HOW TO SWIM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13235, 21 July 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

HOW TO SWIM.

DESCRIBED BY ANNETTE KELLERMAN. [ .Miss Annette Kellekman", the famous lady swimmer, who last year made <*. gal-, lant attempt to swim the English Channel, gives in the New York -/American the following lucid- description of how to, swim, dive, and float: —

Too much cannot be written in favour of swimming as an exercise. What other form of exercise can you describe- to me that gives more general beneficial results? Practice in swimming secures a uniform development of the entire body, it brings every muscle into play, and gives strength to heart and lungs.

, Even ■; when it is necessary to resort to the tank for our swim it, is an exercise that is unsurpassed in its developing, health-giving results; but of course those, results are most fully secured fay a plunge in- the open air, with the sun bath follow- ! ing. \\, No medicine can prescribe equals that in, toning up the nerves and invigorating the whole system.

H And to learn to swim is so simple!: .'...' I have never yet found a girl or boy who could walk who could not learn to swim.

MAINLY, A,MATTER OF , PRACTICE.

.When I have once taught my pupil that she can keep her body afloat in thus water I count my work more than half done. After that it is a mere question of practice, -of adding step by step to the lesson gained until, almost unconsciously, she has become an expert swimmer, and has acquired an art that will give continued pleasure throughout her life.

There are some who learn to swim in deep water, but, I advise m readers to ■begin m; water that is not over the learner's shoulders. The most favourable place is still water, 'with a shelving beach, where the learner can walk out until the water is breast high. - Then, turning toward the bank or shore, she. can, : with slight support from a friend's hand, lie prone oil the water and begin the practice of 'first stroke. >'

' This stroke is the. breast stroke. The arms are extended in front of the body, withy the > palms joining. At the word '' One", they are spread wide apart, .as far as they will go, with the palms turning backward. /At the word "Two" hands are brought together again beneath the breast, and :at the word "Three" they are again extended in front of the body as they were at first, and the stroke is repeated. > . : While this movement of the hands and arms is made, there is a-, simultaneous and similar movement of the legs. ■;: They are extended together as are the arms in front. At the word "One" they make the same movement as '; the arms; at* the word " Two" they are drawn up, with bending knees, and at the word 'Three" they are again. extended with a strong backward kick, the feet coming together : again as they were before the stroke was begun; Before entering the water this stroke with arms and legs can be practised on. a piano stool, box, or other article that will support the body and leave.free play to the limbs. ',

HOW TO BREATHE • WHEN" SWIMMING. » And at this point I teach my pupils how to breathe. Now., in swimming, nothing can be of greater importance than correct breathing. j Nothing else so clearly marks the difference between the strong, regular swimmer ; who can keep up ■ stroke after stroke, without tiring, and almost indefi- ; nitely, and the feeble swimmer who soon becomes "' winded" and whose stroke quickly becomes, jerkyand feeble, as does the way in which he breathes. ;

:> In walking or in other exercise it is cus;tomary to breathe through the nose, and to exhale through the mouth. In swimming we do the exact opposite. Wo should take a ; quick,■ deep , breath through the mouth, ';■ and sloavlv exhale it. through? the nose. This should be done with each stroke. ; The second.stroke you should learn after you have mastered the '-. breast stroke; and can swim about freely is the underhand side stroke.

Usually the swimmer lie?, on the right side,* but either side that comes most natural ; wilrte best.

; - If the swimmer lies on the left side, the right ■■'arm is extended forward ; fust under the surface of the water, while the left v arm is stretched backward beside the body. ' The legs are extended, backward, with* ; the >heel of the right, foot; against the instep of the left. . .

The stroke is begun by drawing the right hand backAvard and downward until the hand is directly below' the right side. Simultaneously the \ left hand is "thrust forward beneath the; surface of the water until it is in front of the swimmer's; face, while the legs; are drawn toward the bodv. but ; stretched apart, the right knee' a little nearer to the surface of the water than is : tJi^}eft^^;:S;'.k';;;--.;V;-;v;:.;;';;■■■■; \-^'p-.>:•;.y.-.h

With the second movement the right hand is brought forward, extending full length front of the swimmer, while the. left sweeps;backward beneath the surface. Simultaneously : the legs are kicked backward and brought together again to their original position. " THE SIDE STROKE IS EASIER. In swimming long distances this side stroke is found much easier than the breast stroke, as "the body lies more comfortably in the water, the breathing is done with lesu difficulty, and there is less resistance of chest and body. '* , The overhand stroke is a. : faster stroke than the breast or the underhand strokes. and, together,, with the overhand breast stroke, is generally; used by contestants in swimming races.. ; - .;.-

At the beginning of the overhand side stroke the body lies on either side, the arms in the same position as at the " beginning of the underhand side stroke. The lower aria is swept downward toward the thigh, the palm of the hand turned down, with closed fingers. Then the hand is quickly turned palm upward so that it cuts the water sideAA'ise as it hi raised above the surface,! and the! arm is thrust foi*ward, the palm again turning down as the . band reaches- its position in front of the head. !

V: At this moment the uppcrhand stroke is started. !' Beginning about six inches in front of the face,with palm turned : down, the arm, slightly bent as it enters the water, is swept backward close to the body. When the upper arm is : about opposite'/ the shoulder ;, as it clea.ves the water the,, legs should open for the leg stroke, the kick should be made when the hand leaves the water, and it should bo completed and the legs extended straight backward before the left hand leaves the water to take its position for the next stroke.-

; The double overhand stroke, also called the Trndgeon stroke, after the swimmer who introduced it, is a, combination of .the side ; stroke kick ; with a double overhand stroke,': the arms leaving the water alternately and two. strokes being made with them to one leg stroke. The swimmer in using the stroke turns over on the breast as either arm ;is used, and thrusts both arms 'but 1 of the water alternately instead of. only one as in the overhand stroke.!";';■

[ To make a dive the. swimmer should j stand erect withhands at the side. Bend 'the 'knees slightly, draw r the arms ' back and I spring forward,';. the arms now: extending in front of the head, palms 4 down, thumbs touching; and keep ;; feet and legs extended straight and close together when entering;the water. When the plunge is made turn the hands upward, and the body will at once turn also in the same direction' and come to the surface.