What is the difference between wave breaststroke and basic breaststroke?

Difference between wave breaststroke and basic breaststroke

1. Chasing waves

Hungarian Negi is the inventor of wave breaststroke. He believed that in the wave breaststroke technique, the trajectory of the shoulder is a symmetrical wave shape. That is to say, the wave rises and falls in a symmetrical shape, with no sudden drop after a breath.

The movement of the legs is also very critical, and must be at the right time with the upper body forward, to complete what Abenshik called "catfight". If the leg stroke is too late, the shoulders will sink, and a notch will suddenly form in what should be a symmetrical wave. Herein lies the difference between traditional breaststroke technique and wave breaststroke technique.

2. Shoulder lifting

In the traditional breaststroke technique, the shifting of the arms takes place deeper underwater, which causes more resistance. However, wave breaststroke is different, and its ingenious part is the action below the water surface. By depressing the back with appropriate force, the upper body can be raised out of the water, with only the waist and legs remaining in the water. This greatly reduces the resistance. As the arms begin to extend forward, the back shifts from a depression to an arch. If this is properly coordinated with the stirrups, a greater propulsive force can be generated.

This change in back posture is very important. When the back is concave, the quick, powerful inward stroke of the hands raises the head and torso high above the water; while the upward arch of the back in conjunction with the stirrups brings the hands and body forward.

Abenshik adds that the concavity of the back lifts the body high enough for a forward lunge, and then the stirrups begin.

3. Center of gravity

Neggi found that athletes who were able to make a forward lunge with the wave breaststroke had a stable center of gravity that basically stayed 4 or 5 inches (i.e., about 10 to 13 centimeters) underwater, rather than rising and falling.

Barrowman is in agreement with Negi. In correspondence with the authors, he said that one critical point is that there is virtually no up-and-down undulation of the hips throughout the movement cycle. Of course, sometimes up and down is inevitable, but that is what separates the winner from the fifth place finisher in a competition. If the hips are undulating, the center of gravity moves, which results in wasted work. Therein lies the biggest difference between Barrowman's and Rosa's technique. And that difference creates a 0.5 to 1 second difference. Since Rosa's hips rise and fall more, he does more excess work.

4, technical points

1) and the traditional breaststroke "stroke - stirrups" with the rhythm is different, wave breaststroke with the rhythm is "stroke - forward stroke - stirrups". Stroke-Forward Stroke". The forward stroke is unique to the wave breaststroke. It occurs between the stroke and the leg stroke; the hand and forearm are just on the horizontal plane and reach forward quickly parallel to the water surface.

2) The back is concave at the beginning of the stroke and arm shift; the back arches upward during the forward stroke.

3) The significant difference between the wave breaststroke and the traditional breaststroke is that the head and upper part of the torso leave the water as the body continues to glide forward. The widest part of the body-the shoulders-raises out of the water. In addition, the shoulders are arched to the point where they almost touch the ears, all of which helps to better maintain the streamlined shape of the body.

4) The forward motion is like an athlete throwing his body forward. Barrowman credits the arching of the back with helping him to generate more thrust in the forward stroke.

5) Correct timing of the stirrups is extremely critical. Stomping begins when the arm is 3/4 of the way forward. The direction of the stomp is directly backward, with no downward component of force.

6) The hips rise and fall very little during the complete cycle of the movement in order to conserve energy and maintain the momentum of the body.