Swim

• Ls, crawL stroke
• Ks, bacK stroke
• Ts, breasT stroke
• Ys, butterflY stroke
• dk, Dolphin kick

Personal Experiences

1977 Hackensack NJ; in the Summer day camp, for the first time in my life, I learned to float in the water, and did some basic crawl strokes, and perhaps back strokes as well, in Hackensack NJ.

• 1977 Hackensack NJ ; Summer day camp, first time ever, learned float, crawl stroke, back float
• 1983 JamSil Seoul ; While on Summer break swim, 7th grade
• 1990 SeoDaeMoon Seoul ; Fall semester 1 credit course of my 13th grade
• 2017+/-1 Beaverton OR ; less than 1 month altogether

1983 JamSil; in the Summer break weeks, while I was a 7th grader, I learned crawlStroke, and backStroke.

1990, SeoDaeMoon; Fall semester, while I was a 13th grader, or as a Freshmen, I refreshed crawl Stroke.

2022 from July 01 Friday until October 31, Monday, from 1700 hrs. till 1750 hrs. I swam unstructured autonomous swim sessions. This is the first time I swam since 2018, when I’ve been in a class for less than a total of 10 hours. Except for that less than 10 hours in a single month sometime in THPRD, Beaverton, Or, this was my very first time in the 21st century.

From 2023 January till 2024 April I swam on weekdays, and later even on Saturdays, from 1500 hrs. till 1650 hrs.. The first 50 minutes session for swim class, and the later 50 minutes session for unstructured autonomous swim session.

From 2024 May till 2025 October I swam on weekdays, from 1500 hrs. till 1750 hrs.. The first 50 minutes session for swim class, and the later 50 x2 minutes sessions for unstructured autonomous swim sessions.

From 2024 October, till 2025 January, since the Olympic Park Swim Pool in Songpa, Bangiee was closed to the public usage for maintenance of the pool, I went to a group training for 1 session with 박혜정’s butterfly storke, and personal trainings of 2 sessions with 김재덕, and many visits to the various SeungNam’s swim pools, mainly on SungNam, TanCheon’s swim pool of the sports complex facility. And later I used SongPa, JamSil’s swim pool, except for the days I visited my father who was in the hospital in YongIn, and swam in SungNam, TanCheon’s swimming pool.

During the two visits to DivingDuck in 2024 October, at BuSan, IlGwang, Hilipeum swimming pool, ended up as 2 breathing sessions of 60 minutes each. Originally, I hoped those visits were used to make videos of my swimming forms, but I agreed to have breathing swim sessions instead. This was rather reassuring because one of 김재덕’s specialty was in breathing training.

Looking back from the point of view at the end of June 2025, the period from 2023 January, til 2024 September, I got introduced to the basic swimming forms. The period of the visit to 김재덕, and onward, of the later months of 2024, I got used to breathing, and gained confidence of the technique that I needed to cultivate, and evolve. From then on, around the early months of 2025 I realized that my legs are floating to the surface, while my head is near the surface of the water at all times, while I am doing crawl strokes, or free style strokes. In June 2025, I realized that my legs are on the surface while I am doing back strokes, and breast strokes. In many cases, I even noticed that my pelvis comes near the surface when I glide while doing breast stroke.

Many Youtube videos were useful throughout my evolution in swimming. However, During the first half year of 2025 Skills n’ Talelnts channel, Effortless Swimming channel, 다이빙덕 channel, and 수영 강사 황승현, was extremely useful especially. The first two video channels gave me a vision, or a road-map that I should follow in teaching myself how to progress from the place that I could find myself in, while 다이빙덕 gave me the knowledge on arm movements while doing crawl stroke, and 수영 강사 황승현 gave me confidence on dealing with butterfly stroke. Sarah Fredrika Sjöström. Summer Ann McIntosh.

• Skills n’ Talents; Effortless Swimming; SwimUp; Swimming_Zone; Rina Anna Swimming;
• schnodo pics – Freestyle swimming: arm movement. completed.
• 다이빙덕; 어울림tv; 스윔잇/스월프; 힐링수영;
• shc; 찬물; 쁨지; 이너스윔 황승현; 수영에 미치다;
• 틈새 수영; 굿나잇진조; 배신튜브; 움파주파; 우진영; 신코치;

Many metaphors or alikes, or cues was introduced to me, or some I have wondered. Putting rail tracks with my arms before the payload, or my torso went into the trajectory is one, thinking of crawl stroke to ice skating was another, and when thinking of rolling putting myself on a cylinder that rolls is yet another. I am pleased to say, as of 29th of June 2025, while I am doing a crawl stroke, I now think the the radius of the cylinder to be 0, and like to think of the center of the cylinder to be my spine. The challenge I face at this point of time in terms of crawl stroke, I am trying to find rhythm in my stroke tempo, and lack of effective kick.

