It seems most Chinese begin to learn swim in breaststroke firstly, and most of them stop there. Frankly it is enough to enjoy, exercise and save oneself in case. How many swimmers will continue to learn freestyle? I don’t know, but less 10%, I guess.
Is it hard to learn freestyle? My experience told me that, yes, it is hard …. There are several steps needed to practice and feel that again and again. They are like obstacles, many swimmers are failure there, or so so, or in a little ugly posture, smile.
My experience told me that these problems most of us could meet: 1) legs sink to water, make body lose balance; 2) cannot take a breath well, then stop at about 20 meters eventually; 3) can take some breath, but not enough, so 50 meters is the best result; 4) legs couldn’t kick well, without assistance to both balance and speed; 5) worse body balance, etc.
Is it necessary to ask a coach? My answer is not always!
People can learn by yourself although it is not easy. Of course, it saves money! Hehe. Today there is plenty of videos and articles/information which netizen share with friendly on internet, free to watch/read. They are good teachers and enough to learn for new swimmers. Of course, maybe it is relative slow compare with a coach teaches because no one monitors and mentions your flaw/deficiency where you need improve. It is hard to make big progress in short time. For me, it is okay, because of no pressure, I can practice in my step, make my own plan to exercise. smile.
There is saying: all roads lead to Rome. Self-study is a choice, and I made it! After a year “tough”, over and over, exercise, I can swim in long distance in freestyle ---- 2,000 meters!
As a matter of fact, it is big lean/progress for swimmers from short distance to long distance. Easier said than done. It is a tough process: study ---practice, study --- practice, study---practice … Where there is a will, there is a way.
Lately I heard from a friend in USA, most Americans begin to learn swim in freestyle, not breaststroke, wow, quite different with us. Maybe it is because of different concept to swim between Eastern and Western.
