Swimming

[Weilawei]

Hi, I'm 17 and about to go into my senior year of high school. I want to become a SEAL, but I have a major problem. While I'm comfortable in the water, can stay afloat and such, I can't actually swim for anything worth talking about. Any suggestions to fix this? I'm not sure if there are swim lessons around here, but I'll look. Do they teach swimming in boot camp or anywhere before BUD/S?

[snow85]

1. do a site search. there's tons of info on swimming on here.

2. get the book: total immersion swimming. better you learn how to swim correctly, than have to correct a bad habit later on.

what, specifically, are you looking for? i used to teach, and i swam in college, so i might be able to help you out.

think about these things:

what is your reaction if you get water up your nose?

what do you, personally, do if you start to choke on water while swimming?

water in your eyes? do you wipe them, or let it be?

what would you do if you found yourself under water, and couldn't immediately get to the surface?

what if it was dark?

floater or sinker?

do some research, and get back to me with your questions/answers.

[Weilawei]

1. Will do

2. Will do

Specifically, I want to learn to swim well enough to be able to pass the tests upon joining the Navy and going for SEALs. I don't expect to be a champion swimmer before I get there, but I do want to pass it reasonably.

As I said, I'm very comfortable in water, I just don't swim well.

Water up the nose doesn't bother me.

Choking, I don't have that happen too often but I usually surface as fast as I can. Bad?

Water in my eyes doesn't bother me. (I like swimming underwater and goggles never work for me.)

If I was stuck underwater, I'm not sure. Never been in that situation.

I tend to be a sinker sadly.. never quite mastered that floating thing.

[fbmanimal]

I'm a sinker to. Is it absolutley necessary to be able to float during BUD/S?

[JonnyR]

Follow this link that depicts the instructions/demonstration of the Combat Side Stroke:

http://www.getfitnow.com/article_48.html

[snow85]

things have been extremely hectic here, but i didn't forget about you.


Specifically, I want to learn to swim well enough to be able to pass the tests upon joining the Navy and going for SEALs. I don't expect to be a champion swimmer before I get there, but I do want to pass it reasonably.


sounds, well, reasonable. i can help you out with that, within reason. i'm not in your part of the country, but i'll do what i can. the purpose of the book is to be sure you understand why you're going be doing certain things. the technique is, of course, about being faster, stronger, and increasing your endurance, but these things are all much easier acheived with proper form. you want to be as streamlined as possible, and as long as possible in the water, to be the most efficient swimmer you can be. remember, typically speaking longer hulls make for faster vessels. warning: once you 'look' like you know what you're doing, other swimmers may start asking you to critique their strokes. happens to me all the time, and i do it, 1. because i can, and 2. because i don't mind helping out. just be ready for it to happen, [and if they're green, to interrupt your workout], because it very well might.

[note: the 'regular' side stroke is a resting stroke, meaning that they teach people to do this stroke when they get tired in the water, if they can't get out. breast stroke is one, too. what you will be doing, in re: these two strokes, is neither of these things.)

the questions that i asked you were to gauge your comfort in the water. no one has a problem with the shower, but tons of people have problems with pools, lakes, rivers, and oceans. the more comfortable you are, the more likely you are to be able to get yourself, and possibly someone else, out of an emergency situation. additionally, the water is what separates a SEAL... but i'm sure you already knew that.


Choking, I don't have that happen too often but I usually surface as fast as I can. Bad?


no, not necessarily, as long as you don't panic. that is will make it bad. when i swim laps, i find that the inefficient fat guy next to me, in the speedo, ALWAYS throws enough water into my lane to make me choke on it. he's getting much, much better though. if i'm paying attention, i just don't breath when he's passing by. if i do happen to swallow the water, though, i just put my head back under and cough. you will always have residual air in your lungs-- it just sits in the bottom, and doesn't get expelled when you breathe. you can force that out, and clear your airway. the added benefit to this is that i don't have to interrupt the lap i'm on, every time he swims by. because there's a constricting feeling, due to water in your trachea that shouldn't be there, you have to stay calm when you do it. eventually, it won't bother you anymore.

Water in my eyes doesn't bother me. (I like swimming underwater and goggles never work for me.)

key indicator of comfort with the water, and this spans all age groups.

If I was stuck underwater, I'm not sure. Never been in that situation.

key is to stay calm, so that you don't turn a *potentially* dangerous situation into a fatal one....


I tend to be a sinker sadly.. never quite mastered that floating thing.

fatties float, so don't get broken up about it. muscle weighs more than fat. (i'm talking about the amount of fat on your body here, not whether you're big or skinny. the majority of the 'skinny' people you see walking around, would actually rate as being morbidly obese.) your fluid, blood, water, etc., becomes neutrally displaced in the water. what you basically have left, is muscle, bone, and fat. fat floats, muscle doesn't, due to density. i'm a sinker, too. makes a slight difference in helping you with refining the best strokes possible.

next thing to discuss: your swimming.

[VMI_ARMY]

Also... since you've still got you senior year of high school to go... Look into joining a swim team. They usually take all levels of swimmers. One season of swimming and you will see exponential results. The team could be high school or private. Go for the one with the most coach involvement. Otherwise you won't get the necessary level of training.

[GBASeal2338]

Apart from the topic and question, VMI_Army are you currently at VMI? I am applying to VMI on NROTC Scholarship. Are you in Army ROTC? What was you SAT score? Is there anyhting that really helped you get in, etc..

hope you don't mind me asking. Thanks

Back to swimming, he's right about the swim team. I am in my junior year right now and hadn't swam much before(only recreation). I jioned my neighborhood swim team the summer before. There was great instruction, as we had practice evryday during the summer in the morning for a couple of hours. Just keep practicing.

[VMI_ARMY]

Actually graduated a few years ago... I was Army ROTC. I think what helped me alot was extracuricular activities (JROTC, Wrestling, Swimming, Track, AP). The standards are going up, so I'm not sure as what it is right now. But they look at alot more than grades and test scores.

Feel free to ask more questions...