5 Reasons Your Arm Drops When You Breathe

[@MrSpencerallen]

My biggest complaint in learning to swim at age 33 has always been that most instructors teach from the perspective of someone who learned at a very young age. I've had a lot fo instructors who just seem to try to reach it as they were taught, then get frustrated. You do such an amazing job of consistently identifying the challenges I face and deconstructing them. The "why is nobody talking about this" catch video blew my mind. I consume a LOT of swim content on KZbin, and this is hands-down my favorite channel. These recent videos only cement that for me. Thank you so much!

[@EffortlessSwimming]

🙏

[@naturebound2901]

Spencer Allen I so agree with you! I learned to swim last year at age 48. I had four lessons from a college age instructor who usually trains kids. I received the very basics and then was left to my own devices. I am finding the Effortless Swimming videos to be the most helpful by far of the hundreds of swim channels I have explored. I am neither a competitive swimmer or a triathlete which many swim channels seem to be geared towards. I am an older dancer who chose to learn to swim as a form of exercise that is easier on my joints as I have had chronic injuries from years of dancing. I still have a love hate relationship with swimming and my improvements have been slow but steady in the ten months I have been swimming so far. This video really hits on several problems I continue to struggle with, rotation and head position (I actually think I under rotate). I definitely find that the more relaxed I am the more natural everything becomes, but I still find I am a nervous wreck before every single swim session, because I know swimming is hard. It takes me at least twenty laps to calm down and start to feel natural with my stroke and more relaxed. Sometimes I think I am pathetic for still not being able to achieve one mile of swimming in a session after ten months of working at this, but I am getting close at 62 laps in my 45 minute sessions. I really wish I had the equipment to record myself in the pool. My husband recorded me open water swimming last summer in a lake and that was eye opening as I could really see how I was lifting my head to breath (it was a calm day with no waves so no excuses lol). Unfortunately I could not tell if I was dropping my arm as the water was not clear.

[@fercis1604]

And such a handsome ! 💟

[@LarsRyeJeppesen]

I agree, amazing channel

[@callumthorsen5474]

I'm learning at 44 😅 I know your pain...youtube a great source of content.. I've pretty much learned to swim from KZbin channels like this one... Hope your journey ends in the results your looking for 💪🏻

[@bsowieja]

Yes. My favorite tip from this video: Keep that lead arm out front for what feels like way longer than necessary and it will probably be just the right amount of time.

[@danielgarcia4151]

A summary of some of the things discussed in the video: 1) One goggle in the water when you breathe/ " split vision". Mouth should move a bit to get the air. Head shouldn't be up. Can try drills with one extended arm holding a kickboard in front and practising the breathing only ( 4:05 ). 2) 40 degrees rotation, some people go close to 90 degrees which isn't good. Think of it as forward rotation... 3) How the arm should enter in the water -- fingers 1st and forming kind of a triangle with the elbow, then extending the arm inside the water from there. Drills with kickboard for entry part only, shouldn't touch the board. 4) How the "opposite hand" exits the water. Hand should exit passed the hip with the palm facing up (not facing the body or things like this...). 5) Extended arm should be kind of close to the cheek, for some beginners it's way below it, which is wrong. Drill holding something in the cheek with the shoulder, which would be too close to the cheek, but just to get the feel... Extended arm wrist aligned with the arm, pointing slightly down, fingers below wrist, and wrist below the elbow

[@stephensmith6117]

Thanks for writing down these 5 points . When something is written out in point form I remember much better. I can visualize the list .

[@wm811]

@@stephensmith6117 nevertheless, just watch video, u will see examples. Worth it!

[@johnytabletta]

Good summarizing. Thanks👍🙂

[@paolovicari5133]

Hi, about 4) I think the idea is more to try keeping your palm facing backwards, rather than upwards, so that you get a forward propulsion up to the hand exit point

[@jojijosette5946]

My coach told me I drop my lead arm when I breathe, but did not tell me how to fix it. Thank you Brenton, I have now fixed my dropped arm. My breathing is effortless... people tell me that they can't even tell I'm breathing, because my head does not lift, it's half-submerged.

[@TriTran-cl2kq]

The best swimming coach on KZbin. My 2 instructors during the last 6 months did not mention any of these tips. I watch your Chanel every night, great help. Thank you.

