Added: 3 years ago
From: evanscoaching
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  • Hey Marc I'm having trouble with me whole technique, I cannot get the rhythm happening. Especially the glide. Help appreciated, thankyou,

  • @AceShot01 There is "no glide". If you're doing that then your rhythm is going to be an issue. When the pulling hand and arm release you should be "catching" at the very same time. Take a look at some other videos and articles on xtri.com. Sorry, I cannot assess what your issues are without seeing you in person. Good luck and "NO GLIDING". That's wrong! :)

  • One of the key elements of breathing is the inhalation. Make an effort to fully expand the lower ribs outwardly with each breath. Do this even when swimming at easy speeds. Also, practice the full inhalation going into the turn and then, do not take a breath for 2 strokes. All while keeping the head and body level.

  • Just watched your video and I'm going to put your advice into practice and see where I go from there. Thanks from the UK, Marc!

  • Thanks for the video. I have been swimming for 40 years and almost always breath to my right. About 10 years ago, I did teach myself to breath left, but only do this on occasion in practice because it does not feel as comfortable. I checked the one goggle condition and found that I am one goggle when I breath on right and two goggles when I breath on left. I can't yet figure out how to breath left with one goggle. Any thoughts?

  • @jchasnov Give the techniques in the video time...more than a few weeks of adaptation to develop better symmetry. There are also mobility and flexibility and stability issues as well. So, make an effort to breathe on both side with equal symmetry, stretch the neck and shoulders (get a movement assessment from a PT) and realize it takes time.

  • @evanscoaching Thank you for replying. I can breathe one goggle to the left now. I needed to breathe a little earlier while my left arm was still in the water. I discovered this by trying to match the timing of my stroke when breathing left with what I do when I breathe right. With more practice, I suspect it will feel more and more comfortable. Thanks again.

  • Cool..My young brother is starting to swim..I show this vc to my Mom and it's very helpfull to teach my bro how to do it...

  • @Nat23goswim Good luck...thanks.

  • What could i do to get used to this kind of breathing?

    I usually take my whole head out of the water

  • @MrSniperAir What you need to do is follow the instructions as best you can. And I am not sure what you mean by "...whole head out of water", but the instructions are pretty clear about what you nee to do. And if you know you're not doing that well, that's actually a very good start. Because, you can then begin to make some small changes over time.

  • How do you breathe with one goggle in the water? If I do this I find I'm swallowing a whole bunch of water at the same time :(

  • @SingHouse The top of your head creates a "bow wave" so, there is a small "pocket" to breathe as the head is turned to the side. You can also, "curl" your mouth as you are learning. Turn the head to the side and slightly back towards the shoulder to get in the bow wave.

  • @evanscoaching Thanks. I think part of the problem I have is that my kicking/and arms are not efficient enough to keep my streamlined which makes breathing harder. I 'll try looking slightly back towards the shoulder and curl my mouth. I noticed people were doing that. Thanks for the reply.

  • 5:28 he goes invisible...

  • THNX HELPED FOR MY SWIM TEST BUT DID ANYONE KNOW HIS SHIRT CHANGE COLORS LOL

  • What about the exhale? How fast/slow do you do it? Nose or mouth, or a combination of the two? How much air do you leave in your lungs or do you exhale 100%?

  • @VideoBloggingAtHome The respiration rate is dependent upon the exertion..."speed" or intensity you are swimming. But "air" is a very good thing :-). So, don't restrict the inhalation or exhalation. Some air remains in the lungs...You don't want to try and clear the lungs...that would delay the tempo and increase the glide. You want to maintain a continuum in your tempo of strokes and breath.

  • @evanscoaching Does one breathe out of the nose or through the mouth or both? Also, do you breathe out all at once or slowly ?

  • The one goggle out of the water is difficult for me..one-and-a-half goggle out is more realistic (at least for me).

  • @abcdrcill1 There are mobility and stability issues at play so, it's sometimes a limiter for athletes to perform. That's why all of my in-person and online video coaching includes a movement assessment before technique. Good luck!

  • @abcdrcill1 Practice in 1/2 laps executing it perfectly...after time you'll be "single goggle" all the time.

  • i am so excited to put all your techniques to practise. I am an Adult Swimmer. I have ha arounf four swimming lessons and now know how to free style and breast stroke. Tough ofcourse l need a lot of help to improve my technique. I am sure once l have the breathing figured out, l can then move on to focusing more on other techniques.

    Thank you so much. I will let you know how things go. I have subscribed to your channel.

    Thanks again.

  • @kazzsupergirl100 Thank you Kazz...All the best!

  • thank you for the tips..

  • Coach, this was awesome. Many thanks for your time. Great little tid bits of info.

