If a person reads a lot of theory about how to swim, different types of techniques, other people’s written experiences etc., can they swim if thrown in a deep swimming pool? Or, at least, be able to swim enough to reach the steep end and save themselves from drowning?
By “a lot”, I mean spending over 6 months to a year, gaining theoretical knowledge. And when we throw them in the pool, they are willing to try it, as in, “I have learnt enough, and I am willing to try it out.”
I’ve taught myself to ride a longboard by watching a ton of videos and memorizing what you need to bear in mind. I was able to get on it myself and ride around town first try. Maybe the videos just gave me enough confidence to try it and I would have had it in me anyway. But I do think they helped quite a lot with technique too. Not sure how that tranfers to swimming. I learned that like most Europeans, by being chucked into deep water.