Breaststroke

Step 1: The Stroke

The aim is to keep your body as close to the surface and as streamlined as possible. You need to push your legs outwards and backwards - like a frog's, but without your feet coming out of the water or making splashes. This is known as the whip kick. You may find one leg is stronger than the other and it may be hard to get both legs to do the same thing at the same time. Practice will help you to get there.

Step 2: Arms

Most people find the arm action easier than the legs. Have your arms stretched out in front of you, push your arms away from each other to make a full circle and stretch them out again, to repeat the circle. Your hands should stay in front of your shoulders. So if you can always see your hands, you're arm action is on the right tracks. There should be very little splashing, if any, caused by your arms. As your arms are stretching out to do their circles your legs should be pushing back to start their movement.

Step 3: Breathing

Breathing in breast stroke is quite straightforward. As you finish your arm circle, lift your head out of the water and take a breath. Your face goes back into the water as you stretch your arms forward again and back up to take a new breathe.

The key to breast stroke is getting the arms and legs to work together is one fluid movement. Regular practise will help you get there.