How do I become more proficient in butterfly swimming. Also how can I increase my stamina of swimming more.?
538786
<<..yo guy... it took me like 20 mins to register for this yahoo thing, so i hope you read this...>>\n\nI am a national level swimmer and it just happens that my best event is long distance butterfly…The way to build up your stamina is to take the following steps\n\n1)Perfect your technique, (swimming fly with bad technique is one of the hardest and most tiring things to do) \n2)Don’t start with too much at a time. Start of with swimming about 20 –30% fly and the rest freestyle of backstroke… gradually start doing more and more butterfly \nI don’t know what level of swimming you are at but here is a set you may want to do :\n\n(15 X 100 meters)\n25 meters sprint full stoke \n50 meters butterfly drill (try one arm butterfly)\n25 meters sprint full stroke\n\n<<later you can increase the distance of fly>>
889968
First of all, breathing every third or more strokes is only good for SPRINT swimming. This means short or a few lengths, say 25, 50 or 100m. \n\nIf you have to swim middle or long distance, your body needs more oxygen. That's why you are tired after so many lengths.\n\nMy suggestions to get the most out of your every breath:\n\n(1) Exhale when your face is submerged under water. Use your mouth to blow all the air out of lungs. This way you will breathe in more oxygen when you inhale.\n\n(2) Do bi-lateral breathing. Alternate your breathing side every third stroke. For example, breathe on your right side, then on your left side, then back on your right side, and so on. \n\nIn the beginning, practice bi-lateral breathing on one length of the pool, when you push off. Do normal breaths on the return trip. When you can do bi-lateral breathing on both lengths of the pool many times, that's the time you can TRY to inhale every four, or six strokes.\n\n(3) Increase the efficiency of your lungs by doing diaphragmatic breathing. This is deep breathing by flexing your diaphragm rather than breathing shallowly through your rib cage.\n\nDo this exercise while sitting or lying. Put your hand on you stomach. Inhale, and feel your stomach expand with your hand. Exhale through your mouth.\n\n(4) The legs are composed of big and long muscles that tire easily, hence they need more O2. Try to decrease your kick rate, and to improve your hand stroke to increase your speed.\n\n(5) Practice using hypoxic training. See the link (source) for  more info.
153672
An easy way to answer your question would be that you take a glide in your breaststroke, in this glide you can rest (and stretch) usually for 1-3 seconds (in a lap-swimmer non-competitive style breaststroke).  You do not get this pause/rest/glide in freestyle, thus it feels like you are working harder in freestyle and can swim for longer with breaststroke. \nBy The Way...Bogeythedog's comments are also valid, take them on board also.
863089
your local swimming pool. go to yahoo yellow pages to find the closest pool to your home. i went to the YMCA to learn how to swim and those classes cost my parents a fortune!! and all i learned was how to flutter kick. and i didn't even do it correctly! then i went to a nearby pool and they gave me lesson for free. and now im on the team and it's still free. i think im susposed to pay 10 bucks a month but they didn't ask so whoops. lol
510077
That's great that you want to take your swimming to the next level...My advice would be to join your local year round club team. Your other option would be to join a local summer swim team, or a recreation team. The club team would be awesome because you would be swimming with other kids who share your same enthusiasm. The club scene is great, but be prepared..it is a very big committment, my vacations/summer trips revolved around my swimming practices/meet schedule. Club teams are great for deveoping technique and technique, but require a lot of dedication/hardwork. For that reason it may be better to start with a rec/summer team then move on after you have a little experience. this way you work hard, but are not as committed as you would be ona club.
870981
OH YES!!!!!!!\n\nAnd if you are nto swimming for competition and can swim well enough you could save your life.. then you dont have to learn anything else!\n\nUnless you want to!\n\nBreaststroke is great ... keep on going...\n\nYou can also use a kick board for working out and just kick ...really works out the legs\n\nGood for you any kind of swimming is gerat for fitness!\n\nGood Luck and keep it up!\nWismom
949826
There are two other things that I would suggest, in addition to the things that already been mentioned.  First, I would consider swimming some laps on a regular basis.  Spend 30 minutes, three times a week to really help build up your core (from an endurance standpoint).  Of course, this assumes that you are able to swim and have regular access to a pool.\n\nThe second thing I would recommend is to spend some time climbing.  Nothing kicks you in the butt more, but builds you quicker than climbing.  Don't be afraid of climbing, or of riding in the wind.  If you want to get stronger, embrace both of them.  Just put both at the beginning of your rides where you can, and spend the latter part of your ride cooling down to work out the lactic acid.   Don't "mash" the pedals in high gears.  Lower your gears and use a higher rpm for both climbing and wind resistance.  You want to make yourself stronger, not blow out your knees.  In the spring, I always hit a park not far from me which has small hills in it, but I can do them over and over again. \n\nIf you are going to do weight training, then be sure to be using proper technique, beginning with lower weights and more reps.  After you have built a good foundation, then look at increasing weight and fewer reps.  If you wind up doing lunges or squats, never allow your thighs to go below parallel to the ground.  If you can keep your knees at 90 degrees or less, that is a good thing.\n\nGood luck!
