Swimming Scientifically Taught | Page 5

water.
To accustom pupils to the water I teach them to open the eyes and
mouth under water. This is much simpler than non-swimmers imagine.
Care is taken not to open the eyes too wide. At the first few attempts
the pupil will feel amazed, on opening the eyes the first time, at the
distance of the vision under water. This is a very good thing to know,
and helps beginners to overcome fear of water.
[Illustration: FIGURE 5]
To teach pupils to open the mouth under water I place a rubber ring six
inches from the surface and have the pupil bring it to the surface with
the teeth. By being careful not to attempt to breathe while under water,
the mouth may be opened to any extent without the least danger of
swallowing water.
It is wonderful the amount of confidence instilled in a novice on
realizing his ability to open the eyes and keep the mouth open under
water.
[Illustration: FIGURE 6]
A preserver tied around the waist obviates the necessity of an instructor
holding the pupil, and he can, therefore, better direct the movements, so

that the pupil, while being held up by a preserver, makes headway, care
being taken to do the movements slowly and together. Then the pupil is
shown how to turn around. The knees should be drawn up, as in Fig. 4,
and then to turn to the left, use the right arm only, the left arm should
be held in a straight line with the shoulder; then continue to use the
three arm movements with the left arm, until one has turned completely
around in the water. To turn the other way, use the other arm.
[Illustration: FIGURE 7]
Next the pupil is shown how to float. The knees are drawn up and
turned out, the arms extended back beyond the head, as in Fig. 7; the
hands, about six inches apart, are kept under water. Deep breaths
should be drawn through the mouth and forced into the lungs. The
pupil will notice that, at each inflation of the lungs, the body will rise in
the water, and sink correspondingly when the air is expelled. This
practise shows how buoyant the body is. The more limp one lies, the
more buoyant the body becomes.
Since I started the Dalton Swimming School twelve years ago, at 23
West 44th Street, New York City, I have always shown my method of
teaching swimming scientifically, which is exactly the reverse of the
methods of other instructors; that is, teaching pupils how to swim on
their backs first, before teaching them the breast stroke, which I
contend is the hardest stroke of all, when done correctly. Another
innovation of mine is the use of the Dalton nose-clip, a clip that pinches
the nostrils tightly together, keeping the water out of the nose and
forcing the pupil to breathe through the mouth, which is the correct
way of breathing while swimming. The more air one gets into the lungs
the lighter one is in the water, making swimming easier. That is the
reason so many would-be swimmers, simply because they try to
breathe through the nose, get winded very quickly. The main thing
about breathing in all the strokes is to keep the mouth open all the time.
With the mouth open, air can come in and out of its own accord and the
pupil does not have to worry about the breathing.
THE DALTON STROKE

[Illustration: FIGURE 8]
In my next lessons I teach pupils my own stroke--that is, the Dalton
stroke. This is employed when on the back, only instead of going
head-first through the water, as in the back stroke, the pupil goes feet
first. The legs are held out, perfectly straight, then one leg is dropt
down in the water, the upper half of leg from knee to thigh remaining
stationary (Fig. 8). Then, as that leg is drawn back to its original
position, the other leg is brought down in precisely the same manner,
the dropping of both legs alternately in much the same way as when
walking. To do this effectively, pressure must be applied to the positive
stroke; that is to say, while the foot is being drawn down. The reverse
movement, or straightening of the leg, must be made gently. The knees
should be brought to the surface of the water each time; this is in a slow
but restful movement. The arm movements consist of having arms
straight alongside the body, the palms of the hands being turned out,
the thumbs down, making small circles with the hands and wrists, as in
Fig. 8, propelling one's self ahead with small scoops. It is hard at first
to combine the two arm and leg movements, but practise makes perfect;
and