  • @pcmueller101 Thank you...

  • I have been searching YouTube for sometime for video on freestyle breathing and I must say yours surpass them all. Thanks for taking the time to make this video I found it really helpful.

    Definitely subcribing.

  • @kedanpie4409 Thanks for your comments.

  • I have been searching YouTube for sometime freestyle breathing technique, and I must say this video surpass all that I have seen. Thanks for taking the time to make this video.

    Definitely subscribing!

  • Thanks a million Marc...very informative.

  • @datadaz1976 Much appreciated...

  • Thanks a lot! Very informative videos. Will try out your tips tomorrow in the swimming pool :).

  • @lumbercelt Thank you!

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  • @Drachard101 Thanks for you comments...

  • Very nice videos---

    Coach Rick Amira--U.S.A.Swimming Coach

  • @pocketcharts12 Thank you Rick

  • great channel, great videos!!!

  • @axa1982 Thank you

  • Hi Coach, I just came across your channel. I learned the basics of swimming when I was 10 (24 now). For a month or so I've gotten serious about swimming for fitness and improved my technique substantially. My only problem s making my breathing consistent. The lines helped a lot. However, my friend has mentioned that I'm suppose to hum or blow bubbles through my mouth when underwater? I'm having a hard time getting comfortable with breathing, however. Any advice? Thanks for all your great videos!

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  • @19990SAND There are controls on the bottom left. Or, it's your speakers.

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  • @19990SAND It is on your end...they all work fine.

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  • Coach what types of exercises can one do to practice taking a full breath. I never seem to get a full inhalation of breath while taking a breath. Thank you for all your great work in the videos they help a ton.

  • @geckoboy I would suggest following the exercises and instruction in this video...That will do it...Slow down and work on the basics...

  • hi coach i am swimming for the last 12 years in the water but unfortunately i am not comfortable in water...... my breathing never gets a rhythm...to begin with i donno whether to breathe out with nose or mouth in water....every person i ask i get different answer? i always seem to be getting out of breath in water .. i feel when i am trying to take in breath there is already breath in my body.

  • Seems like you need to focus on "one" technique. Execute what I am saying and you'll get it. You write as though you didn't really listen to what I was saying...Trying watching again...take some notes and then "execute" just as I said...Take it easy and give it some time.

  • hi coach, when we hold our breath, is it useful to imagine as if i was running as im a frequent runner and the way i breath to maintain my stamina is to breath in a rhythmic way - inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale or..inhale, exhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, exhale. thanks in advance!

  • Absolutely, it's all about tempo, but sometimes we forget to get in a full, deep breath...Thanks.

  • Hi Marc,

    You mentioned about breath in when our head is out of the water and blow out when it is in the water.

    Do we blow the air out our noses and mouths at the same time? and when actually we need to do that? Do we need to blow out for the stroke that our heads in the water or just about before when we turn head out of the water for another stroke?

    Thanks

  • I write below that this should be a "natural" process, a tempo from taking in a full "natural" breath and then exhaling under water. Most of this exchange occurs through the mouth, but some through the nose.

    However, neither should be "forced"...it should feel just as if on dryland. Of course, taking a fuller breath as determined by effort, but it's a good habit to always take a full inhalation deep into the abdomen...then, exhale naturally.

  • It's impossible to answer this question without seeing you swim and understand your background.

    That said, give swimming time for adaptation and NEVER "hold" your breath for longer than a second or so...let the air out slowly on the flip turns...AND especially, if you're a beginner...Don't hold your breath...

  • I'm an adult learner Coach. Your comment "Don't hold your Breath..." Can you please expand on that. It seems totally counter intuitive to me. I thought you have to hold breath whenever your head is in the water...????

  • You want to take in a full breath. And exhale when the head is underwater. The only time you might hold your breath is on the flip turn.

    The process is rhythmic...full breath in and then, out...with the exception of the flip turn and the moment after the full breath is taken...Just remember...it is in tempo...

  • Thanx 4 responding, Coach. I've been trying out the technique for the last week and I must be worse off skillwise than I thought. I guess I'm just not comfortable nor are my lungs (cardio) strong enough to put your advice to good use. Do you have n/e experience with a PowerLung???? They're expensive but if I am ever going to show progress ...maybe it's worth the investment.

  • How do you feel about nose clips? I am having serious issues with the breathing issues. I always end up with a nose full of water...

  • Please read through the other comments...I've answered this question below. Thanks. Basically, I don't advise wearing nose clips. You'll adapt over time...we all went through this at the beginning.

  • When you flip turn, people say to breath out right before you do the actual flip. Is this true?

