Swimming Types - Crawl and Trudgen Stroke

THE ability to support oneself on the surface of the water and self-propulsion through the water without artificial aid are the basic requirements for participation in any aquatic sports. Swimming itself is generally considered one of the finest sports for developing and keeping muscular tone. It probably calls more muscles into play, with close coordination, than almost any other activity. The objective in proper swimming is to accomplish passage through the water with the least possible resistance to the ambient medium, with a minimum of splashing, and a smooth, continuous forward motion.

The Crawl

The “speed” stroke in most common use today is the Australian crawl which was developed in that country and improved in the United States. In the crawl the body is prone. Alternating overarm strokes and a flutter kick are used, and the head is turned from side to side at water level for breathing. While this is the stroke usually used in freestyle racing, it is best used by untrained swimmers only for short distances, as it can be rather tiring after a short spurt of speed. The popular 6-beat crawl is accomplished by kicking 3 times while each arm is pulling. The breathing must be synchronized with the arm and leg motions. The head should be carried so that the waterline is just above the eyes. As the arm is extended forward, the head is turned to the opposite side, and the swimmer inhales, breathing quickly through the mouth. As the face is turned downward, exhalation is through the nose and mouth while the other arm is extended and pulling.

The Trudgen Stroke

For distance swimming, the trudgen stroke is considered less tiring than the crawl and is essentially a fast stroke. It is named after John Trudgen, a British swimmer who died in 1902. Trudgen gained international fame for his swimming victories using this stroke. It became popular first in Spain, then spread to Latin America and finally to the United States. This stroke combines the arm motions of the crawl and the leg action of the sidestroke a modified scissors kick. Overarm strokes from a prone position are used, and the head remains on one side, for more natural breathing than in the crawl.

The important arm action of the trudgen is as follows: The stroke is started by pressing the arms alternately through the water with elbows straight. This motion is carried through until the elbow reaches the surface of the water close to the body. The elbow should then be lifted from the water until the hand emerges, and the hand is extended just above the surface until the arm is straight. When the hand enters the water, the arm should be pressed straight down for another stroke. As one arm presses through the water, the other reaches forward toward the start of the stroke. For the leg motion, one hip is kept about 4 inches lower than the other as the scissors kick is started. The body motion is a forward roll through the water. Co-ordination of arms and legs is important. The leg motion must be geared to the position of the hips. With the left hip low, the kick is performed as the left hand moves forward; then the legs are kept together as the right hand goes forward. With the right hip low, the reverse action is followed.

There are several variations on the basic trudgen stroke. The use of a frog kick will reduce the amount of body roll. The “double trudgen” is accomplished by using a frog or scissors kick with each armstroke. The “trudgen crawl” is a form of the stroke in which a scissors kick is used while one arm is pressing, and 2 or 4 crawl-stroke kicks are used while the other arm is pressing.

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