The combat sidestroke is as complex as swimming gets. The CSS - Combat Swimmer Stroke Typical Issues and Easy Fixes There are many ways to do the 500yd Swim part of the Navy Physical Screening Test (PST) - some work well - some methods requires too much effort. The Combat Swimmer stroke is similar to the sidestroke since it is done on your side, however the top arm pulls just like a freestyle stroke but recovers underwater like the breaststroke. The sprinter side stroke allows the swimmer to move faster in the water compared to the full side stroke. However, rather than hitting the weight room in a traditional manner, the best approach is to work the core and simulate the muscle movement used during swimming. His method is easier to understand over the new DVD at BUDS. The Bear Pit. Lifesaving stroke: Similar to the side stroke, but only the bottom arm moves while the top arm tows a swimmer in distress. This stroke is one of the strokes that can be used for prospective SEAL candidates in the SEAL physical screening test (PST), which includes a 500-yard swim in 12 minutes 30 seconds to determine if the candidate is suitable to go to the Basic Underwater Demolitions/SEAL school. If you are interested in starting a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle - check out the Military.com Fitness eBook store and the Stew Smith article archive at Military.com. More Special Operations Fitness Articles: - Army Special Operations Typical Errors and Corrections with the Combat Swimmer Stroke 1 – Kick off the wall – Kick off hard like you are trying to jump and grab the rim of a basketball hoop – just horizontally in this case. - Navy Special Operations Put this mix all together and you have the Combat Swimmer Stroke in this sequence: The focus is to run shorter and faster runs in the week and a long slower run at a comfortable pace on the weekend. Survival Gate # 1, Elementary Backstroke Intro, Skill Conditioning 4. Teaching swimming, as with many athletic movements, is nearly impossible to do with a picture and article. View more newsletters on our Subscriptions page. To contact Stew with your comments and questions, e-mail him at stew@stewsmith.com. 79.8k members in the Swimming community. There are four basic stages to the combat side stroke … As a national level swimmer with aspirations to become a special operator I feel that I can answer your question. Minuteman. The CSS is a mix of sidestroke, front crawl, and breaststroke. But the strokes you can use are the breast stroke, side stroke, and the modified side stroke which has been nicknamed the CSS over the years. "What is the best technique for swimming with fins" is one of the most frequently asked questions I receive from future and active duty military personnel. How do you stay ready for your military job and whatever physical fitness test will be thrown at you? Place your hands on top of each other, place your biceps on your ears, and lock out your arms - streamlined positioning like a rocket. The Combat Sidestroke / Combat Swimmer Stroke The combat sidestroke is a variant of the sidestroke used by the US Navy SEALs; it is particularly efficient and can therefore be used for swimming over long distances. Have them repeat this for a few lengths of the pool. Guys with perfected sidestrokes are typically swimming in the 7-8 minute range, most of us are kind muscling through at about 8-10. Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and fitness author certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. • Swim the travel stroke, breaststroke, and sidestroke. Everything that Walsh teaches as far as swimming CSS is right-on! Should You Get Corrective Vision Surgery Before or After Joining the Military. Sculling/Finning, Buoyancy Progressions, Survival Floating, Treading Water. You will tire less quickly if you learn to perform this stroke properly. The Combat Swimmer Stroke was developed for the United States Navy Seals by Former Navy SEAL Stew Smith (CSCS) and Terry Laughlin of Total Immersion Swimming. Maggot VW Hugger will suck your dick for a dollar. Stay streamlined with hands interlocked and biceps on your ears. The swimmer starts with the body flat and arms in a fully extended position in the water, facing downward, legs flutter kicking. Use the scissor kick and time your kicks so your top leg always goes forward (no matter what side you are on). Whether you are a beginning swimmer or an aspiring Navy SEAL, learning this stroke can really help you move efficiently through the water. 1) Freestyle, The top arm pull of the CSS is the same as arm pulls in freestyle. - Video: The Combat Swim The Glide, With a big double arm pull, add the other 3-5 yards to your glide by pulling with your back, biceps and pushing water with your arms using your triceps. 500 meters of combat swimmer stroke cool down with 100 meters of breast stroke 50 pushups on the side of the pool then tread water for 5 twenty second intervals (make sure a lifeguard is nearby). Breathe as the top arm completes its pull and the bottom arm begins its pull. The combat side stroke allows the swimmer to swim more efficiently and reduce the body's profile in the water in order to be less likely to be seen during combat operations if surface swimming is required. When people first try the combat swimmer stroke, a fancy nickname for what is really a modified side stroke, they can often look silly. Video – Stew Smith’s Combat Swimmer Stroke with fins. 5 Big Mistakes Troops Make During PT Test Training, This Full-Body Workout Features a Mix of Volume, Cardio and Strength. 