Fishlike movements - pull, kick, glide freestyle

Shaw method, Total Immersion method, Tonbo style - key points, pull, kick, glide.

If you can't balance your body with the most basic of moves, you will compensate your mistakes with extra kicks or unnecessary movements to counter that weakness. Which is why for freestyle, best learn only the 2 beat kick to check on streamline and body balance, before you add in 6 beat kicks in competitive swims.
Another analogy, is like learning to punch without mastering horse stance in kungfu. #swimkungfu