The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-01-15
CHIEF STROKES
{ IN SWIMMING

Peri1aps 1.-The most healthful reerea-
ton and one Of the most pleasant is
swimming. Swimming is sport that
is close to nature and one of the most
easily acquired. AS means of re-
creation and for bodily development It
is the exercise par excellence. there
being no other form of exercise that
tends to more develop the symmetry
of the body and add more to health
and pleasure when properly INDUCED
in.
No one knows when he or she may
be calied-upon for a practical test in
their knowledge of the art of natation.
and when such emergency arises the
knowledge of swimming is very oft
times lacking with disastrous effect
to the ignorant.
Besides swimming, water games are
taking more prominent place each
year in the curriculum of sports.
THE SIDE STROKE.
The fastest stroke in water today is
the crawl stroke, and the easiest and
most graceful is the side stroke.
The position Of the body in the water
when swimming the side stroke is the
one position Of all otherss that offers
the least resistance to the water.
The entrance is made with the head
and followed with one shoulder only.
1t is the most pleasant and elegant
method of swimming and is almost
universally adopted by island inhabi-
tants. Before beginning the side
stroke it would be better for begin
ners to, gain confidence by thoroughly
gettingi at home in the water
Surprising the learner to be lying on
his right side, his first movement is
to place the left hapd as far advanced
as possible, the thumb being frightened
over the forefinger to form kind of
scoop to enable the swimmer in the
next movement to get a good grip Of
the water, the right hand being held
at the breast and the legs opened as
wide as possible. This is movement
No. l. The next movement, No. 2, is
to bring the left hand sharply past
the breast, getting a good hold of the
water in so doing, throwing it back
to its full extent, the right arm being
shot straight forward, palm down.
wards, taking great care not to allow
any part to come out of the water,
but to be just beneath the surface.
legs are brought sharply together, the
swimmer taking care to use the fiat
part of his feet as propellers as much
as possible. Neither legs nor arms
should be seen out of the water, and
with the finish of these movements,
the arms and legs should be allowed
to remain at perfect rest for an in
slant before again drawing up to for
mer position. This pause allows the
swimmer to gain full advantage of his
stroke and enables him to take his
breath comfortably.
The side stroke is the most difficult
to learn, but when proficiency is
achieved it is undoubtedly the most
pleasant and graceful method of swim
ming.
THE CRAWL STROKE.
The third and fourth illustrations
show the crawl stroke, discovered by
Richard Caville, holder of worlds
championship records for all distances
from 100 yards to one mile. Richard
Caville is instructor of the Olympic
Club at San Francisco.
THE crawl stroke said Professor
Caville. lis the fastest stroke used by
swimmers today, and the easiest to
iVoiH " am bHt SlaNl Sllohc Tic
swimmer lays on his stomach, throws
his head and hands well forward and
in the water. With the hands he
should execute the ordinary double
overland stroke, and the feet should
be moved up and down as rapidly as
possible and should not be separated
more than six inches. care should be
taken TO keep the feet as fiat with the
water as possible; the fiat part of the
feet in contact with the water gives
the swimmer greater force. The body
and legs should be kept as rigid as
possible. To breathe the head should I
be turned out of the water to the side
every four or five strokes and a deep
breath taken. The swimmer should !
blow out while under water. Any
swimmer who masters the crawl stroke
can increase his speed 20 to 80 seconds
on 100 yards.
THE first thing to do before at :
tempting the crawl stroke is to learn
to float on the stomach with the face
under water, remaining that way 10
TO Is seconds. After this is mastered
the beginner should learn the double
overland stroke without the use of the
feet and after proficiency is attained
In this the feet may be used"
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EpFAES yyETr M CHANpRn