It is more efficient to be able to breathe every stroke. The idea is that it teaches you to have an even stroke on both sides, and keeps you from compensating for your breaths. It is also good for tri's so that you are comfortable breathing on either side, so if you need to switch it up because of a hectic start you can. That all being said, I breathe every other stroke, because that is where my stroke feels more comfortable, and I get into a better breathing/sighting rythym. But if this is something you want to change, do it now. It is really hard to change habits in the pool once you get em going.

I breath every 4 strokes or 3 strokes it depends on my mood.

You have to realize that Navy people and ocean rescuers have to have a different aproach to swimming because they use it as a tool for something else (rescuing someone etc.) Or at least that´s what I think.

For me breahting every stroke raises my HR but again....that´s just me.

I'm having a hard time visualinzing, and imagining breathing every stroke...when's the time to exhale.

The two most common items you'll see on tris are every second stroke (one-side breathing) and every third stroke (bilateral breathing)

If you can go every third stroke it will help keep your form and body position balanced (using both sides) while also acclamating yourself to breathing on both sides so when you are in situations where you only want to breath on one side you can go to a 2 or 4 stroke pattern (think ocean swells).

The longer the stroke pattern you can comfortably maintain, the more efficient your swimming will be. Every time you rotate extra to breath or look up to sight you lose a bit of efficiency due to a change in body position, though for swimmers with good technique the loss from breathing is minimal to nonexistent as it's simply a part of their stroke.

Are you sure your friend wasn't referring to "every stroke" as a full rotation of both arms being 1 stroke? I'm can't imagine how breathing every stroke (as in pull of an arm) would do anything but slow someone down due to the extra expended energy and the constant overrotation to bring one's face up to air level.

Edited to add:

When I was first learning freestyle I couldn't keep a 3 stroke count and get enough air. For a time I alternated a 3-3 system, 3 strokes - breath, 2 strokes - breath same side, 3 strokes - breath opposite side, 2 strokes - breath same side...then just got comfortable with bilateral, and now switching between as needed isn't a problem.

I'll bypass the breathing topic as everyone else has talked about it. If oyu want to improve your swimming you need to swim a lot. You should work up to doing 2X your normal swim volume over the next few months. Work on technique a lot, do short intervals (50,100's) and mid distance intervals (300,400,500's) too.

bilateral breathing, or every 3rd stroke (alternating sides) is definitely a need during practice as it will improve your symmetry and technique.

once you get good technique down, during a race i think it should be what is comfortable. in a big group it definitely would help to breathe on both sides, and is a good habit to have, but not totally necessary. getting in a rhythm or pattern might help.

breathing does slow you down, when i sprinted i would only take about one breath per length, but even for distance i think every other stroke is too often.

remember to also practice popping your head up once in awhile for sighting an open water course buoy.

If you're getting winded breathing you can do a couple things.
[LIST]
[*]work on your technique so you're swimming the same speed with less effort
[*]practice your breathing
[/LIST]

In all honesty, we all need to do both :p

As far as the breathing side goes, the steps to take,[LIST=1]
[*]If you're not comfortable with a 2 stroke count on both sides, start working that other side. Say, swim one lap breathing left, then one lap breathing right
[*]Once you're ok on both sides you can start incorporating bilateral work. The progression I went through:[LIST]
[*]incorporate 1 bilateral lap every 3-4 laps
[*]switch to a 3-2-3-2 pattern (2 breaths on one side, bilateral for 3 strokes, 2 breaths on other side, bilateral for 3 strokes, repeat)
[*]full bilateral (just kind of had to make myself relax and get used to it...I don't have the greatest lung storage capacity here)

[/LIST]
[*]Become further comfortable with 3 stroke work, and incorporate 4-5+ stroke work off and on to work on your comfort in the water when you can't immediately take that breath (due to wave swell, rough water, etc)
[/LIST]

Hmmm, wonky listing formatting :confused:

I used to do this breathing exercise:

Do 2x50 laps breathing every 3 strokes.

Then 2x50 laps breathing every 5 strokes.

Then 2x50 laps breathing every 7 strokes.

It will make breathing get easier... Remember also not to expell ALL the air. Keep a little bit of air inside your lungs.