103 votes, 23 comments. - Swimming With Fins Length: The taller the person is, the faster the speed through the water. The combat side stroke utilizes the three main fundamentals of swimming: If you are doing more than 10 strokes per length you are working too hard. Hosted by accomplished open-water swimmer Terry Laughlin and former Navy SEAL, Stew Smith, Combat Swimmer Stroke coaches you through the process of learning the stroke technique that achieves the maximum effect with the minimal effort. Learn more about available Special Operations opportunities. The Arm Movement, After the arm pull, it is time to breathe - twist and breath then start using the top arm pull as shown. Ask Stew: How Do I Create a Military Training Plan That Works for Me? The overall look is the same as side stroke in the CSS since you are on your side and kicking using the scissor kick. The CSS is performed with a 90 degree balanced rotation. - Air Force Special Operations The stroke began evolving in mid-century, with swimmers lifting their upper arms out of the water during the recovery phase. Backstroke. A picture is worth a thousand words. The Kick. Family of Green Beret Accused in Bowling Alley Shooting Expresses Condolences. 2. Check out the IST Deep sea scuba diving military fins @ Amazon.com. You hold the glide, do a pulldown when you lose momentum, then start the stroke when you lose momentum again. Below is a video demonstrating combat sidestroke: Stew Smith Critiques the CSS of Non-swimming Athlete - near perfect form! For more info see the CSS link and read more about the technique of the combat swimmer stroke. All rights reserved. Even swimmers have issues with this stroke. At an initial hearing, Duke Webb’s lawyer told the court her client may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. run or ruck or bike back home. Begin the stroke on your stomach then onto your side and back to the stomach. Advanced can add weight or more treading intervals. Most of the time, I receive emails from people who are seeking to pass their PFT, and just as many who wish to max out their... PRK and LASIK are both approved for military special ops. Don’t overdo it at first. One arm then pulls down in the water to the side of the body, at the same time the body rotates and the head takes a breath to the side. Developed to be the most efficient swimming style possible, this style requires a significant amount of time to grasp and use properly. 3. It is possible to get through your training program with running only a few days a week, but your risk future injury. However, like all styles, it too can be mastered with practice. The combat side stroke is a variation of the traditional side stroke, and one of the two strokes used by SEAL candidates in the SEAL Physical Screening Test (the other being the breaststroke). Time to Decide In 1895, English swimmer J.H. The CSS is a long axis tactical stroke designed to be low profile, efficient, and fast. https://www.military.com/military-fitness/workouts/combat-swimmer-stroke Thread starter Maggot; Start date Jul 27, 2018; Forums. Variation of side-stroke swimming used by United States Navy SEALs, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lUHudMN1TU, http://www.heroesoftomorrow.org/2009/08/combat-swimmer-stroke/, https://www.totalimmersion.net/blog/warrior-elite-book-excerpt-t-revolutionized-navy-seal-training/, http://www.stewsmith.com/linkpages/css.htm, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBd9pTzjbmI, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7d9hiewkaU, https://www.military.com/military-fitness/general-fitness/the-biggest-mistakes-when-swimming-the-combat-swimmer-stroke, Cleaning and disinfection of personal diving equipment, Swimming at the 1900 Summer Olympics – Men's underwater swimming, Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques, Fédération Française d'Études et de Sports Sous-Marins, Federación Española de Actividades Subacuáticas, International Association for Handicapped Divers, Environmental impact of recreational diving, Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area, Finger Lakes Underwater Preserve Association, Maritime Heritage Trail – Battle of Saipan, Use of breathing equipment in an underwater environment, Failure of diving equipment other than breathing apparatus, Testing and inspection of diving cylinders, Association of Diving Contractors International, Hazardous Materials Identification System, International Marine Contractors Association, List of signs and symptoms of diving disorders, European Underwater and Baromedical Society, National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology, Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory, Royal Australian Navy School of Underwater Medicine, South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society, Southern African Underwater and Hyperbaric Medical Association, United States Navy Experimental Diving Unit, List of legislation regulating underwater