A swimming teacher in Hanoi has developed his own swimming practice kit to help many acquire the skills and get in the water.

It seems illogical, even impossible, to teach swimming on dry land but Vu Duc Cuong is the brain behind a new invention that has turned on-land swimming courses into a practical reality.

“My main concern is introducing swimming to high school students in the most effective manner,” Cuong said.

“It is more important than ever to do so when news about children and students drowning seems to appear more and more frequent.”

“I asked myself, ‘how can one practice swimming in areas without pools?’,” he told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters, adding that renting a pool is impossible without sustainable finance.

“I came up with an idea of building a device that helps learners practice swimming in conjunction with breathing techniques, even without being in a pool,” he expressed his motives.

Growing up in a family that has assembled bikes for generations, Cuong gained machinery skills at a young age, so it was natural to apply his experience in order to fulfill his dream.

The journey to developing the portable swimming practice kit was not simple, he admitted.

The first prototype was quite bulky and used a system of pulleys to support the learner’s knees while practicing leg movements, Cuong recounted.

The second version included several upgrades, including levers to support the lower limbs of the learner.  The third version added one pulley to support practicing hand movements.

With the current upgrade, the kits feature no pulleys and only support the body “to ease joint movements, thus helping learners practice with greater comfort.”

“Instructors can introduce the learner to proper hand and leg positions and help them practice breathing techniques using the water tray attached to the front of the device,” Cuong said.

Thus, the device is an optimal choice for those who do not have the opportunity to go to swimming pools. 

It is a friendly approach to practice swimming for those who are afraid of water, the swimming teacher said.

Portable and learner-friendly

The swimming practice kit is comprised of a stainless steel frame with hand-woven cushion on top and a water tray at the front.

The device can be folded up, making it portable and great for home use, Cuong said. 

Currently, the swimming teacher has three types of kits based on the learner’s size: one size for three-year-olds to six-year-olds, one for seven to 12-year-olds, and one for adults.

To help learners practice hand movements, Cuong also created a separate tool featuring an elastic band formulated to imitate water buoyancy.

Help learners overcome waterfright

Cuong said that practicing with the kits helps learners save the time spent in water, and more importantly, familiarizes them with the water.

“Within three periods of learning swimming with the tool, learners not only acquire the proper strokes but become skilled in the necessary techniques,” he said, adding that the water then simply becomes a place for practice.

“Thus, learners can overcome a fear of water and will focus on their body movement while swimming,” Cuong firmly said.

Cuong said that he started teaching swimming with the kits to his relatives and had his wife use it to teach children with autism.

“To those with autism, sports, especially swimming, are highly beneficial for their overall development, but it takes extreme effort to help familiarize them with water,” Cuong admitted, saying that thanks to the practice kits, some are not only fond of water but they can also swim with ease.

The swimming teacher currently runs several swimming classes for students at home and rents a local pool so that his students may apply what they have learnt.

“With the swimming practice tool, a swimming teacher can train more in a more effective manner,” Cuong said.

“Though it looks simple, it gives an impressive outcome.”

“I’m eager to help people who still cannot swim, regardless of their experience,” the swimming teacher said in confidence.

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