Being a jack of all trades is not a bad thing. In fact the saying continues: "Jack of all trades, master of none... but oftentimes BETTER than a master of one."
The reason I think this mentality works with swimming, is that many people go in with the idea of learning one kind of swimming. Often it being front crawl, but by knowing the other strokes it cross-contextualizes your understanding in swimming.
Why + Philosophy:
My overarching blog is about being polymathic, and taking a multidisciplinary approach in life. When I teach that same mentality manifests, and I mean that in the sense of how I approach each lesson.
Some folks need a philosophical idea to cling onto, others need the physicality, and others still need psychological understanding. They all come together, and when you start with one stroke. Then branch out to others, then you often get an understanding of a different "P" of swimming.
How + Physics:
When you do a breaststroke versus a frontcrawl stroke. Your mindset is different, and you know you're gonna have to hold your breathe for longer. When you do a butterfly or backstroke, then you're gonna have a different mindset still.
Each stroke takes a different physical action to do well. Butterfly takes explosive strength, breaststroke takes stronger lungs and timing, while backstroke can be hard to float consistently (taking balance). Then with frontcrawl you have all of that in one.
When you learn a new stroke, then it helps adapt your lessons towards that original swimming you learned.
What + Psychology:
Mastering a stroke takes time, but even just a novice level of knowledge of another stroke will help you when you bring it back.
The concept of swimming is to move from point A to point B in the water. When you express that concept in new ways, then it opens up new pathways in your brain. It is a super exciting experience, and I love sharing it with people as a swim instructor!
Conclusion
Being a jack of all trades, or in this case a jack of all strokes, does not mean you'll be less of a master. In fact it will lead to a quicker path to mastery!
Taking your time to branch out, and to explore other aspects of being in the pool. Learning how to breathe different, understanding buoyancy more, and trying move more explosively. They all come together in the great swimming learning arc if you will.
