KIDS FIRST / Kick First®
Human movement naturally follows a 1-1 timing rhythm, where the arms and legs move in sync, such as during walking, jogging, or sprinting. As the pace intensifies, the arms and legs instinctively adjust to maintain this rhythm—a technique even utilized by world-class sprinters.
However, swimming introduces a different and more complex timing pattern: 1-6 timing. This means the feet perform a six-beat kick for every arm cycle. Coordinating such movements consciously is nearly impossible, as it requires the feet to move quickly while the arms operate at a much slower rhythm. To simplify this challenging process, the KIDS FIRST /Kick First® Learn to Swim System takes a unique approach.
Our method focuses on training the feet and legs first, isolating and ingraining the short, fast kicking movement before integrating the arms into the stroke. By doing this, the proper movements are established at the subconscious level, making the learning process far more natural and effective. This ensures students develop an efficient kick that propels them across the pool confidently before introducing arm movements, which would otherwise clash with basic human instincts.
So, when you see children practicing their “kick, kick, kicking,” understand that this foundational step is critical to their swimming progress. It’s all about mastering the kick first to enable smooth, instinctive swimming strokes later.