  • I prefer to hold some (not a full breath) in the lungs...not blowing it all out...more or less trickling...this seems to help with buoyancy and energy.

  • Alright, thanks. I will try to incorportate this when I flip turn.

  • Okay so if you should only see 1/2 of a swimmers goggle when they take a breath, then that means your mouth isn't clearing the water to take a breath. Because 1/2 of your face is still in the water.

  • Incorrect. Actually, the head creates a "bow wave" for a pocket of air for the mouth.

  • fantastic explanation sir.this will clearly convey your point.great video.5 stars.

  • Thank you for your positive comment.

  • when i swim water goes up my nose. I heard from someone that your supposed to breath out through your nose. Is that true?

  • If you slowly exhale through the nose (naturally) water can't enter. If you're holding your breath water can leak into the nose.

    When breathing normally out of the water we breath in and out of the mouth and nose. Same for swimming. So, anytime you exhale through the mouth you should allow the air to go through the nose too.

    Do it naturally and it will work fine for you.

  • blow out from your nose when underwater

    while you breathe in through your mouth

  • great video:)) i've been swimming pretty much everyday for the last 6 weeks..

    i just was wondering after taking a breath, do you exhale immediately, and empty your lungs completely before taking your next breath?, and if so how fast do you exhale, because if i exhale quickly, i need to take a breath every single stroke?

  • Thank you.

    The inhalation and exhalation are full and natural. Not over done either way.

    Taking a breath each stroke is typical for distance swimming. However, if the intensity is low you can take a breath each 3rd stroke and thereby, breathing on both sides which is good for symmetry.

  • I would be greatful if you could tell me that :

    Is it right that in freestyle swimming, if I want to rotate to my right i will have to kick from my right leg keeping left leg constant. Similar to move to my left, i will have to kick from my left leg keeping right leg constant. Is it so? if it is so, then should i start my catch/pull after I am rotated. Or there is not need to kick as mentioned above, just manually i should rotate my torso and shoulders.

    Thanks & Regards

    Rajan

  • This is a very complex question. Maybe, too much thinking going on.

    However, ALL movements should be symmetrical. Therefore, rotating and then beginning the "catch/pull" would be wrong and asymmetrical.

    Think of movements being together and not isolated. The moment the "catch" is made and the pull/anchor begins the torso will rotate as well.

    If you are thinking of the symmetry and timing of the kick I imagine your timing is off from the outset.

  • Thanks for your response.

    Is this the way that to rotate to left, kick from the left keeping righ leg constant.

  • Coach! For the EARLY VERTICAL FOREARM catch, should i pull straight down PARALLEL to my side (pointing downward to the pool bed) or pull close to body from chest to hip area. Which type of pull is more efficient?

  • This video is about breathing and I do have others about the early catch. Check those out.

    However, briefly the forearm and hand should move straight downwards to catch the water in front of the shoulder. Do not make it too complicated by thinking about pulling close to the body, from the chest to the hip area as you mention.

    The catch is a subtle move and as I mentioned I have several other videos that discuss this.

  • Hello Coach Evans, I'm a beginner swimmer and every time I take a breath and tilt my head water goes in my ear. What am i doing wrong? Help!!

  • I've been swimming for 10 years and its alright to have water in your ear. I get that all the time, you could just get ear plugs. Also yes I do swim competitively to prove that its alright to have water in your ear. I am Varsity in my high school team, I wear ear plugs during practice and on races. They don't bother me at all, I think is better to wear them to avoid swimmer's ear in any way.

  • First, this is not a scientific reply, but for most of my swimming life I have known others and myself when I first started to get a bit of water in the ear and sometimes the nose.

    Overtime, both of these issues seemed to be relieved simply by adaptation. In my experience the water in the ear goes away for most people after a short time.

  • Is it ok to breath every other stroke? I mean breathing to the right every other stroke for one lenght of the pool and breathing to the left for another length of the pool?

  • I think what you are describing is breathing on the right side every 4th for a length. The, left each 4th a length. No problem with that for training balance and symmetry, but it's not typical for distance swimming.

    A more common method is breathing each 3rd stroke. So, once on the right then one breath on the left. This is a fantastic way to develop right and left side symmetry.

  • hmm, but when you take a look at Hackett or Thorpe and many swimmers they are breathing every other stroke. For one lenght of the pool they breath to right, and for another they breath to left. And they do it every second not 4th.

  • First ... thanks for the super helpful tips in all of your videos. While breathing, though, I find that if one goggle is underwater, so is the corresponding half of my mouth. So I end up inhaling H2O. Can you clarify the desired position of the mouth relative to the level of the pool?

  • Thanks for your compliments.

    Taking in H2O is normal at the beginning, but a symmetry improves a "bow wave" is formed and air if found easily.