[@Bumsi4tw]

I don’t know how you do it but I just never feel stupid about myself when you explain things as it does with a lot of other coaches . I would love to have you as a trainer. Please keep going with the videos that is so awesome.

[@Lacehairwigs]

37 year old new swimmer here. You teach the best content for adult swimmers

[@RyanCL140]

I’m so engrossed when you speak. It’s like an angel has been sent down to explain to me the ways of the world, which is freestyle.

[@jmydy]

I don't have a clue who dislikes such informative video.

[@Acts-1322]

State level swimmer here, (and now instructing). Amazing content, well explained. I wanted to brush up on everything before working with my fish! So glad i saw this

[@backstroker3078]

Love this advise! Thank you!!! As an older swimmer, I don’t have the best range of shoulder & neck motion. I had the lead arm “drop” with every breath. Brenton’s degree rotation & head position suggestions & drills were right on. I stopped breathing to the left, changed to the right using his drills. I have better range of motion with this new side so my inhale is better, my head position is better hence I have improved balance and can keep my left arm in the front quadrant while inhaling to the right. I wouldn’t have thought of these “fixes” without Brenton’s training videos. The drills are so helpful.

[@adammclark5120]

As always.... things I could tell were off, didn't know how to sort it out, got the right perspective here, and now I have something positive to work on! Thanks AGAIN!!!

[@handmaiden4yah]

Thank you.

[@alansmith7228]

Excellent. All 5 points well explained and shown. Particularly liked item 5 at the end about dropped wrist and the 'quick fix' at the end also.

[@mauriciojr8332]

Excellent tips. Your analysis of a problem always sounds me complete. In swimming one movement influences another, so there is not just one reason to explain a phenomenon. Congratulations

[@shaun8459]

I just wanted to leave a comment and thank you for your amazing videos. In August I took a swim class for complete newbies (I had zero clue on how to swim). By the end of that class, I was able to float on my back and do the elementary backstroke. Since then, I've been practicing 2-3 times a week using KZbin as my source of information. There's a lot of quality content on here, but I feel that your videos have been the best for me than any of the other channels. Precise, effective, and to the point. Thanks so much for your wonderful content!

[@nihoor8471]

I tried freestyle for 2 months but failed so learn breaststroke with the help of his vdo s . Every day .. day afternoon and night I started watching noticing when to pull how to pull and the kick . Now I can swim breaststroke . But this one is giving me tough time. I am 66 so my shoulders are either not rotating or my muscle memory is yet to learn to catch up with the technique of pull But I WILL LEARN it in a month or 2 😂

[@edwardgranados8709]

Outstanding video. I have had this problem for a long time. The integration of all these factors into a single is what I have needed to completely address this problem. Great job with this video.

[@Xloi63]

Very simple drill suggestions, I am eager to have my clients ty them out. It's a very common issue in people's swim, but I never investigated enough why it happens and how to fix it. Thanks very much

[@Haglar6]

This is something I have increasingly noticed teaching swimming lessons. Thanks for the drill ideas and explanations

[@AnthonyAKung]

A few months ago, my coach told me the exact same thing with my lead arm dropping too soon. The suggestions here is a very good way to look at my stroke in 5 different ways. Thank you!!

[@garethmccash5986]

Thank you Brenton for a simple, no fuss explanation. This is something I struggle with especially when I get tired.

[@MrJohno79]

Exactly what I'm struggling with. I now think it's my breath, too high on the intake. Can't wait to hit the pool in the morning. Thank you...again!!!

[@baraklevy3344]

I am addicted to swimming recently, it's a new addiction and your videos are partly the reason (in a positive way).................that intro music as well ^_^

[@ibr0303]

Matt Wigton - August Love

[@vrunner6793]

Me too

[@trackie1957]

This part of the stroke is the biggest challenge I have…except for all the rest of them. Seriously, as always, very clear and helpful content. Thanks, mate!

[@syedali6146]

Excellent as always. He is the true "guru" of swimming. Love to watch his video. Keep up the good work.