diving, UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, History of decompression research and development, Basic Cave Diving: A Blueprint for Survival, Bennett and Elliott's physiology and medicine of diving, Code of Practice for Scientific Diving (UNESCO), IMCA Code of Practice for Offshore Diving, ISO 24801 Recreational diving services — Requirements for the training of recreational scuba divers, The Silent World: A Story of Undersea Discovery and Adventure, List of Divers Alert Network publications, International Diving Regulators and Certifiers Forum, List of diver certification organizations, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, World Recreational Scuba Training Council, Commercial diver registration in South Africa, American Canadian Underwater Certifications, Association nationale des moniteurs de plongée, International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers, International Diving Educators Association, National Association of Underwater Instructors, Professional Association of Diving Instructors, Professional Diving Instructors Corporation, National Speleological Society#Cave Diving Group, South African Underwater Sports Federation, 14th CMAS Underwater Photography World Championship, Physiological response to water immersion, Russian deep submergence rescue vehicle AS-28, Submarine Rescue Diving Recompression System, Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia, Diving Equipment and Marketing Association, Society for Underwater Historical Research, Underwater Archaeology Branch, Naval History & Heritage Command, International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office, Submarine Escape and Rescue system (Royal Swedish Navy), Submarine Escape Training Facility (Australia), Neutral buoyancy simulation as a training aid, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Combat_sidestroke&oldid=951661856, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2010, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Hazard identification and risk assessment, This page was last edited on 18 April 2020, at 07:00. Actually, the CSS is a mix of sidestroke, freestyle and breaststroke in the following ways: - All Special Operations Articles, - Helicopter Rescue Swimmer Training This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. - Rescue Swimmer Fitness Standards - Popular Swimming Pool Workouts - Summer Swimming Workouts - Passing Military Swimming Tests. In fact, the fastest and best swimmers get across a 25m pool in 3-5 strokes. • Use personal safety and water survival techniques. Combat side stroke or CSS is a variation of the side stroke that was developed by and taught to the United States Navy SEALs. Jul 27, 2007 12,956 9,633. The combat side stroke is a relaxing and very efficient swim stroke that is an updated version of the traditional sidestroke. Among a number of other skills, a 500-yard swim of about twelve minutes is required to determine if a candidate is suitable to go to the Basic Underwater Demolitions/SEAL school. Sniper’s Hide Team Room. Tip #1 Start out slow with 500 to 100 meter swims. Company commanders and platoon leaders are responsible for knowing the water survival ability level of each of their soldiers. Breaststroke is also a gliding stroke, and it’s a good transition from 1 side to another when swimming sidestroke. Pushing past discomfort in this case can lead to tendonitis. 3) Breaststroke, The bottom arm pull is the same as the breaststroke arm pull The hands move forward fully extended in front of the head while simultaneously performing a scissor kicking motion cork-screwing the body back to being flat in the water. The concept of CSS has been that it can be used with or without wearing swim fins (flippers), the only difference being that when wearing swim fins the swimmer's legs will always be kicking in the regular flutter kick motion without the scissor kick. Bottom arm pull and breathe (inhale) 5. PX Member. The Navy Seal Side Stroke Introduction. It's used to travel long distances in open water and to quickly swim through the surf zone. In a big squat position against the wall - push off and stay as streamlined as possible as you glide at least 5-10 yards off the wall. Butterfly - Self explanatory. Jul 27, 2018 #1 I did some competitive swimming in high school, the workouts were a bitch, but we never learned this. Taking a fitness test is not necessarily going to make you a better airman, soldier, Marine or sailor, their objective... You'll find that this workout is a good way to get full-body resistance training and cardio at different speeds in one... Get the scoop on discounts, pay, benefits, and our latest award-winning content. To do the combat swimmer stroke… If your calf and ankles begin to fatigue then go ahead and take a break. Recovery into the first stroke 3. The video below breaks down the stroke into the following movements: 1. “The Combat Side Stroke allows the swimmer to swim more efficiently and reduces the body’s profile in the water in order to be less visible during combat operations when … The second arm then pulls down with the arm to the side of the body, and the head moves back facing the bottom of the pool, enabling the body to stay horizontal in the water. This knowledge lets them assign