80/20

I must finally admit that I learn a valuable lesson at last week's First Tri Club training.
We were told that freestyle using 80% upper body strength and 20% leg strength.

It had never occur to me until I tried it out yesterday.
All the while, I have been kicking like hell just to swim a single lap.
I have always been focusing on my kicking, as I thought it is the main propellant.
I did the first 2 laps in freestyle and almost "died" from it, even though I rest after the first lap.
After a couple more laps of breast stroke, I decided to try freestyle again.
This time, I remembered about 80/20, so I start focusing on my strokes.
I realised that I can swim with more ease if I just kick to stay afloat, while using my arms to propel myself.
Freestyle is beginning to sounds fun for me all over again.

In between breaks, I observe how the other swimmers did their strokes.
Notice this style, which I will coined as "half barrel roll".
It typically turns your body in the direction where you are stroking.
It definitely helps in reducing fatigue, but I guess I am still a long way from completing any competitive distance using freestyle.
Will have to learn and observe.
Well, very glad that I learn something new today. :)