Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-07-13

| thrash, the heels at most to show over
the water, and the Australians them
selves have now become convinced OF
the superiority of the method
As to the number of downward
beats, 1t was here that we branched
of from the original stroke from the
very first. Not knowing of the syn,
chronous timing of arms and legs we
let the individual decide for himself
how many beats he could perform
to each. drive of the two arms, and
thereby discovered what Is now called
the American crawl,
The advantage derived from the
change will be realized. In using the
old kick it was necessary either to
leave the legs drag idly and lose mo-
mentum between arm drives, or so
speed up the movements of both arms
and legs to make the stroke exhaust
ing and untenable.
With the continuous thrash instead
the swimmer is able to make the arm
movements as slow as be pleases and
still utilize all the power in his legs
by increasing the number Of beats at
will.
The prevalent belief that there Is
no coordination between the arm and
leg movements Of the American crawl,
however, is unwarranted. True, our
best coaches tell their pupils not to
pay any attention to relative timing,
but this is because they know that as
swimmer gains proficiency he falls
naturally and unconsciously into the
rhythmic action made essential by the
correlation of the muscular system.
Thus. any one taking the trouble to
dissect the leg drives OF our success
full racing men will find them to con-
form with one Of three distinct types,
namely, the two beat, in which each
leg is lowered sharply as the opposite
arm pulls; the four beat, In which
each leg whips down twice to the
stroke Of the arms, and the six beat,
In which the legs go left, right, left
during the sweep Of the right arm and
right, left, right with the sweep Of
the left arm.
This marking of the time or rhythm
is quite noticeable in all good swim
mers and, when lacking, indicates that
there is some fault In the stroke.
1t is the opinion of competent judges
that the six beat thrash is the. most
effective not only because of its rapid
action, but also because it establishes
better balance of power Obviously,
though, it requires unusual strength
and suppleness or leg, and the average
individual will get best results from
the four beat, which is less firing.
One of the errors often incurred by
crawl swimmers is to bury the head
between the shoulders. Nothing is
gained by IL. On the contrary. strain
is placed on the muscles of the neck,
greater resistance is offered to the wa
ter in boring through it, and an I'M
necessary novels made to breathe.
In learning the crawl no difficulty
will be experienced by the pupil who
has. been taught to swim by means Of
the side stroke or elementary crawl,
for the action is practically the same.
Those, however, having served their
novitiate in the breast stroke school
should drop the frog kick altogether
and devote their every effort to the
leg thrash before even attempting to
master the arm movements. When
the whole stroke is attacked it is Inn
possible to pay the wanted attention
to the radical change of kick and the
swimmer hardly ever succeeds in get.
ting away from the lateral opening OF
the knees and the bringing up of the
thighs, which are prescribed features
OF the breast stroke and bad faults
in the crawl.
The easiest way to practise the
crawl thrash is either by stretching
out on the water and hanging on to
something or to assuming the same
position after DOMINIC floating device,
and hold the arms motionless. II is
well at first to not bend the knees
at all, workingsthe legs from the hips,
as the natural inclination OF a breast