492737
Butterfly is the greatest stroke ever!!!  It's the most physically challenging but is a wonderfully fluid motion and feeling if you can do it well.
254337
Great exercise and therapy:\n\n Swimming can be very demanding for the beginner. Exercise at a comfortable pace and periodically check your heart rate to make sure you're staying in your training range. It is recommended that beginners swim 12-20 minutes, building endurance with time. As you progress, you'll be able to swim farther and faster at each workout, and the efficiency of your strokes will improve. Intermediate swimmers should swim 20-30 minutes and advanced swimmers 30-60 minutes. The freestyle, or crawl, is the most efficient and strenuous stroke. A 150 pound person burns about 8.5 calories, a minute, swimming freestyle. \n\n If you get tired, switch to a less strenuous stroke, such as the sidestroke or breaststroke, or swim a few laps with a kickboard. Swimming in sets - 4 laps freestyle, 4 laps breaststroke, 4 laps backstroke, for example - will make your workout more interesting and will exercise more muscles\n\nSimple Water Exercises:\n\n Kick with a kickboard or holding on to the side of the pool to tone legs, back and stomach. \n\n Leg lifts also condition legs, back and stomach. \n\n Holding on to the side of the pool, lift each leg 10 times in front of you, behind you and to each side. \n\n Running in the water increases your heart rate just as swimming does. Many people who can't run on land can run in the water without a problem. Because of the water's resistance, the impact on your body is far less. In chest-high water, begin by running with your hands on your head, and as you become more fit, paddle with your arms. You can alternate running with skipping, hopping, or even dancing in the water.\n\n Bobbing up and down in the water improves breathing and muscle tone. \n\n Treading in the water improves arm and leg strength. Whatever your level of ability, remember to cool down afterwards with water or stretching exercises
495046
Yes, i know swimming. My best stroke is butterfly but i do not know what my favorite is. Swimming is my ultimate favorite sport but my second favorite is basketball.
1065475
Do you have a dvd player?  Get a good dvd and use your body against itself.  I did this and swam alot and biked a lot.  I look great!
772716
The only way to become a stronger swimmer is to swim more! Join a swim team and 4 laps will be nothing after a few weeks.\n\nIt does seem lifeguards are kind of jerks, but they are doing their job and don't want anyone to drown,  Can you imagine what it would be like if you let someone drown?  The person drowning also might be inconvenienced.
38517
Get comfortable with being in the water first, then try snorkeling...  the next step is to get proper training with a great instructor who's very patient.
126295
How does the punchline go? "Practice, practice, practice."\n\nBecoming a successful competitive swimmer involves committment to its highest level.  It's also very rewarding.  Good luck!
211110
Stamina comes with practice. If you have a difficult time continuously swimming long distances, break your workout down and do a pyramid or ladder set. Pyramid sets you gradually increase the distance of each set and finish with your longest distanced set. For example, 5 sets of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500. Ladder sets you increase your distance, then decrease and finish with a short distance. For example, 5 sets of 200, 300, 400, 300 and 200.Increase your distances or the number of sets as you get used accustomed to the sets. Set a goal of how many yards you will like to accomplish in your workout. If you workout for an hour, try to complete 3000 yards, then increase to 3200 and so on.
177419
Swimming is a build up sport.\nstart off slow say 20 laps(without stopping)\ndo that for a week.\nNext week try 25 or 30. \nJust keep building it up.\nYou will eventually be fit enough to swim a few kms if you want.
249645
practice... breathing every 3-5-7-9 strokes.. and back.. and after a while try keping every 7 and than 9 and than you can try 25 m without breathing to see how are you doing.. keep long and smooth strokes.. and rememmber never overdo because it's much worse...it takes some time practice but i'm sure that you can do it