[@samgaffamcgaffin]

Omg finally it makes sense I have a swim test coming up and I’m a strong swimmer but when it comes to doing laps on about my 3rd lap I find my breathing goes out and then every bit of form goes and I panic and fail I’m definitely going to try these drills and get the breathing right

[@BlownMacTruck]

Super useful - I run into this issue all the time. FYI, if you want to make your underwater shots even better, film them at high frame rates, like 50 or 60FPS. It will make the movements far easier to view when you have them in slow motion. Right now it looks like you're shooting at 24-30FPS, and that's ok for regular speed, but as soon as you slow it down for slow motion, it gets almost too choppy to understand what's happening.

[@thibod07]

Rotating forward what a nice way to put it! Thanks!

[@vincentperry1453]

Good explanation for each part of freestyle stroke and drills that enable a correction. Outstanding instruction!

[@RSarosdy]

These are such helpful tips! I know my lead arm drops when I breath but I never had any idea how to fix it. Now I do! Thanks so much!

[@mhd4ever999]

Thank you for the tips ... its all about what was covered in the video.. thise are the most common defects thats slows down most of the swimmers ..i would love to see a video explaining the feeling of a good catch with more details .. the forward shoulder near the cheek is good part of it though but i beleive it need more explanation using of ur practical ways of getting it right with small details ... thank you

[@ChrilleMP]

Really really good video. And also with school-englisch-knowledge i could understand everything. Interesting how much things are necessary to get a little element right.

[@motemedia4309]

nice instructions... this actually took care of my other related concerns as well... thank you.

[@pitiwong1]

exactly one of my persistent incorrect way that I want to fix it. thanks so much! subscribed!

[@Triathlon.]

Rocking shoulders forward vs over rotating to breathe helped me! Thank you!

[@federicol8366]

Great video. Structured, amenable, technical, specific, clear, friendly and not overly complicated. Just right for my needs! Some tips I kind of knew about, but they all come in as handy refreshers, reinforcements or even totally new stuff.

[@lashawnhill3039]

Thank you! This is really helpful. I'm just learning how to swim at 51 and I will use this in my next practice session and class:)

[@isaberg135]

Thanks about this very complete explanation! Helps me a lot about that problem

[@benmonette7593]

I will try it! This is one of my problems, pushing down to breath

[@longluck8490]

Overreaching with my left hand was a problem I wasn't able to diagnose myself! Thanks so much!

[@napraznicul]

Your videos are instructive sometimes even for pretty advanced swimmers AND fir open waters swimmers. Pretty much the only one which cover both areas.👍👏

[@noartifacts1983]

Tha k you for the videos. I always thought I was out of shape when swimming but it turns out my technique is horrible. So I've been spending some time with these drills. Thank you!

[@mathiasfrandsen5468]

This was the best video ever!!! i took so many notes on my phone man really helpful!

[@MR-AK]

Good stuff. I’m starting out and having trouble consistently breathing comfortably.

[@bobwalton9266]

Hi Brenton, I have watched lots of your videos and found them most helpful. Particularly, this one about dropping your leading hand when breathing, and looking to the side of the pool on the breathing stroke. Let me first say, I am certainly no expert swimmer, but I feel I have improved dramatically recently after years of struggling to get enough air. My problem was (what I think is very common among new, male swimmers especially) that I could swim two lengths quite fast, make a lot of splashes, and then completely run out of breath on the 3rd and 4th lengths. I tried lots of drills, took a couple of lessons, but I was still muscling my way through the water after a few lengths, getting horribly out of breath. Last year I tried looking at the side of the pool during my breathing stroke, as you suggested, and breathing early in the stroke. I was looking at 3 o’ clock on an imaginary clock face (12 o’clock being straight forward). This helped a lot, and was my first big breakthrough. But I didn't really progress much beyond that. This year I tried looking at 2 o’clock on the imaginary clock face when I breathed (sometimes even half past one so to speak). This made me 2 seconds a length faster and I could maintain that speed for ten lengths easily. Never seen anything like it! I need to digress. Away from the pool, when I stand with my back to a wall, I can feel a 2 inch gap between the back of my head and the wall. If I look up, to say 2 o’ clock, the gap closes. My head is in line with my back. Now, back in the pool, my theory is as follows: When I breathe while looking at the 2 o’ clock position, my head and body are in line (I think). This means I am more streamline, and I can roll easier because I am straight. (Try rolling a banana on a table, and you will get my drift). And when I breathe I can feel more of the back of my head supported by the water, so I don’t tend to drop my leading arm to lift my head upwards for air. I am told that if your head is low, your feet come closer to the surface, so now I am more parallel to the surface, and more streamline again. In short, that one change of looking at 2 o’clock when I breathe, makes me much more streamline, and I get more air too because I can roll easier. Rolling more easily also seems to make my legs provide some sort of forward propulsion which wasn’t there before. I just wanted to share this with you. It’s just my personal take, and may not work with other people. But I think a lot of new swimmers make all the same mistakes as I was (and probably still do) I have no idea if this chimes with any of your own experience. Maybe being as rubbish as me is way too far back in your memory to remember. But we all have to start somewhere.

