What Is the Trudgen Stroke? History and How to Swim It
The trudgen is a historic stroke that combines overarm strokes with a scissor kick. It was a key step on the way to modern front crawl, and it is still fun to try.
What is the trudgen?
The trudgen is swum on the front with alternating overarm strokes, like front crawl, combined with a scissor kick, like sidestroke, taken once per arm cycle. The body rolls to the side for the kick and to breathe. It is named after John Trudgen, an English swimmer who popularised it in the 1870s.
A short history
In the 1800s, most European swimmers used breaststroke or sidestroke, with arms recovering under the water. John Trudgen is said to have learned an overarm stroke from Indigenous swimmers abroad; accounts differ on whether it was in South America or South Africa. He introduced it to English competitive swimming in the 1870s, and its speed made it popular. Over the following decades, swimmers replaced the scissor kick with a continuous up-and-down kick, and the stroke developed into the front crawl we know today. Read the history of swimming strokes.
How to swim the trudgen
- Start face down in a long, flat position, as for front crawl.
- Alternate the arms overarm, entering in front of the shoulder and pulling back past the hip.
- Roll to one side as that side's arm finishes its pull.
- Scissor kick as you roll: one leg forward, one back, then snap them together.
- Breathe as you roll, turning your head with your body.
- Glide briefly before the next arm stroke.
Some variations, sometimes called the double trudgen, add a scissor kick on both sides.
Why try it today?
- History: it shows how front crawl evolved.
- Variety: a different rhythm to mix into a session.
- Kick awareness: some swimmers naturally slip a scissor kick into their front crawl; trying the trudgen deliberately helps them notice it.
It is not used in modern competition, and front crawl is faster and more efficient for most swimmers. See front crawl technique and 8 types of swimming strokes.
Learn the strokes properly
If you want to swim more efficiently, a coach can help you build a smooth front crawl. See our adult swimming course or private swimming course.
More in swimming technique
- 11 common swimming mistakesAnd how to fix each one
- What is breaststroke in swimming?How the stroke works, the pull-breathe-kick-glide timing and common mistakes
- What is bilateral breathing?Breathing to both sides in front crawl, why it helps and how to learn it
- Freestyle swimming technique: how-to guideLearn freestyle step by step, from face in the water to side breathing
Sources
- Wikipedia, Trudgen. Named after John Trudgen, who popularised it in England in the 1870s; overarm stroke with a scissor kick that developed into front crawl.
- Wikipedia, Front crawl. Notes differing accounts of where Trudgen learned the stroke (South America or South Africa).
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