LEARN TO SWIM: TUTORIAL FOR BEGINNERS (THIS WORKS!)

SwimUp

15 Feb 201908:33

Summary

TLDRThis video offers essential swimming lessons for all levels, emphasizing relaxation in the water as a key to confidence. It covers the importance of getting accustomed to water resistance, facing fears by submerging the face without goggles, and understanding buoyancy with air in the lungs. The script introduces various drills, like the buoy exercise and the star drill, to help swimmers float and feel at ease in the water, ultimately leading to a more efficient and enjoyable swimming experience.

Takeaways

🏊‍♂️ Learning to swim is essential for everyone, from beginners to experienced swimmers and even athletes participating in events like Ironman.
👶 It's easier for children to learn swimming due to their adaptability, but adults can also learn with practice and patience.
🧘‍♂️ The most important rule in swimming is to be relaxed in the water, as stress and tension can hinder flotation and swimming efficiency.
🏊‍♀️ The human body doesn't naturally float; it requires air in the lungs to be buoyant, similar to how a stone sinks when a swimmer is tense.
🌊 Getting used to being in the water and feeling comfortable is crucial for learning to swim effectively.
👓 Practicing with the face in the water without goggles can help overcome the fear of being submerged and prepare for various water situations.
🤽‍♂️ Starting with basic swimming skills before moving on to freestyle or competitive strokes is recommended for a strong foundation.
🏋️‍♀️ Regular training and practicing foundational swimming exercises can help improve swimming speed and ease.
🏊‍♂️ Finding a suitable pool with a shallow area and comfortable temperature is important for a safe and effective learning environment.
🧘‍♀️ Exercises like floating and imagining zero gravity can help swimmers feel more relaxed and confident in the water.
🌀 The 'star drill' and other exercises are designed to help swimmers maintain proper body position and feel at ease in the water.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?
-The main focus of the video is to teach viewers how to be confident in the water and learn to swim in a relaxed manner.
Who is the target audience for these swimming lessons?
-The target audience includes not only beginner swimmers but also those who regularly train and participate in events like Ironman.
Why is it easier for children to learn to swim compared to adults?
-It is easier for children to learn to swim because they can more readily adapt to new skills and their vestibular system gets used to different body positions without subconscious tension.
What is the most important rule for swimming according to the video?
-The most important rule for swimming is to remain relaxed in the water.
What happens to the body when a swimmer is in a stressful situation while swimming?
-When a swimmer is in a stressful situation, they may become frightened, start panicking, and get tense, which can lead to wasted energy and difficulty in staying afloat.
Why doesn't the human body naturally float on the top of the water?
-The human body doesn't naturally float on the top of the water because it doesn't have air in the lungs; when tired and tense, a swimmer can sink like a stone.
What is the significance of having air in the lungs while swimming?
-Having air in the lungs is significant because water will push the body up to the surface, providing buoyancy and making it easier to stay afloat.
Why is it recommended not to start with freestyle when learning to swim?
-It is recommended to learn the basics of swimming first before practicing freestyle to ensure a solid foundation and to avoid developing bad habits.
What are the characteristics of an ideal pool for learning to swim?
-An ideal pool for learning to swim should be shallow enough to stand, have a comfortable temperature, and provide a safe and easy learning environment.
What exercise is suggested to help overcome the fear of being in the water without goggles?
-The exercise suggested is to stand in the pool, keep hands on the lane rope or wall for stability, put the face down in the water, and open the eyes to get used to being in the water without goggles.
How can one practice relaxation in the water before learning to swim?
-One can practice relaxation in the water by stretching the body forward with fully relaxed hands and trying to memorize the feeling, or by performing the 'star drill' with support from the lane rope or wall.

Outlines

00:00

🏊‍♂️ Building Confidence and Relaxation in Swimming

This paragraph introduces the video's focus on teaching viewers how to be confident and relaxed in the water, regardless of their swimming experience. It emphasizes the importance of learning to swim at a young age but acknowledges that adults can also learn through various drills. The key message is to stay relaxed in the water, as stress can lead to tension and energy-wasting movements. The video also explains the concept of buoyancy, highlighting that having air in the lungs helps the body float, while exhaling leads to sinking. The paragraph concludes with advice on finding a suitable pool for learning and the initial steps of acclimatizing to the water, including walking and getting comfortable with submerging the face without goggles.

05:00

🚀 Advanced Relaxation and Buoyancy Techniques

The second paragraph delves into more advanced techniques for relaxation and buoyancy. It suggests exercises like hanging in the water to simulate zero gravity, which can help with confidence. The paragraph details a step-by-step approach to floating exercises, starting with support from the wall and progressing to unsupported floating. It introduces the 'buoy' exercise, where one must float after taking a deep breath, and the 'star drill' for maintaining body position in the water. The final exercise encourages viewers to float without any support, using their imagination to feel like they are in space. The paragraph stresses the importance of practicing these exercises to achieve comfort and confidence in the water.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Confidence

Confidence in the context of this video refers to a swimmer's psychological state of self-assurance and belief in their ability to perform swimming actions without fear or anxiety. It is essential for new swimmers to develop confidence in the water to overcome the initial fear and to learn swimming techniques effectively. The video emphasizes the importance of being confident as a foundation for learning to swim and mentions it in the opening lines to set the tone for the lessons.

