The Art of Kicking in Swimming

Swimming is a fun activity and sport that many people enjoy all year long, whether in a swimming pool or a natural body of water. People of all ages can learn how to swim and participate in such an activity, which is a great way to spend time with family and friends. 

Swimming is also a life skill that will allow you to survive if and when you fall into the water and save another person’s life. Lastly, it is a fun way to keep fit and improve your health.  

There are many health benefits to swimming. Swimming is a good full-body workout because it requires nearly all of the muscles in your body. It forces you to propel yourself through the water using your limbs, thus building muscle strength. It is also helpful in reducing pain, as water is a natural element that relieves stiff joints and sore muscles. 

There are several swimming styles that you should master, including breaststroke, freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly. To master these styles, you should learn how to swim correctly, and for you to do that, you should know how to kick. 

Why kicking is vital in swimming 

Swimming involves coordination between the upper and lower body. Knowing how to kick in swimming takes time, effort, and practice. Kicking serves four functions in swimming, namely propulsion, lift, stabilizing force, and speed. 

How to strengthen your kicking

Whether you are a triathlete, competitive swimmer, or an amateur, and you feel that your kicking needs some improvement, here are some exercises to try:

• Do ankle stretches to obtain maximum toe velocity at the end of the leg-whipping motion, similar to how fishes move their tails in the water.
• Keep your toes pointed while swimming. Pointed toes minimize drag during gliding.
• Swimming or kicking with long blade fins can enhance flexibility and stretch your ankle.
• Do vertical kicking to get a sense of the water pressure against your feet. Keep your toes pointed, and your knees should not come out of the water.
• Build strength on your legs by practicing kicking against resistance. Use a drag suit or submerged kickboard and fins to increase the power in your legs. This is called tombstone kicking.
• Do exercises outside of the water, such as cycling and running. Cycling improves kicking strength, while running enhances cardio fitness.
• Other exercises can include lifting weights at the gym, yoga, aerobics for muscle-toning, and even rollerblading.
• Do lunges, squats, planks, and other exercises to strengthen the core and leg muscles.
• Climbing stairs can keep your legs limber and strong.

The arms also need strength training to keep up with the legs when swimming. Remain to be active, and avoid sitting down all day and being idle. Reinforce your exercises and training with positive thinking and self-motivation.

When it comes to the actual kicking, always remember that the kick should originate from the hips, with the legs straight, and the knee and ankle relaxed. This technique allows for the efficient transfer of energy to the foot.

Final Words

Learning how to swim requires a proactive mindset and, of course, constant practice. To maximize your knowledge and skill when it comes to kicking and swimming, you can always consult a professional swimming coach’s services or take lessons from swimming schools. 

Besides teaching you how to swim correctly, enrolling in swimming lessons can also boost your concentration and confidence. Lastly, be mindful of the slick and slippery floors to avoid any slip and fall accidents. Keep the lessons you learned from swimming schools in mind, and don’t forget to enjoy yourself when you finally swim.