At this point in time, as of 24th of June, 2025, I could say that the years from 2023, and 2024 was a surveying period. Now, in June 2025, I find my body developed enough physically to deal with swimming, with signs of my core structure developing. I am used to having my head near the surface of the water even while I breath in crawl strokes. I feel my legs are surfacing while I am doing the forms of strokes. I still need to evolve to make my pelvis surface while I am swimming backstrokes, and butterfly strokes. I am still evolving to make myself leaning in a horizontal form while I am swimming in all forms. I find this challenging, while cautiously optimistic that I could do it with confidence soon. I do hope that my arm strokes and leg kicks would become efficient.

241231Tue

Ls : needs long distance practice with quick breathing, constant steady kicks, and stable head. ; Kick : side kicks, dolphin kicks, underwater breast stroke (Ts).

Youtube

Sjöström, Sarah : fast and slow butterfly and crawl strokes underwarter short

Effortless Swimming

• What they don’t teach you in swim lessons (cheat codes) ; 240909 ; 27:59 ;
  • Use just enough strength to do things _balancing tension and relaxation_
    • accentuate the strength periods and the rest should be relaxed phase
  • Film yourself _reality vs perception_
  • Everyone is different _Finding your swimming style_
  • Techniques prevail before strength or might _effort vs technique_
    • timing, coordination, rhythm, like a dance
  • Kicks _kick supports not propels_
  • Enjoy the water before thinking like a scientist _overthinking vs. feeling the water_
  • Carrying more water is more important than speeding _swim softer to go faster_
  • Swim frequently _consistency is king_
  • Swim sessions need variations, and purpose _don’t train like a runner_
    • Warm up, main set involving change of pace, intervals, Cool down
  • Use of equipment serves purpose
  • Streamline conducive body forms come first _developing your stroke step by step_
    • Breathing
    • Head
    • Body
    • Legs
    • Rotation
    • Recovering arms
    • Underwater arm stroke
    • Rhythm and timing
  • Long term view of things is healthy _long term vs short term improvements_
  • Speed is the result of good techniques _don’t chase speed_
  • Mobility, and strength trainings’ importance _strength and mobility: out of water training_
  • Progressive acceleration _slow to fast_
    • Arm strokes, leg work in breast stroke, or progression in the water during sprinting
  • Stroke Length is important as long as Rate> 51 strk/min _stroke length and stroke rate_
    • Minimize drag : body position, horizontal, long and tall, minimize drag, streamlined
    • Increasing propulsion : Arm stroke underwater, rotation of body, kick
  • Specific goal oriented mind set _training for specific events_
  • Notice the difference _the difference between pool and open water swimming_
  • Feeling the water with your senses _take off watch_
  • Basics comes first _turn off the distractions_
• Transform your freestyle in 33 minutes ; 240923 ; 33:00 ;
  • Breathing relaxed, using the diaphragm _breathing relax0:16_
  • Body, pressing your head, chest (, and pelvis) against the water, _reduce drag2:10_
    • head, hips (back of the pelvis), heels are on the surface, horizontal, and streamlined
  • Long, elongated and tall body from toes to fingers _posture4:04_
  • Where to look at, long neck, but tuck in the chin closer to the chest _head position4:38_
  • Support the swim, reducing unneeded drag via short flutters from the thighs _legs5:22_
  • For long distant swimmers approximately 35+/-5, perhaps not for sprinters _rotation9:10_
    • This tilt originates from the pelvis, the core
  • Fast, short, low, and in sync with the rotation ; don’t lift the head _breathing12:36_
  • Relaxed hand and wrist ; swing the elbow _recovery15:12_
  • Fingers first entry _entry16:56_
  • Arms should stretch forward, not crossing the head _train tracks19:58_
  • Observe a limb in front of the head at all times _stroke timing (front quadrant)19:58_
  • _catch22:00_
  • to _anchor and hold_ to
  • to _finish of stroke_ to
  • to _breathing pattern_ to
  • to _rhythm and timing (dance)_ to
• This changes everything ;
• I analyzed 8000 swimmers, – here’s what makes you faster (Ignore most advice);
• What you’re not told about sinking legs ;
• The 5 phrases I use to swim without getting tired (Noodle to needle) ;
• How to stop your arm from slipping through the water (anchor, not pull) ;
• Common problems for a 2:20/100m swimmer ;
• 5 reasons your arm drops when you breath ; 211013 ; 12:42 ;
  • Head while breathing
    • Lifting head when you breath
    • head turn is not entirely lateral, breathe only to the 90 degrees
    • breath naturally
  • Body rotation is too extreme
  • Hand entry is not being performed, or elbow is entering first
  • Push of the opposite arm is not entirely performed
    • Opposite hand reach the thigh
    • Pushing palm of the hand is extended to the back
  • Leading arm should have the shoulder, elbow, wrist is progressively lower from the torso
  • Shoulder should be close to the cheek

다이빙덕 :

• : 덕자 드릴 in shorts
• : 230414 안 쉬고 30 바퀴 하는 방법
• :

찬물chanmul : 수영 잘하는 법_롤링 편 ;