[@AlexanderMoen]

I did my first hour-long "total immersion" swim session today, trying to practice and get the different parts all flowing together properly. I noticed this exact issue but was struggling to correct it in the pool. Then, after watching this video, I now have a couple issues to fix for my next session. Thank you.

[@wm811]

This channel is my top 2 favourite. You Guys do fantastic job scrutinizing each detail. I’m going to workout these given 5 points next few weeks. So frustrated with dropping arm, this 5 possible reasons are the most simple to understand. Appreciate Guys! 👍🏻

[@phxrsx]

Thanks Brenton I’ll try those drills tomorrow.

[@angelt2984]

Loved this break down and fantastic explanations. New subbie. Been watching more and learning heaps. Thank you from NZ!🙏💜

[@sgttomas]

This is excellent instruction. I appreciate that you mentioned the possible fix for some swimmers at the end. Cheers!

[@Sene4kin]

simply the best channel. and i've seen a lot.

[@evabakker]

Somehow I ALWAYS get a recommendation for one of your videos about the EXACT thing my coach literally just told me to improve. I wonder if he watches your videos :p

[@dean5565]

Great tips mate! the shoulder - ears is something i struggle with due to lack of flexibility in my injured shoulder.

[@ruth0929]

your videos are so informative. Thank you for doing these!

[@anniemakela]

Oh WoW. Thanks. Just yesterday while swimming I wondered why I can’t hold my arm up while breathing; nothing I thought of to try helped. I’m pretty sure I’m over rotating. In fact I was exaggerating to try to fix the problem. We’ll see when I get to the pool.

[@kevinwarrick7190]

Man, awesome job at explaining. I have all those problems.

[@ghislainojeda3982]

Thanks for sharing those vidéos , im just starting to swim in a lake, and iv been understa'ding freestyle through your channel.thanks greatings from france

[@SolBonito2010]

This is just what I needed!

[@yeonny2]

This is exceptional instruction. Thank you!

[@SuperOCHomes]

Great video...subtle pointers. ...Bit of SCUBA/Yoga cross training.... keep neutral or positive buoyancy, using stomach breathing. Chest gasping will make you negative buoyant and send you downward. Keep the volume of your chest expanded

[@joarinho]

Love this, thank you for all those details!

[@DanMcKelvey]

These tips were very helpful and gave me immediate improvement in my next swim workout. Thank you 🙏

[@4726trav]

Good stuff,I do all these things wrong.had no idea

[@heidiwitherspoon485]

This is so good. Thank you.

[@joemewes1811]

Great. Thanks v.much for this. Am having this problem myself. Will try these. Also found the longer video great with the explanations. 🙏🙏

[@tonyoconnell886]

Great stuff Brenton - really useful as always

[@Cookefan59]

That last suggestion sounds like the “catch up” drill where you don’t start the pull until both hands are in front of your head (that bit of meat on the skewer) 😂 That drill helps me a great deal during my warmup to set the bar for proper timing.

[@frodosanders3478]

Not sure if this is also a contributing factor but I used to have a very bad case of doing this and found (I think) it was due to breathing out fully which caused me to sink, thus my arm would drop to help keep my head up when breathing. By only breathing out half breath I retained some flotation and helped avoid this problem. See how long you can stay up with empty lungs-I sink like a stone...

[@jokerrahimi3772]

I LOVE YOUUU. KEEP LEARNING MAGICAL DUDE

[@soniabrown3435]

Great video! Lots of information and drills. Thank you

[@sandrahoiting6391]

Very helpful explanations. Thank you.

[@peterbacklund44]

Best help of all. This vid is great for me. Thankyou very much 😍

[@alanwoolf1478]

Tru starting at 55! With that many yrs of baggage, it aint easy, but perseverance will go a long way.