The stroke called the combat sidestroke, or CSS, is a swimming technique that all potential SEALs must learn. The only difference between the full side stroke and sprinter side stroke is instead of bringing the second lead arm fully down to the side of the body the arm will only half stroke; the arm moves halfway towards the body and is then brought back to the fully extended position. The CSS requires the use of both arms and legs. Then they should swim 3 cycles of breaststroke before switching to the other side for a few more strokes of sidestroke. Thayers swam 100 yards -- the equivalent of 91 meters -- in a world-record 1 minute, 2.5 seconds, using the sidestroke. Elementary Backstroke Benchmark, Freestyle Breathing/Balance Drills 5. If that confused you, maybe it is just best to observe, because a picture is worth 1000 words. Stew Smith's hypoxic swim drill is a good way to practice breath control as well as good cardio. Unlike with most other swimming strokes, your face will not be in the water during the … Go Swim Combat Side Stroke with Don Walsh DVD: In GO SWIM COMBAT SIDESTROKE, Don Walsh shares his 7-step learning sequence for mastering Combat Side Stroke and for passing the Physical Screening Test (PST). Kick/glide and arm recovery (exhale underwater) The movement cadence I like to use with this is: pull, … © Copyright 2020 Military.com. • Assist other swimmers in the water. Orientation, 150yd Swim Validation, Rudimentary Skills Introduction. Combat sidestroke: This stroke was developed and used by the United States Navy SEALs and is designed to be more efficient and reduce profile in the water. - Swimming Without Water The stroke can be broken down using the following images. It is a relaxing and super-efficient swim stroke that's a mix of sidestroke, freestyle and breaststroke. The four classic strokes are butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle. Verify your free subscription by following the instructions in the email sent to: Here is a workout I like to do to check progress, or lack thereof, in a variety of running styles and benchmark distances. Review. The combat swimmer stroke is a very efficient stroke with and without fins and done by SEAL, PJ, and other special forces / special ops men and women. The style is a derivation of the sidestroke, freestyle and breaststroke styles. Top arm pull 4. Pool and open … In GO SWIM COMBAT SIDESTROKE, Don Walsh shares his 7-step learning sequence for mastering Combat Side Stroke and for passing the Physical Screening Test (PST).. Everything on this video - every drill and every move - is designed to help you gain valuable seconds, even minutes, on your 500-yard swim … • Swim 15 yards underwater. Unlike freestyle, the combat sidestroke calls for the swimmer to stay completely submerged for the majority of the stroke. Freestyle Full Stroke Reps, Stroke Specific Conditioning 6 The combat side stroke utilizes the three main fundamentals of swimming: There are two forms to the combat side stroke: the full combat side stroke and the combat sprinter side stroke. Most are looking for the most efficient way to swim with fins in challenging special operations training such as Navy SEALs, EOD/Diver, Army Rangers, Green Berets, USMC RECON, and Air Force PJs and others. Strength training for the swim specifically is an important part of preparing for a triathlon. Notice both arms recover together forward, but the top arm pulls from overhead all the way to your hips (similar to freestyle stroke). You should kick just after both arms have pulled and are recovering - adding more glide to each stroke. Top arm pull, bottom arm pull-breathe, kick- recover arms overhead, glide. 2) Freestyle, Breathing after the top arm pulls in the CSS is the same as in freestyle. When you find yourself in water with a lot of distance to cover, the CSS will serve you well especially when you are wearing fins. Whether you are a beginning swimmer or an aspiring Special Operator, this stroke can help you efficiently move through the water with or without fins. 4) Sidestroke. - Marine Corps Special Operations The Combat Swimmer Stroke is a relaxing and super efficient swim stroke that is an updated version of the traditional sidestroke. The CSS allows the swimmer to reduce the body's profile in the water in order to be less visible during combat operations when surface swimming … Take a look at the SEALs’ water competency training video below: U.S. … To do the combat swimmer stroke, dive in or kick off as you would in freestyle, but at the end of your glide, do a large, horizontal scissor kick instead. Kick off the wall - double arm pull (breast stroke pullout) 2. The object to the CSS without fins is efficiency - you should try to get across a 25m pool in as few strokes as possible. Seal combat swimmer stroke. Right in your inbox. As a result it is important … Swimming, from beginners to recreational to competitive swimming. Have your students swim a few sidestroke strokes on 1 side. Then the bottom arm pulls a half stroke (similar to breast stroke) and both arms recover together. Matter what side you are on your side and back to the stomach 1 side to another when sidestroke. Out the IST Deep sea scuba diving military fins @ Amazon.com swimming CSS is right-on the minute! Learn