수영강사황승현 : 숨 쉬면서 발 차는 연습 ; 1/1 접영

• 2513Mon0324 2100utc+9 :
  • crawlStroke :
    • proper breathing
    • head should not leave the water, even while breathing, while taking a breath, a sensation of scraping the left cheek bone on the water surface is the proper
    • side kicks
    • Feel the head, pelvis, and heels are on the water surface
    • elongated strokes
    • stroke while catch and entry is about to happen with the rotation of the body
    • the finishing push feel like the side of the body
    • Need to be conscious not to over extend, crossing the arms to the opposite side of body
    • Making sure the shoulder is out of water, and the arm is entering water fingers first
    • Cadence, or the turning of arms is more frequent
• 2513Thu0327 2100utc+9 :

2529Fri0718 0311utc+9hrs :

• the very first thing that one needs to accomplish if one wishes to be a good swimmer is that one must loose or alleviate the fear of water.
• Next one must feel comfortable in breathing in water, the person must overcome the urge to breathing outside of the water, forcing oneself to lift the head out of the water.
• The third thing is to make the body horizontal to the surface of the water. However, it took me at least two years and six months to notice that in order to make my body physically horizontal to the surface of the water I should be willing to plunge in my head into the water.
• I thought making my whole body, which includes my head, pelvis, and heels on the surface of the water was my second challenge after being used to breathing properly while swimming. It took me at least two years and three months in calendar time to make my whole body float on the water.

Channels that are great

• Effortless Swimming; Skills n’ Talents; Rina Anna Swimming; swimming_zone
• 다이빙덕; 어울림Tv; SHC; 찬물; 쁨지; 수영강사황승현; 움파주파; 신코치; 힐링수영; 스월프swolf;

255271228 2357utc+9hrs :

From January 2023, til December 2025, I’ve learned swimming for 3 years. From November 2025 I even uploaded another 50 minutes of weekday time for autonomous swimming from 1800 hrs. til 1850 hrs. This year on 2025, I’ve tried every effort to squeeze in time for swimming. Even on Saturdays, and Sundays as well, I tried to swim at least 3 sessions, and on many occasions swam 4 sessions.

Perhaps I’m on a streak of rapid improvements at this stage of time at the late year of 2025.

Today, I tried to incorporate kicking on my Crawl strokes, and Back strokes. I also tried the back dolphin kicks of my back strokes. Dolphin kicks on my Crawl strokes, and Butterfly strokes. There was a through line for todays swimming. That is I tried to do everything rather slow, and controlled, without rushing. I think the biggest thing that enabled me to do this slow, controlled, soft movement was the confidence I had in BREATHING. I could now be comfortable in facing right beneath my head while I do my Crawl strokes. Which should enable me to have my pelvis, legs, and heels closer to the surface of the water. Keeping my head down, which makes my body line straighter would be an advantage for my swimming by causing less drag while I am swimming.

From 2025 December, I could now divide sessions of swimming into parts of training

• 1500 – 1550 hrs. : 10 minutes sculling; instruction of the day; Within the first 6th person.
• 1600 – 1650 hrs. : Breast strokes practice, and breast stroke related activities.
• 1700 – 1750 hrs. : crawl, back, fly strokes; rapid sessions of 50 meters x20 involving kicks.
• 1800 – 1850 hrs. : crawl strokes, back, fly strokes; soft long distance sessions of 500 meters x4.

Looking back from the vantage point of 2025 December, I think the first two years of 2023, and 2024 was devoted to learing rudimentary skills of the 4 strokes. However, these 2 years were also used to make my body adjust to the conditions of swimming, my nervous systems, breathing adjustments, and core muscles was gradually building up. The end of 3rd year of 2025 have seen fruits from this 3 years efforts. While on a crawl stroke, I am now able to look beneath my face, and breathe laterally, or to my side. Also, having my pelvis, legs, and heels near the surface of the water. So to sum of this 3rd year of 2025, I am aware and still developing at the same time horizontal floats on the different forms of strokes. Like a “news paper floating over the water” must be my body. I need to use surface tension of the water to make my head close to the surface. This would enable speed and ease of breathing.

What I need and want to develop immediately is my leg works incorporated to the strokes. I tried to do that on the 255271228. However, I need to start slow and with smaller displacements between the feet. I also need to develop back dolphin kicks and my push-offs from the wall. All these need slow motions to adjust. While doing breast strokes, I need to do a reliable pull outs. Especially the first breast stroke kick right before the pull-out has much room to grow. I am somewhat optimistic about my level of pelvis compared to the surface of the water. In butterfly strokes, I need a rapid rate of cycle, or rapid arm movements. To help myself achieve that rapid arm movements, I need faster dolphin kicks on the front start. And I need to be at the front of the line at 1500 session. Break-out during butterfly is not an issue in terms of clean, and ideal break out. I will dolphin kick my way to the surface has touched my legs, and do the first arms stroke.

For the middle portion of the 2025 I struggled with keeping my legs neutrally stable of my intended direction of choice. My whole body was zigzagging.