Freestyle

We started learning freestyle this morning. We watched video first, instructor summarized some key points after video show, then we jumped into (really) COLD water to practice. We drilled separate movement for each hand. I feel I did it better if I don't combine both hands movement together. But according to instructor, my elbows are still low when moving arm from back to forth above water. I am going to do more practice on this. I will try using one arm to go 50 yards and another arm back. I will try to do 4-5 laps tomorrow before I try to combine both hands movement together.

Today I made dramatic progress on flutter kick. I kick with board and head above water. First time, I just did what I used to do, and it took 3'09". Then I tried to think what was wrong with my movement. I watched a swimming instruction video clips during the weekend, and the instructor in the video said the kick movement start from hip, upper leg and then lower leg to toes, similar to trying to kick a soccer using back of foot. When I stand in the water, I try to do the kicking, thinking I am kicking a soccer and feel the water interact my moving foot. Then I started to time one lap flutter again, head up and same as the first time. This time, I shortened my time and finished 100 yard in 2'54". I never ever have done it within 3 minute. I was exciting. While resting at side, I kicked water like kicking soccer to remember the movement and feeling. Later I did flutter kick a 100 yards 3 times, the times are 2'50", 2'44" and 2'50" respectfully. I feel I can probably reach under 2'30" sometime with more practice.

A good website for learning swimming