When swimming butterfly, swimmers use the dolphin kick. Think of the dolphin kick like the snap of a whip; above the chest is the handle of the whip, and below that is the whip. The motion follows through your hips, knees and ankles.
The power of the dolphin kick is generated through the sequential movement of body parts to add to the power of the movement. The undulation starts from the chest, followed by the hips, then the knees and then the ankles, each adding to the kick’s power.
For beginners, the undulation will best start from the core. Try this with your arms by your side to start: when you have developed your undulation, you can try the move with your arms extended in front of you. Be sure to keep your legs together throughout the whole kick!
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By Colyn Ma
Colyn is a casual Lifeguard/Swim Instructor here at MacEwan University Sport and Wellness. He is one of the coaches for JLC, and has over 11 years of experience in competitive swimming and coaching.
