THE BACK
UNDER WATER
THE ART OF SWIMMING
THE BREAST-STROKE
T HE movements which are necessary in order that a man may propel himself through the water are acquired. If they were natural, there would be no difficulty in learning, because they would be made instinctively, as with quadrupeds, who of course have to follow the ordinary laws of mechanics when they swim. The ease and velocity with which a dog can move through the water appear disproportionate to the means employed. This capability of swimming is common to most quadrupeds.
If a dog be taken as one of the best examples of a swimming quadruped, and his actions be watched, it will be found that his legs move in the same plane as when walking or running, and that the body is poised in the water as under ordinary circumstances on land, with the head projecting. The trunk being situated just above the legs, and balanced on them, the centre of gravity naturally falls immediately above the propelling power. When an animal which has never been immersed before is thrown into the water, it will immediately begin to swim-self-preservation, which is the first law of Nature, in the eternal fitness of things, compelling it to do the exact thing required under the circumstances.
Swimming must, however, be acquired by man, whose hands and feet are nevertheless so formed that they present a much greater surface to the water than those of most animals. Confidence may do much to ensure rapid mastery of the art, but confidence combined with a correct knowledge of the movements which facilitate floating with the head above water is more than doubly valuable.
There have been cases of persons finding themselves able to swim upon first going into the water, but they are altogether exceptional. Huet, Bishop of Avranches, in his Memoirs, states that, being accustomed like other boys to bathe several times a day in hot weather, it happened that he ventured into a stream without first trying its depth, and immediately sank to the bottom; but being roused to exertion by the urgency of danger, he struggled so hard with his hands and feet as to raise himself to the surface of the water, and then, finding that he possessed a faculty with which he was before unacquainted, he swam across a deep river on that very day. This little anecdote is mentioned by many writers, and Bucke in his Book of Human Character, after quoting it, says, How many thousands of men have been drowned in all parts of the world ! Nine in ten of these might have been saved had they possessed the force of character here described.
Such reflections may be of service to the moralist, but they are valueless to a teacher of swimming, who has to deal with the undoubted fact that, except in accidental and rare instances, all human beings have to learn swimming. They may learn to swim unconsciously, it is true, but all the same they have had to acquire the movements. Their legs being weighty, they cannot swim by using the ordinary methods of progression on land, and although some of the movements may not be unnatural, they are in any case new.
It is, therefore, essential that each portion of a swimming-stroke should be clearly explained, and its value demonstrated, so that the learner may gain a general idea of the various motions required to make a perfect swimmer. In pursuance of this view, we have decided to illustrate the movements by means of carefully prepared diagrams, and with as few words as possible, so as not to encumber the mind of the learner with too much description.
As before remarked, it is a common practice with writers on swimming to deal with the arm motions first; but, with due deference to their ideas, we intend to begin with the leg motions, because, without doubt, they are the most important movements in swimming, as nearly all the propelling power is obtained by means of the properly directed leg-kick. It is for this reason that we strongly advise the adoption of this, at present, little practised method of teaching. The leg movements should be taught first, rather than those of the arms; for, although swimming could not be carried out so effectually and easily without as with them, their propelling power is but slight compared with that of the legs. In fast swimming the arms should be used more for steering than for propelling; but it is necessary so to practise the art that all the limbs work harmoniously together, none impeding the progressive action of the other, and to succeed in this constant practice is needed.
It must not for one moment be imagined that proficiency in the land-drill will enable a pupil to swim as soon as he enters the water, but it will be of immense assistance to him, as the various actions will be known and naturally attempted. In order that the necessary confidence may be gained, the rope girdle should be used, or, in the case of a large class, a properly constructed belt, because then, instead of teaching each individual separately, the master may instruct a number at one time. The teacher should then repeat the exercises used in the land-drills; but in order that good results may follow, it is absolutely necessary that the practice should not be restricted, and that the pupil should have the opportunity of going through the exercises every day. A few lessons at short intervals are better than a number with long intervening periods. If there be a long interval the pupil is apt to lose much of the confidence gained at the preceding lesson; but if the teacher carry out his work systematically and scientifically, it should not be necessary for any pupil to have more than a dozen lessons in the water, and those who have plenty of pluck should be taught in far less time. When the pupil is once able to support himself for a few yards, great attention should be paid by him to the leg and arm movement, and then by constant practice he will gradually develop his speed powers. The secret of good swimming is briefly this-no power must be wasted, and progression must be obtained with as little resistance of the body to the water as possible. The propelling stroke of the arms must be compound, the legs and arms must act simultaneously, and their action be smooth and clean.