CSS Help: The Sequence 
"Pull - Breathe - Kick - Glide
(1 Mississippi - 2 Mississippi - Pull) Repeat..."

If you have ever watched my Instagram or Youtube CSS Critique videos and now TikTok CSS Videos, you may have heard me use this sequence of events that must occur in order to have an effective and efficient combat swimmer stroke. 

This quote is nothing fancy, just what I say everyday when I teach someone new the Combat Swimmer Stroke. Once you master this sequence, we can then focus on building and maintaining the momentum from kicking off the wall using another common phrase: 

"Big kick off the wall, double arm pull, kick, tight arm recovery, first pull of the stroke."

NOTE - Some recruiting districts do not allow the double arm pull (breast stroke pullout) and that is fine - just skip that step when you kick off the wall. 

I have used these quotes for over 25 years creating some of the faster CSS swim times out of non-swimming athletes ever to attend programs that require this skill. When you master all of the above, now you need to focus on getting into swimming shape, because most non-swimmers are not in swimming shape. 

Let's break it down:

PULL - Turn your head to breathe during the top arm pull which is nothing more than a "freestyle catch and turn to inhale" just like in the breathing stroke of freestyle of crawl stroke swim. Learning to grab water and pull / push it behind you will build the type of horizontal power you need.            

The head should be turned just before the completion of the stroke and the inhale starts with the bottom arm pull. 

BREATHE during bottom arm pull - With the head turned from the top arm pull, now pull the bottom arm using more of a breast stroke pull (breast stroke scull - video).  Some people like a bigger bottom arm pull to help with lifting them to the point they can inhale, but do NOT breathe like you are doing the breast stroke.  This should look like a freestyle breath with half of your face still in the water.  

KICK - With a big scissor kick or breast stroke kick, open and close the legs quickly to produce as much forward power to move you through the water.  One key element to the kick is having a streamlined arm recovery getting back into the glide position. Keep your hands / arms tight to your body otherwise it is like putting on the brakes in the water killing your momentum every stroke. Typical kicks will produce about 2-3 seconds of effortless glide IF you can be streamlined in the glide position. 

GLIDE - Most people under glide (less than 2 Mississippi's) wasting their momentum, but some people over glide (more than 3-4 Mississippi's) losing all of their momentum. Being streamlined is key not only getting TO the glide position, but staying in the glide position for 2-3 seconds especially if you are trying to maintain a yard per second pace by simply gliding.  This is where your efficiency is counted. No glide = no efficiency.  NOTE - it is up to you if you want to glide on your side, at a 45 degree angle, or on your stomach. Whatever works best for you. 

TIPS:  Glide position - Biceps should be touching your ears, one hand on top of the other, keep your head down, feet stay still and together. 

See video of this non-swimming athlete crush the CSS technique and put this sequence in motion and repeat. 

Here is another clever training tip:

Every swim session you do needs to start off with a 500yd swim warmup. When you can call 500yds or 500m a warmup, you are starting to get into better swimming shape. This will also help you mentally prior to any PST as you can honestly say, "first event is a warmup". 

To get in shape for this 500yd swim without fins, you need to get in the pool 4-6 days a week and swim 1000-1500m minimum.  My killer 50-50 workout does just that for you but you have to be consistent with it.  Most people will go from 10+ minutes to 8 minutes in about a month with that workout. 

See more about this break through workout - 50-50 - FREE! 

When you are able to crush the 500yd swim to advanced levels (8:00 - 8:20), then you can turn the 500yd swim into a 10 minute tread with no hands to prepare for general water confidence that I promise will require treading with no hands for long periods of time. You have to get in shape for this too as it is literally vertical swimming. DO NOT BLOW THIS OFF!  Many Spec Ops / Spec War dreams have ending during a treading water drill.  Treading Skills

It is important to also start swimming with SCUBA fins (Jet Fins / Rocket Fins) once you master the without fin swim portions. Once you are in training, most of your swims will be with fins. We tend to swim longer distances (2000-4000yds) with fins on leg days after lifting. 

If you are one of those active duty, recruits, or candidates preparing for a fitness test or selection programs whose desire is to really make this work for you, check out the ONE STOP SHOP Combat Swimming Stroke Article and Video Archive.    

After You Pass the PST - Assess Yourself for 
Any Other Weaknesses (Assessment Tool)

Your Weaknesses Will Be Exposed IF YOU Ignore Them - During the Recruiting Process and certainly through Prep and BUD/S itself. 

Not being prepared for your "dream job" is on you. It takes time to get to the level of being able to crush the PST and then the follow on logs, boats, and weekly 4 mile runs, and 2 ocean mile swims with fins. Just because you can crush a PST, does not mean anything for the follow on events at BUDS. 

Show up on Day 1 of your job interview (PST Test Day) well prepared and be in the passing group at least. Showing up and failing is the wrong attitude and a horrible first impression to your future employer. YES - take it that seriously IF you really want this. After all, it only takes Four Steps to Get Prepared for Special Ops Selection.

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