What is "swimming stroke"

n. a method of moving the arms and legs to push against the water and propel the swimmer forward

Human swimming typically consists of repeating a specific body motion or '''swimming stroke '''to propel that body forward. There are many kinds of strokes, each defining a different swimming style or crawl.

Most strokes involve rhythmic and coordinated movements of all major body parts — torso, arms, legs, hands, feet, and head. Breathing typically must be synchronized with the strokes, too. It is possible however to swim by moving only legs without arms or only arms without legs; such strokes may be used for special purposes, for training or exercise, or by amputees (paralympians) and paralytics.