In the over-arm stroke the body is usually turned on the right side. At the start the lower arm is pulled downwards towards the hips, the fingers being kept closed and the hand flat, so as to present a large surface to the water. When the stroke is finished the hand is turned quickly palm upwards, so that together with the lower part of the arm it cuts the water sideways, the arm being almost bent double. Then, as it is shot forward. the hand is gradually turned from palm upwards to palm downwards, until, when it arrives at its posi tion beyond the head, it is ready for the next stroke. The recov ery and the pull ought to he effected as quickly as possible. The upper arm stroke is started when the downward stroke of the under or right arm is finished. It is started in front of the fore head, the arm being slightly bent and the fingers pointing down wards. The hand is pulled past the face and chest with the arm bent at right-angles and swept back in front of the body, the arm gradually straightening as it leaves the water opposite the hip. When the hand is opposite the hip it should be brought quickly out of the water and sent forward for the next stroke. When the upper arm is opposite the shoulder in its pull through the water the legs are kicked wide apart and closed again at the moment when the hand leaves the water. The kick is completed and the legs straightened before the left hand is replaced ready for the next stroke. As the legs are opened the upper leg is kicked for ward with the knee slightly bent, and the foot kept in its ordinary position. The lower leg is bent double until the heel approaches the thigh, which is brought backwards slightly. In the actual kick the upper leg is sent forward, and as it is straightened vig orously the under leg from the knee downwards comes forward to meet it with a vicious kick ; the swirl of the feet and closing of the legs drives the body forward. This is what has come to be known in Great Britain as the "Northern Kick" by reason of its first being introduced by Lancashire swimmers.
This stroke, more commonly known as the trudgeon stroke, and on the continent of Europe as Span ish swimming, was first made prominent in England in 1873, by a swimmer named J. Trudgen, who stated that he had acquired the knowledge of it while in South America. It was, however, known to Clias, a writer on swimming, who described it in 1825 as "The Thrust." Trudgen's speed was so great for his time that swimmers quickly copied his style, and it is from this stroke that the crawl stroke has been developed. When swimming Trudgen kept on the chest and lifted the upper part of his body at each stroke out of the water and at each swing of the arms pulled himself forward, a considerable swirl of the water occur ring as each movement was finished. The arms were brought forward sideways, each completing a circle on each side of the body, and the head kept completely above water. Those who copied Trudgen soon found it was less laborious and equally as fast to use a double over-arm stroke with the head and chest well down, and thus have the body supported by the water, using the ordinary over-arm leg kick.
Like the trudgen, this is an adaptation from native swimmers. It was not generally known in Great Britain until 1902, when Richard Cavill came from Australia to compete in the English championships, but it is said to be com mon with the natives of the South Sea islands, and from there introduced into Australia about the year 1900. From thence it came to Europe and there C. M. Daniels, the American ama teur champion of that period, made so excellent a study of it that in 1907 he not only so greatly increased his own pace as to be able to win the English championship, and beat the world's record for a hundred yards, but also introduced various improve ments upon it. This stroke is distinct from any other form of swimming; the legs are kept straight, but not rigid. They whip the water backwards and forwards alternately, thus imitating the movements when walking on tiptoe. The power is obtained from the hips, knees and ankles. The width of the kick is about twelve inches between the heels. The speed of the kick is usually adjusted to the requirements of the individual. A supple swim mer is able to use a faster movement compared with one whose limbs are slow in action. It has been stated that some use as many as ten kicks to each complete stroke of the two arms, but it seems that the great majority find four kicks sufficiently try ing. This striking or kicking is done from an upward to a down ward direction, one leg at a time. The arms are used somewhat as in the trudgen stroke, they are bent at the elbows, dipped in alternately beyond the head and drawn smartly backwards until they come out of the water at the hips. The result of this move• ment is that when one arm is pulling or propelling the body through the water at the same moment, the other is being recov eyed through the air for the next stroke, thus avoiding resistance in the line of progress.
One of the most useful accomplishments for a swimmer is that of floating, but curiously enough there are some who cannot acquire a knowledge of it. It is purely a matter of buoyancy, and requires constant practice before one can become perfect in it. In learning to float the beginner experiences great difficulty in overcoming the tendency of the legs to sink, and if after frequent trials they are still found to sink, he should get someone to hold them up or else place them on the steps or be hind the rail of the bath, and thUs assisted learn to balance the body on the surface. Before doing so he should completely fill his lungs, spread his legs wide, and then lie backwards with the arms extended in a line with the body and beyond the head, with the palms upwards, care being taken to throw as much weight beyond the head as possible. Furthermore he must lie perfectly still and take care not to hollow the back or raise the abdomen above water. One may sink for an instant, but if the breath be held the lips will come above the surface when easy breathing may be indulged in. Only the
chest and toes should appear above the surface of the water. A knowledge of floating is of good service to those attempting to save life.