Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-07-15


BY LOUIS De 3. HANDLEY.
Copyright, 1915, BY American Press
Associsticn.)
1t is to be regretted that swimming
on the back is so much neglected In
this country. The average bather sci
dom gives It thought and seems sat
isfied with any old stroke. while the
number of racing men competing in
the very few events held at this style
of natstion is conspicuously small
Yet swimming on the back is not
only an essential feature Of the life
savers art, but an excellent means OF
physical development and a speedy
and comfortable method of aquatic pro
gression. A correct back stroke car
ries along 1T good pace and can be
sustained over the distances. Fur
thermore, other muscles are brought
into play than those used in free style
swimming, so that considerable energy
can be saved by resorting to it at in
tervals in covering long courses.
whether for pleasure or in competi-
ticn.
Several forms OF back stroke are at
the disposal Of the swimmer. He may.
in fact, adopt the movements of the
breast stroke, trudgeon, crawl and
trudgeon-crawl, changing only to the
extent OF meeting the requirements OF
the altered position of the body.
The double over arm, better known
as the English racing stroke. Is prae-
tically an inverted breast stroke. The
arms start from down alongside and
sweep upward in recovery hands
passing over the middle Of the body
then straighten above the head, dip
with palms turned outward, catch the
water firmly and drive down to the
thighs with strong. even pull, straight
at the elbow, hands slightly cupped.
fingers close together, thumbs upper
most, performing half circle just be.
low the surface.
The legs open with a downward and
outward movement, so that the knees
will not rise above water, then snap
upward and inward vigorously. This
gives double impetus to the drive, for
both the upward swing of feet and
shins and the energetic closing Of the
legs afford propulsion.
The opening of the legs should be-
gin as the arms start in recovery, so
that the snap together may be made
as socn as the arms attain full reach
above the head. During the arm pull
the legs trail on the surface, stretched
out and relaxed, with feet close and
pointing back, as in standing on tip
toe. Particular attention should be
paid to opening the legs very slowly,
as the movement is a negative one OF
resistance.
II is possible to use a narrow scis-
sor kick or crawl thrash with HE
stroke instead of the frog kick, but
these drives adapt themselves far bet
ter to an alternate action of the arms,
The back trHdgeon, crawl and trudg.
eon-crawl all call for this alternate
arm pull, and the difference between
them is merely one OF kick. though
1t is advisable to roll little more
heavily in the trudgeon and trudgeon-.
and more effective direction In per.
forming the narrow scissor prescribed.
In all three strokes the arms follow
one another equidistantly namely, as
one enters the water to drive the
other should be leaving it in recovery.
Both perform the same movements.
from alongside, going up over
the body bent at the elbow, then
catching as the body rolls and whip
ping down vigorously to the hips, com.
fortably extended.
Leading authorities advocate com.
paratively short reach on the plea that
II the arms are fully outstretched the
are subjected to unnecessary
strain, and there is also loss of time
and energy, for the first part Of the
drive is then made outward, and the
applied pressure throws the swimmer
sideways instead of pushing him
ahead.
In combining the scissor kick of the
trndgeon with his arm stroke it is not
possible to make it quite horizontal,
rs the body does not roll sufficiently,
30 the opening should be adjusted ac-
cordingiy that the legs may remain
entirely submerged End find the want.
I'd leverage.
In swimming the back crawl the
egs move up and down alternately and
continuously at whatever speed is suit.
I'd to the resources Of the individual
md the distance to be covered. The
rhythmic thrashes consist Of two, four
md six beats to each complete stroke
II the two arms, like in the true crawl,
md it must be left to the swimmer to
experiment and discover which best
its his natural characteristics.
II is still claimed by many that the
back crawl can be used only for sprint