April 2008 Karen's Top Tip: Butterfly Breathing
One part of butterfly seems to cause a huge issue for most swimmers, this is the breathing. We have done a lot of work in the junior and senior training groups this month so that we only lift our arms high enough to just clear the water. The best butterfliers in the world also come out of the water with their head just enough to take a breath and then drive forward with their arms and body, being careful not to dive down at all. Most swimmers lift their body up too high when they breathe because they take a breath by arching their backs and lifting their heads. Try not to do that. Instead, work on a good strong finish with your pull and make sure you have two kicks to every stroke. That will support you when you take a breath by keeping your body moving forward, and you wonÕt have to come up so high in order to make sure you have enough time to take the breath.
Not breathing as much doesn't fix the problem because you will have to come up to breathe at some point. Swimmers should breathe every two strokes to keep good rhythm and reduce resistance. Breathing to the side works well for some people, but I would be careful because it's not the best for everyone, and if itÕs not done correctly, it can lead to a lopsided stroke.
