Physical activities practiced in the aquatic environment are diverse, such as diving, synchronized swimming, water aerobics, water polo and deep running (running in water). These are activities generally guided by teachers and practiced in a more systematic way. However, the contact of the human body with the aquatic environment generates a very pleasant feeling of well-being, even if it is just submerging the body in water. That's why children and adults have fun on the beach, lakes and swimming pools.
However, when you think about water, the idea of swimming soon comes into play. Swimming necessarily implies displacement of the human body in the aquatic environment. All this seems very simple until we remember that man does not breathe in the aquatic environment and, if the place where he is has a depth greater than its height, so the human being had to invent a means of displacement in this environment. This type of skill developed and perfected by man and transmitted through generations, the anthropologist Marcel Mauss calls body techniques.
Mauss, who lived between the end of the 19th century and the middle of the 20th century, reports in his article “the techniques of the body”, how he learned to swim: “we were taught to dive after learning to swim. And when they taught us to dive, they told us to close our eyes and then open them in the water. Today the technique is reversed. All learning begins by getting the child used to staying in the water with his eyes open.” This statement is important for us not to think of swimming as a static technique, on the contrary: it was visibly improved over the course of the 20th century.
Officially and currently speaking, there are four styles of swimming: crawl (or free), backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly:
- Crawl: is characterized by extended and alternate kicks, combined with the alternation of movement of the arms: there will always be one arm doing the pull in the water and the other doing the aerial phase, above from water;
- Backstroke: The kick is the same as the front crawl, but the position of the body in the water is reversed. The strokes are alternated, projecting the arms forward over the surface of the water;
- Chest: arms are moved simultaneously. The stroke begins with both arms extended and joined in an opening movement of the arms, pulled from the water, followed by the return to the starting position. The leg movement follows the same description (but the water is pushed, not pulled, in this case);
- Butterfly: The kick in this swim is called a curl and starts with a strong hip thrust. The arms are simultaneously moved: they are passed over the water and, as they immerse, they pull the water in a movement that resembles the figure of a lock.
The order in which the description of the styles was arranged is the order in which swimming is usually taught to students. It should be remembered that the backstroke and butterfly styles are practically restricted to swimming lessons and short competitions, played in swimming pools.
Swimming also has long-distance events that are played in lakes, rivers or seas, which were previously called crossings and today they have the name of water marathons. In this type of competition, the athlete can swim with the style he prefers, but generally prefers to swim front crawl with a bit of breaststroke. The backstroke has no specific role in this type of event, as it prevents the swimmer from locating; the butterfly, in turn, is seen as a style that requires a lot of strength from the athlete, so its use in this type of event is also not convenient.
As a regular practice, swimming offers many benefits: developing cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle strength and endurance, flexibility, stress relief, improved self-image and weight control. So, it's easy to understand why swimming is said to be a very complete sport.
By Paula Rondinelli
Brazil School Collaborator
Graduated in Physical Education from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Master in Motricity Sciences from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
PhD student in Latin American Integration at the University of São Paulo - USP
Sport - PE - Brazil School
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/educacao-fisica/natacao.htm
