The Flutter Kick...

The flutter kick compliments the freestyle....as it is also known as the freestyle kick. This kick can be done either with both arms stretch to the front or even with a kick board. For beginners, we can start by supporting ourselves on the wall with shoulders and elbows above the water. See kids below...

Photo courtesy of learn2swim.com.my

How to do the flutter kick?

Video from expertvillage

• Firstly, lift both legs to almost the surface of the water by kicking softly (imagine paddling the bicycle)
  
• Then, stretch both legs straight to full length
• Start kicking by moving the each leg alternately, toes pointed and at the same time bending the knees to a very small degree (imagine the karate kick but with less pressure and height)
• Do not stiffen the ankles...kick continuously and control the amount of splash by simply kicking at a faster speed with smaller degree of knee bend
  

For smaller children, they may be taught to kick by sitting them at the edge of the pool and getting them to kick as though as they are kicking a ball in the water (it will be more encouraging to place a pool ball close to their feet) Kids learn faster when they think that you are playing with them....

This method of kicking may also be applied for backstroke. See sample video....

Video from expertvillage

Blow Bubbles

For anyone to be able to feel comfortable in the water is for them to be able to breathe normally as though as they are on land....other than being able to stand in the pool, of course!

However, breathing underwater is not the same as breathing on land...it's only a little bit different. Just imagine yourselves entering into an extremely smelly toilet. Most of us would hold our breaths and some of us even opt to breathe through our mouths.

This exact concept is used for breathing underwater. We inhale air from above water, hold it in the mouth, then exhale the air back into the water through the mouth...a little air may also come out through the nose during exhalation in the water. This process is then repeated to be able to breathe while swimming....while doing this, it may seem that we are blowing bubbles into the water. Thus, it makes it easier for kids to understand when we tell them to blow bubbles....

Some sources I found for teaching kids how to blow bubbles...can be applied to adults too...

Tips courtesy of eHow

Video from expertvillage

Video from expertvillage

Don't let your kids see this guy *laughs*....they may want to have that Tattoo too!

Strokes/Styles

This is what I've learned. The four basic strokes in swimming...

• Front crawl or more commonly known as the freestyle (also means that any style could be used, but of course the fastest to win in competitions)

Photo adopted from Swim City

• Breaststroke or more interestingly recognized by kids as froggy

Photo adopted from Swim City

• Backstroke where you lay on your back with eyes facing the sky (this is relaxing, but most assume that they could sink easily)

Photo adopted from Swim City

• Butterfly for it's name as both arms fly above the water simultaneously

Photo adopted from Swim City

First step to being comfortable in water....next on Come Swim....

The Pool...

What's to learn without a pool? It's just like learning to play a piano....no piano, no practice, no improvement, no results....

Been wanting to take photos of people swimming but thinking that I'll be invading people's privacy....so, can only post some photos of the pool that I swim in.

Will be posting on swimming strokes soon....do come back!