The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-01-13
CHIEF STROKES
IN SWIMMING
Explanation of Crawl and Side
Strokes Which May Be
Easily Learned.

Perhaps the most healthful recrea-
ton and one of the most pleasant Is
is close to nature and one of the most
easily acquired. AS a means of re-
creation and for bodily development Ii
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 called 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 a disastrous effect
to the ignorant.
Besides swimming, water games are
taking a 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 others 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
universally adopted by island inhabi-
tants. Before beginning the side
stroke 1t would be better for begin
ners to gain confidence by thoroughly
getting at home In the water.
Supposing the learner to be lying on
his right side, his first movement Is
| to place the left hand as far advanced
as possible, the thumb being frightened
over the forefinger to form a kind OF
scoop to enable the swimmer I'm the
next movement to get good grip or
the water, the right hand being held
at the breast and the legs opened as
wide as possible. This is movement
No /. The next movement, No. 2. Is
to bring the left hand sharply past
water in so doing, throwing IL back
to it's 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
| AS the left arm Is pulled back, the
legs are brought sharply together, the
swimmer taking care to use the NAT
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 1t is undoubtedly the most
pleasant and graceful method of swim
ming. 49,.
| 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
| Cayille 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
/ learn To learn the crawl stroke the
swimmer lays on his stomach, throws
| his head and hands well forward ana
/ 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
p, possible and should not be separated
more than six inches. care should be
! taken to keep the feet as fat with the
water as possible: the fat 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
/ be turned out of the water to the side
every four or five strokes and deep
breath taken. The swimmer should
blow out while under water. Any
swimmer who masters the crawl stroke
can Increase his speed 20 to 30 seconds
on 100 yards. ..s nua
"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"