    There are other factors which may be causing your problem. One common is the entry line is crossed over the middle which makes the body fishtale...thereby, you'll have problems with the goggle line.

    I will soon be offering online video assessment of mobility and technique. I'll post a video when that is available.

  • Coach! thanks for the awesome tips. It's already started to make a difference. Realised how important snchronization is and am working on it. thanks again!

  • You're welcome. It sure is important and be sure to take your time. Reconstructing a swimming stroke is a challenge, but it works best if the swimmer work on it deliberatively for 4 to 8 weeks of moderate to low intensity.

  • Thank you very much for the videos coach. I am a beginner in swimming and a triathlete wannabe for now. Your lectures have improved my swimming skills a great deal ! More importantly I am learning how to monitor my own swimming technique and how to improve every training. Your videos and some hard work hopefully I will get to race my first olympic triathlon. Thank you very much again for the great lectures.

  • Excellent. Thank you very much. And best of luck with your first triathlon.

  • Thanks for this. I learnt to swim last year (aged 46) and swim every morning before work at my local pool. The senior citizens there have been giving me tips and encouragment and I am now learning to breathe whilst swimming (as opposed to holding my breath and swimming as fast as i can to get to the other side!!) Your videos are great and I will practice your techniques every day. Thank you for posting.

  • Thank you and welcome to the wonderful work of swimming!

  • Hi coach, thanks for this great video!

    May I just ask you why every time I turn my head to catch a breath, I end up helpless in keeping water from entering my mouth. What's wrong with my breathing in?

  • Most likely you're holding your breath as you move to take a breath of air. If you're gently exhaling as the mouth leaves the water...little or no water will get in the mouth.

  • thanks for your reply coach!

  • Hi coach thanks for you your reply! I am delighted to have access to your videos and your tips!

    When you say i should use both (i,e mouth and nose) for inhaling and as well as exhaling. Can i assume that i should the same technique for running and cycling?

  • Natural breathing in the mouth and nose.

  • Hi coach! Your videos are great! please keep them coming. I have two enquires:

    Q1) During freestyle is it essential to breathe in with your mouth and out with your nose? When i breathe out i like to use both.

    Q2) When i pull my head out to inhale i actually exhale for a millisecond first. Is it normal?

    cheers!

  • Q1) Use both when inhaling and exhaling. That latter helps keep water from entering into the mouth and nose.

    Q2) The head should "rotate" with the tors for the breath. And yes, it's normal to exhale at this time.

  • Thanks for the videos and replies. Especially this answer for Q2 helped me very much. Somehow I cannot exhale enough underwater. I always thought I had to do all my exhalation underwater.

    As an intermediate 10km runner, I am used to breathe in and out pretty quickly. While swimming I inhale fully, put my head underwater and begin exhaling through my mouth and nose. Just after a couple of strokes I have an urge to inhale more. So I rotate my head, then exhale and inhale fully. Is this right?

  • No, you should rotate the head and torso together. And you'll fine a "bow wave" pocket for getting all the air you need.

    As water travels over the head a "bow wave" is created with a "pocket" for getting air.

    Do not move the head separately from the torso...

  • thanks for the video, actually thanks for all the videos!!! I noticed that you didnt mention anything about the exhale. any advise for a novice like me???

  • Thank you for the comments.

    Regarding "exhalation" this occurs as an automatic response to a full inhalation and work in concert with the torso and head return under water. While there "may be" a milisecond of breath holding at full inhalation that should NOT be done for a prolonged time.

    Breathing (in and out) improve the symmetry of swimming as the exhalation of breath is timed with the torso and heads return into the water following inhalation.

  • thanks...i've had difficulty breathing during freestyle. and most of the time when i finish a lap..i already feel beat. when i raise my head to breathe...i dont seem to have enough time to take a full deep breath . All the other swimmers seem to b able to do it so quickly.

  • Lets hope this helps somewhat. However, there may be other issues at play. Such are asymmetrical movements of the arms and the like. Swim slowly, smoothly and with solid technique...Don't be in a hurry to swim faster.

  • your google tip is still one of my best swimming tip.

    Thanks!!

  • You mean "goggle" :-). Thanks.

  • thanks coach,it's very usefule for vary my breathing better than before.

  • Glad it's working for you...

  • I found my breathing better after studying your "swimming lines" video. I agree the reduction in head rotation, that is not intuitive, reduces "fishtailing" and improves streamlining. Thanks for the 1 goggle tip! Thanks for the info re timing with the early catch. Yes you have Australian fans, who are swimming better in Sydney Harbour, despite a recent dawn and a dusk shark attacks!

  • Thanks "doc"!

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