Breaststroke
A swimming stroke using a symmetrical arm sweep and a frog-like kick, with the head lifting to breathe.
Overview
Breaststroke is a swimming stroke in which the arms sweep out and together in front of the chest while the legs perform a whip-like kick. The body glides forward between each cycle, and the head lifts to breathe with the arm pull.
It is often the first stroke beginners learn because the head can stay above water more easily, and its glide phase makes it a steady, controlled way to swim.
Key points
- The arms and legs move symmetrically on both sides of the body.
- The kick is a rounded, whip-like action rather than an up-and-down flutter.
- A glide phase follows each stroke, making timing important.
- The head lifts to breathe in rhythm with the arm pull.
- Its steady, upright option makes it popular for learners and relaxed swimming.
Where it’s used
Sports that use breaststroke:
How it connects
The meaning-bearing relationships that place Breaststroke in the wider knowledge graph — each one with the reason it exists.
Progresses to
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Progresses from
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Frequently learned together
Taught side by side in the same stage of a learning path.
- PacingBoth are taught in the “Learn the core skills” stage of the Swimming learning path.
- BreathingBoth are taught in the “Learn the core skills” stage of the Swimming learning path.
- Front crawlBoth are taught in the “Learn the core skills” stage of the Swimming learning path.
- Treading waterBoth are taught in the “Learn the core skills” stage of the Swimming learning path.
Part of
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Skills Academy
Movement patterns
- GlideGlide is continuous, low-resistance locomotion in which the body holds a streamlined shape so that momentum generated by a preceding propulsive action carries it smoothly across a surface or through a medium.
- PullDrawing a load or your own body toward the torso — horizontal rows and vertical pull-ups — building the lats, mid-back and biceps and balancing the push.
Techniques
- BreaststrokeA swimming stroke with a simultaneous arm sweep, a whip-like frog kick and a glide, performed on the front.
- Freestyle StrokeThe fastest swimming stroke, using alternating overhead arm pulls, a flutter kick and rhythmic side breathing.
- BackstrokeThe only competitive stroke swum on the back, using alternating overhead arm pulls and a steady flutter kick.
- HeaderA technique for controlling or striking the ball with the forehead in football, used to pass, shoot or clear the ball in the air.
- Table Tennis Forehand DriveA controlled attacking stroke in table tennis, played on the forehand side with a compact swing and light topspin.
Learning paths
- Learn SwimmingA structured, educational learning path for swimming — from the rules to skills, techniques, tactics and training.
- Learn Open-Water SwimmingA structured, educational learning path for open-water swimming — from the rules to skills, techniques, tactics and training.
- Learn TennisA structured, educational learning path for tennis — from the rules to skills, techniques, tactics and training.
- Learn PadelA structured, educational learning path for padel — from the rules to skills, techniques, tactics and training.
- Learn BadmintonA structured, educational learning path for badminton — from the rules to skills, techniques, tactics and training.
Beginner guides
- Your First Swimming Session: What to ExpectWhat a first swimming session at the pool actually feels like, how to prepare, and how to settle in without any pressure to swim lengths on day one.
- Your first running sessionA warm, honest picture of what a first running session actually feels like — so you can turn up relaxed, run at a comfortable effort, and enjoy it without any pressure to be fast.
- Your First Badminton SessionA warm, honest look at what your first time on a badminton court actually feels like — how a beginner session runs, what surprises newcomers about the shuttlecock, and how to enjoy it without worrying about keeping score.
Disciplines
- BreaststrokeBreaststroke uses a simultaneous, symmetric arm sweep and a whip-like frog kick, with a distinct glide between strokes — technical, rhythmic and the slowest of the four strokes.
- BackstrokeBackstroke is swum face-up with an alternating arm pull and flutter kick — the one competitive stroke where you breathe freely because your face stays out of the water.
- FreestyleFreestyle is the fastest swimming stroke, swum face-down with an alternating arm pull and flutter kick — the stroke most people picture when they think of swimming.
- ButterflyButterfly is swum with a simultaneous over-water arm recovery and an undulating dolphin kick — the most physically demanding stroke, built on rhythm and core-driven body movement.
- ClassicClassic is the original cross-country technique, with skis kept parallel in set tracks and a striding kick-and-glide motion.
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Skill
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-07-09
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