[@MrMaoguitar]

Very interesting tips. Thanks a lot! New subscriber from Italy.

[@DublinDapper]

Brenton..I would Love for you to critique Adam "Ocean" Walkers technique. He advocates for a couple of things you don't recommend like rotating 90 degrees for example...

[@inz_uzi]

I would be interested in that too. I wonder if the low cadence style is suitable for everybody or just the tall people with long arms.

[@LK-cj5wv]

@@inz_uzi kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqOQg6CYltiIpJo same as this man : ) But I don't think it's hight related.

[@eagle1_007]

I also see with an other coach that we should rotate the shoulders more than 30 degrees . Is that right Branton? Thank you for your videos

[@inz_uzi]

@@LK-cj5wv I think Ocean Walker is even slower - less than 40 strokes per minute if I remember correctly. I asked about hight because high people have longer arms and bigger "paddles" to push water. I wonder if it helps to achieve longer distance per stroke and allows to swim with lower cadence at the same speed. When I tried to swim with low cadence (42 spm) then I had to push really hard with each stroke and I was slower and it was tiring. I'm not a good swimmer though.

[@lucapappalardo5574]

My view is that Ocean walker technique is all about very long distances in OW, not very suitable for sprint races... Notice the kick pattern (just two big kick designed to stress the rotation) I tried to incorparate it and for me it works quite well, I'm not tall but I like long distances cours 1500, 800 and OW.

[@angelaanderson1677]

Thanks for this, Brenton! Really helpful. 👍

[@nadoyvivo6808]

Gold lesson. Thanks coach!

[@_Leilani_O]

Awesome video, thanks for all the tips!

[@margaretbeil3862]

This is a fantastic video gonna be my bible from now on

[@mitchatkins7402]

yep, that's my problem too, thanks

[@matteopiccini8369]

I find that this video actually fixes a ridiculous amount of freestyle mistakes. I would also suggest to look at scapular control: many non pro swimmers lack control and strenght in scapular muscles, particularly rhomboids and lower trapezium.

[@melissawood8628]

Fantastic video - thank you so much!! :)

[@Eline_Meijer]

Best swimming channel

[@christophmatern701]

Great content. Really helpful.

[@toddramonochoa3086]

Do you have a video on how to practice "relaxed breathing" 3:30? Wonderful insight but probably really hard to train and ingrain.

[@PaulGardner555]

learn to fit your swimming to your breathing, leaving your arm out like that (using a pull buoy or fins) should allow, too many fit their breathing to their frantic stroke rate, it's the opposite

[@LarsRyeJeppesen]

@@PaulGardner555 good idea

[@dr.bramirfanda8628]

Freestyle techniques that cause shoulder pain: Mistake 1# : 2:41 : too much internal rotation during pull of the arms Mistake 2# : 4:20 : a late initiation external rotation of the recovery phase Mistake 3# : small tilt angle Mistake 4# overreach upon entry Mistake 5# recovery that too close to the body

[@marcelocampos1210]

Awesome ! Great details !

[@markski7725]

This is AWESOME! Thanks so much!

[@mannyavilapca]

Great tips, thank you

[@marshallalbritton9521]

These videos are great!

[@doreenchristie1260]

Thanks for that information

[@apassionforpool]

Great stuff thank you. I had a stroke 12 weeks ago, i quit alcohol, stàrted eating better and got back into swimming. Bought myself a smart watch and after 6 weeks of swimming im swimming a mile a day 90% Crawl and 10% breast stroke. I love your videos and would like to send you a short one for your critique if you could? Thank you, Mark

[@manueljerezano8235]

Thanks. Great advices

[@neovasant]

"Exaggerated Glide" is an amazing observation.

[@davidepeschiaroli1512]

Great videos, thanks. You are really easy to understand, I would love to be coached by you Man. Every time I go training I try to put your recommendations into practice. Not easy though but I keep trying. You are absolutely the best!

[@TaliaWinterthorn]

nice instructions.

[@AugustoBolognaR]

Thank you very much, guilty of starting catch position!! please what's the name of the song?

[@rodolfocaballero5324]

Always good advice greetings from mexico

[@kennedychow6140]

Still trying to figure out the difference between rolling and rocking . Could you please make a short video on this because I don’t get it .

[@krilin84]

Really helpful, thanks.