New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-22
"A NEW CRAWL STROKE
CuIman, of Columbia, Evolves
Way to Increase Speed.
TO BENEFIT SPRINTERS
Gets Better Results Through
More Even Rhythm
While Swimming.

A type Of crawl swimming strok,
which appears TO have better features
than any variety now IN use has been
evolved by Fred Culmap. Of Columbia
University. one OF the most progressive
students OF the principles governing ma
tation. and n man who has the faculty oil
being able TO dssect and analyze the
many factors that must be considered IN
the production OF speed and endurance In
the water. He said in discussing the sub
iect with reporter OF The Tribune:
IT believe that the next few years Will
bring great improvements I'm the swim
ming stroke II must be evident TO any
one who watches closely the work OF even
our best racing men that the muscular
effort IS not equally distributed. or APP
piled. rather, in the different styles oi
trudgeon and crawl now obtaining In
the trudgeon the leg drive is taken WITH
the finish OF the upper ann, and the legs
trail inert while the under arm pulls.
In the crawl the great majority &C
centuate the thrash on one side or the
other. and I'm both strokes the body
does not travel on an even keel, breath
being taken right or Jeff, and the oppo-
site shoulder being submerged more.
81 am of the opinion that TO establish
the proper rhythm, which is necessary TO
attain hes: results, there must be perfect
balance of action. Hence | think swim
mers will not reach the limit of posi-
bility until they have adopted a stroke
I'm which the forces Of propulsion work AT
identical angles toward the centre line oil
progression.
81 have>worked out in theory the move
ments that I think will bring us closer to
the object in view. but. Of course, they
are based on the principles now accepted
which may change any day, for the whole
problem OF swimming has yet to be solved
"The arm action has been ably de-
veloped and the long reach. with elbo"
lifted and hand slightly spooned. seems
most effective. but | believe the body
should roll to the Same pitch on either
side and the shoulders dip evenly. TINS
could easily be done by breathing on
both sides and so attaining uniformity
To those who oppose the double roll
viii point out that the late b. Herman
OF Australia, a worlds champion far
ahead OF his time, breathed twice to every
stroke; inhalng over each shoulder
1.-THE leg drive that | advocate | have
seen used. II Is q six-beat thrash, timed
with the opposite arm. When the right
arm is pulling the legs take three beats
left-rieht-left, and three more when the
left arm pulls. spacing right-left-right
Here you have not only synchronous and
equally distributed rhythm. but perfect
balance for the leg drives are appor-
toned so as TO give the greater number
two to one-when tho opposite arm Is pro-
polling This six-beat drive ] consider
THEREFORE more efficient than the four-beat
one. which, while dividing equally the
effort. does not allow the legs TO counter
act the swing OF the body forced upon IT
by the arms.
Another thing that instructors don't pay
enough attention to is the slant OF the
body. A great many swimmers. and par
ticularly sprinters. hold tine shoulders and
head too low. The principle of hydro
planning should be carefully studied. II
gives valuable hints. The faster a man
moves in the water the more slant he
should show. The continuity OF the crawl
leg thrash affords far greater facility for
planning than did the scissor kick"