HOW TO LEARN TO SWIM 
falls on the palm at that moment. On ac- 
count of the palm being put forward at 
arm’s length it covers almost water enough 
for floating the whole body above the waist; 
and this is important, as the head must be 
continually above water during a properly 
executed side-stroke. The leg-action is 
131 
a lurch forward so that it submerges com- 
pletely, the left side facing the bottom. 
This lurch means that the weight of the 
head is thrown into the momentum of the 
stroke, accelerating it considerably. While 
the head submerges the arm reaches as far 
out in a line with the body as possible, and 

ENGLISH OVERARM STROKE 
An elaboration of the side stroke, and faster. 
The swimmer’s face appears above the water to 
breathe only just as the elbow of the ‘‘oar’”’ arm passes over it. 
One should 
master the side stroke before attempting this. 
practically the same as when swimming on 
the back, only more attention must be paid 
to the ‘‘jack-knife” trick to get a good 
action. In getting ready to strike, the knees 
should be brought well forward rather than 
outward. As your right hand is about to go 
back with its stroke, the right knee ought to 
almost touch the elbow. 
ENGLISH OVERARM STROKE 
This is the speediest long-distance stroke 
in the world. Many regard it the most per- 
as the stroke is made the head pops up just 
as the elbow passes over it. Of course, only 
the right side of the face appears, hence a 
full breath must be taken quickly, or rather 
snatched with wide-open mouth. Breath- 
ing through the nose is insufficient for this 
high-pressure stroke. No sooner is the 
stroke completed than the hand reaches for- 
ward again and the head is once more 
thrown into the momentum of the stroke. 
The head only appears for the swimmer to 
breathe as the elbow passes over it in the 

THE TRUDGEON, INDIAN OR RACING STROKE 
The hardest stroke to learn and the fastest in the world. Both arms are reached forward out of the water, 
and the swimmer snatches a breath of air only as his right elbow passes his face in the 
propelling stroke. The leg action is the same as in the side stroke. 
fect stroke altogether. Practically, it is 
nothing but a side stroke, with the arms 
lifted clear out of the water. The motion 
makes the difference. The side stroke is a 
sweep from chin almost to knee; the over- 
arm stroke starts an arm’s length in front 
of the head and sweeps down the body as 
far as the hand can reach. As the right or 
“oar” hand is thrown in, the head is given 
propelling stroke. A long, regular stroke, 
timed to suit the swimmer’s normal breath- 
ing, is the ideal for long-distance. The arm, 
in swinging into the stroke, must not be 
brought over stiff, like an oar, which simply 
leads to splashing—and splashing, in swim- 
ming, as in rowing, means faulty action and 
misapplied power. The movement of the 
arm over the water should be leisurely, lax 
