Total Immersion Coaching

too_sleepy

Hi

I first posted this in the triathlon section, should have really posted it here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=64553541

There's a Total Immersion freestyle workshop in Belfast on 7/8 April or 14/15 April and I'm trying to get a few other people interested. I've been wanting to attend one for a while, there's been a few dropouts, if they keep dropping it might not go ahead.

Please PM me if your interested.

There's good info on their own site:
http://www.totalimmersion.co.uk/

mad m

There is a Dublin venue on in May...Thats some price though for two days...£360 or if two or more are paying together £330....

phantom_lord

just get just the book instead

Emelio

technique is not problem for me, it is finding good location and clear water to swim.

Tomm0

phantom_lord wrote: »

just get just the book instead

I improved my stroke massively using the book first, but the course was a huge help when I did it.

I think you can only understand so much from the book without having someone demonstrate, and more importantly, tell you where you can improve.

There were quite a few bits of technique that I'd misinterpreted from the book.

T

Untense

Tomm0 wrote: »

I improved my stroke massively using the book first, but the course was a huge help when I did it.

I think you can only understand so much from the book without having someone demonstrate, and more importantly, tell you where you can improve.

There were quite a few bits of technique that I'd misinterpreted from the book.

T

I'll second that. The videos are a must-have for anyone looking to improve their stroke. I bought the triathlon set and delighted with it. I used this discount coupon 10% Off, if anyone is interested:
http://www.retailmenot.com/view/totalimmersion.net

tyler71

I hate to be negative, but I followed the book for eighteen months and that was a lot of time wasted I wish I could get back, they were completely wasted. Find a SwimIreland coach, SwimSmooth, anything but don't listen to the advice- it might work for a specific body type but definitely not guaranteed.

kris71

tyler could you please elaborate a bit more on that?From my experience as TI instructor,TI instruction works for everyone regarding body composition, the only time it doesnt work is when you rush through the drills and don't spend enough time working on fundamental skills (balance and streamline) or when you are not performing drills properly.

tyler71

I spent six months of two to three times a week building up the drills, not moving onto one until I had fully practised the previous ones - had it all put together in time for the summer - and had a disastrous season of swims, times considerably down on the year before. Decided to go back to page one with the drills and start again, borrowed the video and spent the winter at it. Come spring, I went to an open water session where I got left for dead by a group of first time open water swimmers and finally threw in the towel and went to a Swim Ireland coach who after 4 sessions had me back to a standard style and absolutely flying (Lee Swim 12mins faster than the previous year).
I don't want to completely rubbish the technique - it did make me think about the mechanics of swimming, but it sells itself as some sort of cure all for swimmers which it just isn't and it certainly doesn't make you faster - I've had the pleasure of swimming with or watching some of the best open water swimmers in the country and not a single one uses TI and I don't think it's accidental.

kris71

You wouldn't have any sort of a video of your ti stroke by any chance? Did you work on your stroke ratio with tempo trainer? You see the way the system works is that we work on stroke length first to make you more efficient and once this part is accomplished we work on your stroke ratio to increase speed without loosing to much of a stroke length. Anyway TI teaches you how to cooperate with the water how to use your core muscles and most of all how to stay balanced and streamlined, and thats why it works as a 'cure for all swimmers' I personally wouldn't call it a cure, shortcut is the better word for me. Swimmers with 5000-10000h of swim training don't need shortcuts as they have developed all those skills in traditional way - spending loads of time in the water, thats why you won't find Olympians using TI either they don't need our method as they've learned all those skills swimming 10-20h a weak

To be honest I'm quite sure that if you would work with TI instructor for 3-4 sessions they would get you up to speed as well, unless you really believe that your SI coach managed to reversed 16 months of imprinting all those skills I've listed above in 4 sessions

tyler71

Worked on stroke length, used the tempo trainer, could not get speed up. Couldn't possibly replicate my old stroke now as have focussed very strongly on the new technique and have no desire to reproduce the old one. In fairness, I would go along with your description as the technique as a 'short cut' as if I had to teach someone to swim from scratch I would certainly use it. However for someone in my position who could already swim (but with a poor technique) and looking to get faster it was particularly unsuccessful - may work for some people but not for me and I gave it every chance.
I've no doubt that if I did have a few sessions with a TI coach they might see some results but personally I think this would be down to good one on one coaching rather than any particular technique. Basically coaching - good, learning technique from books (regardless of promises) - not so good.

kris71

Tyler I will agree that without someone who can see what you are doing to give you immediate feedback book and dvd doesn't work that great.
They helped me to get better with my swimming (both speed and distance) but when I've done my first workshop as a student that was the first time I get it right, some elements are just extremely hard to get without manual assist (like 2bk or hip-drive)

Problem is that you cant see yourself swimming or drilling so what you do in your head usually is completely different from what you are doing in the pool
Thats why video analyses are so great as they give you a chance to see yourself swimming and trust me you would be surprised everybody is.

Lets face it if the book and dvd would be able to teach you how to swim better then swimming instructor we would all be jobless. It is a cheap way to improve your swimming, and it is a great preparation before doing the workshop. But if you want to get it right at some stage you will need to see an instructor, or at least buy a waterproof camera so you can see what you are doing wrong

But the method itself is brilliant, I've been trying several different teaching methods in the past and I'm constantly testing any new ideas in swimming, and this is the best one I've found this far