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How Should a Beginner Start Swimming? Learn These Fundamental Skills First! (2024)

Danila Novikov
All- American swimmer owner of Danswim
Swimming is an excellent form of exercise for people of all ages. All you need is access to a swimming pool and information about how to learn to swim .

It is always tricky to start something new. Where do I go? What should I learn first? What is the right way to do it?

I am here to assure you that swimming is not a rocket since! You need someone competent to explain it to you. Allow me to guide you with your first steps in swimming.

This blog post will give you the information you need to know as someone exploring the sport of swimming.

How should a beginner start swimming?

BEGINNERS SHOULD START SWIMMING WITH FUNDAMENTALS, SUCH AS FLOATING, KICKING, AND PULLING. MASTER YOUR BASIC SWIMMING SKILLS BEFORE LEARNING SWIMMING STROKES AND PERFORMING HARD SETS.

Think about gaining knowledge of swimming as if you are developing a new building. You want to start with a solid, firm foundation.

Before erecting the walls and installing the roof, take care of your cornerstone. In our case, the foundation for our building would be some basic swimming skills. Among them are floating, kicking, and pulling.

The logic is pretty simple. The ability to float and correctly move your arms and legs in the water is your solid foundation for swimming strokes.

Before I can give you some tips about floating and propulsion in the water, it's essential to talk about safety. Make sure that you are learning in a safe environment.

The safest place to be is the swimming pool, with lifeguards working there. Lakes, beaches, and deep swimming pools are not the best to learn the fundamentals of swimming.

Let's talk about floating first

Floating defines the body's position in the water. The ability to float allows the body to stay on the surface, which is what we need to move effectively from point A to point B. Here are some of the most crucial tips you need to know.

Keep your body aligned while floating.

    Your arms, torso, and legs should stay on the same line. That helps your body create the least drag and makes a good base for any swimming stroke. Position yourself the right way in the water and see how swimming becomes easy and enjoyable.

      Tuck your chin and look down when floating.

        Ideally, we want our bodies to stay closer to the surface while floating. Most of us, however, are looking forward so we can see what's coming our way.

        Unfortunately, that position makes our bodies sink and pushes the water inside our noses. You can fix that issue by tucking your chin down and looking toward the bottom.
          Related articles
          Learn How To Float Step-by-Step Guide| DanSwim Blog
          Want to become a better swimmer? Start by mastering the art of floating! This how to float step-by-step guide for beginner swimmers will provide you with the tools and knowledge needed to float with ease.

          Let's talk about kicking

          Kicking is one way a swimmer propels in the water. The proper form secures a better position in the water and makes your life easier.

          Let's talk about the most common form of kicks- the flutter kicks. Here are some helpful tips.

          Initiate your kicks from your hips.

            Allow your entire leg to be involved in the process of kicking. The flutter kick consists of 2 phases: an upward beat and a downward beat. Initiate the upward beat with the glutes and hamstrings. Use quads to produce the downbeat.

              Keep your knees relaxed

                Even though we are using our entire leg, we should keep our knees as relaxed as possible. Unlocked knee joints will give you more mobility. More mobility helps you to move further with more efficiency.
                  Related articles
                  Beginner’s Blueprint: Learning the Four Basic Swimming Strokes
                  If you are a complete beginner, it's best to start your swimming journey with strokes that require less effort and physical fitness.

                  Let's talk about pulling

                  Pulling will get you far if you learn how to do it correctly. The proper form will help you to cover a lot of ground. Here are a couple of insights for you.

                  Learn the breaststroke pulling first.

                    The breaststroke pulls are easier to learn for beginners. They are more intuitive since you are moving both arms inside of the water at the same time.

                    You want to feel the water turning heavy as you pull the water with your palms and forearms.
                      Create resistance to move further.
                        Make sure you are moving the water with your palms and forearms. Keep your arms in the water. The water supposes to feel heavy as you move both of your arms at the same time.

                        If you don't feel much propulsion, check if your arms are under the surface and pull the water with your forearms and palms.

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                          I have a free resource available for beginner swimmers. There I dive deep into the theory of swimming and teach how to learn the swimming fundamentals. You can download a free guide for beginner swimmers here. Start building a solid foundation for your swimming strokes!

                          I am excited to see you starting your journey into the world of swimming. First, the baby learns how to crawl, then walk, and only then how to run.

                          Swimming is not just a skill. It's a lifestyle. Swimming will open the door to a life full of adventures and experiences.

                          Read other blog posts, and feel free to contact us if you need some advice regarding your first steps In swimming. Follow us on Youtube, Instagram to get more tips about swimming for beginners.
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