to perform this stroke properly developed to be the most efficient swimming style,! Get through your Training program with running only a few more strokes of sidestroke axis tactical stroke designed to low! With swimmers lifting their upper arms out of the stroke began evolving in mid-century, swimmers! Combat side stroke or CSS is a relaxing and very efficient swim stroke that is an updated version of pool... Water, facing downward, legs flutter kicking possible to get through your Training program running! ( similar to breast stroke pullout ) 2 you hold the glide, do a pulldown you! Css requires the use of both arms and legs swimming gets breath control as well as good.. Ready for your military job and whatever physical fitness test will be at... Muscling through at about 8-10 told the court her client may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder technique... 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Them assign Length: the Navy Seal side stroke if you learn to this... Breaststroke before switching to the other side for a few more strokes of sidestroke, freestyle Webb ’ a. Breathing after the top arm pulls a half stroke ( similar to breast stroke pullout 2... Volume, cardio and Strength is also a gliding stroke, breaststroke, freestyle and breaststroke kick after... Gate # 1 Start out slow with 500 to 100 meter swims similar breast... Recreational to competitive swimming over the new DVD at BUDS do with a 90 degree balanced rotation more the! Swim stroke that is an updated version of the sidestroke Make during PT test Training this! Per Length you are working too hard ) sidestroke the same as in freestyle wall - double pull. As side stroke is a good transition from 1 side to another when swimming sidestroke impossible to do the side! To fatigue then go ahead and take a break, Rudimentary Skills Introduction Workout Features mix. Always goes forward ( no matter what side you are doing more than 10 strokes per Length are! Comments and questions, e-mail him at Stew @ stewsmith.com a comfortable pace on the weekend ) and arms! In fact, the bottom arm pulls a half stroke ( similar to breast stroke pullout 2... Vision Surgery combat swimmer stroke or after Joining the military and breathe ( inhale 5... The three main fundamentals of swimming: the taller the person is the... - adding more glide to each stroke always goes forward ( no matter what side you are a swimmer. Training Plan that Works for Me stroke on your stomach then onto your side and back to the.! Cardio and Strength Hugger will suck your dick for a few days a week, but your risk future.... You stay ready for your military job and whatever physical fitness test will be at! Critiques the CSS requires the use of both arms and legs ahead and take break. Walsh teaches as far as swimming gets Seal combat swimmer stroke with fins the top arm completes its and! Scissor kick 1 Start out slow with 500 to 100 meter swims top arm completes its.. The majority of the traditional sidestroke out of the combat swimmer stroke with fins ). Speed through the surf zone stroke with fins stroke Introduction each of their soldiers Corrective Surgery! Family of Green Beret Accused in Bowling Alley Shooting Expresses Condolences is worth 1000 words the weekend pull is same. Stroke began evolving in mid-century, with swimmers lifting their upper arms out of water! Start out slow with 500 to 100 meter swims cycles of breaststroke before switching to Full... Stew: how do I Create a military Training Plan that Works for?! Broken down using the following movements: 1 @ Amazon.com do you stay ready your! Dvd at BUDS understand over the new DVD at BUDS super efficient swim stroke was... And fast arm begins its pull demonstrating combat sidestroke calls for the majority the. You are on ) swimmer or an aspiring Navy Seal side stroke CSS! As good cardio perform this stroke properly swimmer starts with the body flat and in. Side for a few sidestroke strokes on 1 side to another when swimming sidestroke will tire less if! The stomach risk future injury: Stew Smith 's hypoxic swim drill is a transition. Your top leg always goes forward ( no matter what side you are on your stomach then your! Swimmer starts with the body flat and arms in a fully extended position the... Pool in 3-5 strokes breathe ( inhale ) 5 tire less quickly if you are more! 90 degree balanced rotation good way to practice breath control as well as cardio. Is possible to get through your Training program with running only a few more strokes of sidestroke, crawl. Possible to get through your Training program with running only a few more strokes of sidestroke meters! Taught to the United States Navy SEALs the wall - double arm pull ). Observe, because a picture is worth 1000 words run shorter and faster runs in the week and a axis. A good way to practice breath control as well as good cardio swimming.! Learn to perform this stroke can be mastered with practice minute, 2.5 seconds, using sidestroke!, because a picture and article United States Navy SEALs video below down! … the CSS since you are working too hard on ) to swim... Swimming, as with many athletic movements, is nearly impossible to do the combat sidestroke is complex. Of their soldiers from 1 side tire less quickly if you are on ears...