💡Relaxed

Being 'relaxed' in the video script is about maintaining a calm and loose body posture while in the water, which is crucial for efficient swimming and to prevent unnecessary energy expenditure. The script explains that when a swimmer is tense, it can lead to panic and inefficient movements, whereas a relaxed state allows for better buoyancy and ease of movement. The concept is repeatedly emphasized as a key rule for swimming.

💡Vestibular System

The vestibular system is a part of the inner ear that helps in maintaining balance and spatial orientation. In the video, it is mentioned that adults might have a harder time learning to swim because their vestibular system needs to adjust to the different body positions in water, which can lead to subconscious tension. Understanding the vestibular system's role is important for addressing the challenges faced by adult learners in adapting to the aquatic environment.

💡Swimming Drills

Swimming drills are specific exercises designed to improve a swimmer's technique, stamina, or comfort in the water. The script mentions that people can learn to swim by doing different kinds of swimming drills, which are essential for mastering various swimming skills and building confidence in the water.

💡Buoyancy

Buoyancy is the upward force exerted by a fluid that opposes the weight of an immersed object. In the context of swimming, the video explains that having air in the lungs increases buoyancy, helping swimmers to float. The concept is used to illustrate the importance of proper breathing techniques in maintaining a swimmer's position in the water.

💡Freestyle

Freestyle, in swimming, is a style of swimming where the swimmer can use any stroke they choose, but it commonly refers to the front crawl. The video advises against starting with freestyle for beginners, emphasizing the importance of learning the basics first before practicing this stroke.

💡Competitive Swimming

Competitive swimming refers to the act of swimming in a competitive context, such as in races or events like the Ironman. The script suggests that even those who regularly train and can swim most strokes can benefit from the exercises outlined in the video to improve their swimming technique and performance in competitive settings.

💡Flotation

Flotation is the ability of an object to float or remain on the surface of a liquid without sinking. The video focuses on flotation exercises to help swimmers feel comfortable and confident in the water, using the concept of being 'like a buoy in the sea' to illustrate the desired state of relaxed floating.

💡Star Drill

The 'star drill' is a specific swimming exercise mentioned in the script where swimmers keep their hands on a lane rope or wall and float with their chest and head in the water. This drill is designed to help swimmers practice body positioning and buoyancy while maintaining a relaxed state.

💡Zero Gravity

The concept of 'zero gravity' is used metaphorically in the video to help swimmers imagine a state of weightlessness, which can assist in achieving a relaxed and buoyant position in the water. It serves as a mental tool to help swimmers feel at ease and to understand the sensation of floating.

💡Breathing Techniques

Breathing techniques are methods of inhaling and exhaling used in swimming to maintain proper oxygen levels and body position. The script mentions that the swimmer should breathe out through the mouth while focusing on flotation and relaxation, with a promise to teach correct breathing in the water in a subsequent video.

Highlights

Learn to be confident in the water and swim in a relaxed manner.

Swimming lessons are suitable for beginners and experienced swimmers, including those participating in Ironman events.

A person's experience in water differs significantly from on land due to the vestibular system's adaptation to body positions.

Swimming drills can help individuals learn to swim despite subconscious tension from different body positions.

The most important rule in swimming is to remain relaxed in the water to avoid energy-wasting movements.

The human body does not naturally float on water without air in the lungs.

A swimmer's body behaves like a stone in water when tense and without air.

Having air in the lungs allows the water to push the body up to the surface.

It's crucial to get used to being in water and feeling comfortable for effective swimming.

Avoid starting with freestyle; instead, learn the basics of swimming first.

Regular training and practicing foundational swimming skills can improve speed and ease.

Choose a shallow and comfortably warm pool for an easier and safer learning experience.

Walking in water helps acclimatize to water resistance and encourages a friendly relationship with water.

Learning to keep the face under water without goggles helps overcome the fear of being in water.

Performing dryland exercises can help one feel how to relax in the water.

Using a wall or lane rope for support while putting the face in water helps with flotation and relaxation.

Imagining zero gravity or flying in space can assist in learning to float and relax in the water.

The buoy exercise helps with relaxation by simulating the feeling of floating like a buoy in the sea.

The star drill helps swimmers float with hands on a support, preparing for unsupported floating.

Floating without support from the lane rope, wall, or bottom is the final exercise for confidence in the water.

All exercises shown are essential for gradually building comfort and confidence in the water.