Easy Freestyle Swimming [DVD] [2008] [US Import] [NTSC]

First let me say this is MUCH more useful than the Total Immersion book. The book is full of interesting background information about key principles (eg don't fight the water) - but only one chapter alluding to the practical exercises. Whereas this DVD describes those exercises in detail.

I tried to teach myself from the DVD, but found it very difficult. Then I went on a Total Immersion workshop - which literally transformed my swimming. The TI approach is radically different from any other swimming tuition I have ever come across. But it requires you to 'unlearn' almost all your existing swimming ideas & habits. Personally I don't think I could ever have done this using self-teach materials.

So I wholeheartedly recommend the TI approach - and if you want to teach yourself, this is the DVD to get (there is another one that this supercedes). But ideally you should do one of their workshops.

This style of swimming was brought to my attention from one of my Tai Chi students. The timing was beyond coincidence. I was looking to use my free use of our local pool with my gym membership. I also wanted to get stuck into swimming as its a great exercise.

I have been greatly frustrated with swimming over the years. I felt my technique wasn't that bad but I just really struggled. Firstly the breathing on freestyle. Secondly and more embarrassingly I was puffed out after 2 laps!!

I just didn't get it. I am reasonably fit yet this swimming was beyond me. What's worse(or encouraging depending on how you look at it) was people in their 70's and beyond were cruising lap after lap. There had to be a way to become a good swimmer.

So I initially checked out some of the videos on you-tube on TI Swimming. Very inspiring. I loved the fluid, effortless way the technique was used. It fitted in perfectly with effortless Tai Chi.

I then worked from the you tube videos. I got quite far with them and was really enjoying my swimming a lot more. However, I was still getting breathless.

So at this point I decided maybe there was something on the dvd I could use to get to the bottom of the cause. I was also getting quite tired using this so-called effortless technique.

The DVD was worth every penny. Terry takes you through every stage of the process. By applying a lot of the drills I was able to correct my technique.

The biggest error I was making was I wasn't 'relaxed' enough. By slowing down and relaxing more I improved a lot. I did end up tiring myself out by going for a very long pull. I corrected that and kept it much softer. Eventually by relaxing more I was breathing more evenly and as a result not sucking all the air out of the aquarena each time I came up for air.

Another important adjustment was I was over-rotating my shoulders. Terry shows very clearly what's enough rotation. Also the strike into the water is key to the whole process. Continual adjustments help make it effortless and very shoulder friendly. Thus making it a lifetime activity.

I now really feel(age 48) I could go on and swim for the rest of my life.

Every time I go to the pool its a fun time. So many little things to work on for a while then just focusing on good technique and relaxing. Swimming with minimum effort.

I must add though that I love getting my teeth into something I enjoy. I want to own it completely. Therefore all the little nuances of the technique, all the refinements are tremendous fun to me. I was going down 5 times a week at one point for over an hour sometimes two. At that time though it was two laps. stop. Review the technique and try again.

To work on one stroke(freestyle) for so long (8 weeks) and still find bits and pieces to refine amazes me really. But that's what I love about Tai Chi, so its great to find it in swimming.

If you are already a swimmer but feel your technique could be a lot better, and effortless, you'll fly with this dvd. If you already have great swimming lung capacity, then you only have to work on the technique.

Now that I've spent a lot of time at the pool for the last 2 months I can observe some of the points terry makes about other swimmers. Swimmers with terrible technique for instance. Some of these people are like machines grinding lap after lap. As terry puts it they are using so much muscle and developing tremendous lactic acid tolerance. So if they applied his technique they would absolutely glide in the pool.

I also notice people just put the laps in. They don't seem to enjoy it much, Its some chore to keep them fit and keep the weight down. I also notice some pretty large obese swimmers going for over an hour lap after lap. They must be doing some serious eating because I noticed I was able to eat very well, maintain my weight and lose 2 inches off my waistline doing a lot less laps than they are.

Trial and error is working for me. I was over-doing it in the last few weeks. So I've cut back the 50 laps per session at 5 * 10 and switched to 2 * 16 laps for now. I want to be able to swim every day if I want and still fit in some weight training. The previous program was too much and I knew I would go over the edge if I through in weights as well.

Its all become such fun. As I've been doing Tai Chi for 22 years, its great to find something else I'm equally passionate about. Its all thanks to Terry's technique. I have trouble with my knees with running. Treadmill is perfectly ok but its zero fun.

Finally I love the tranquillity of swimming. With ear plugs, nose plugs, swimming cap I can hide myself, shut off the noise, and go into a focused, relaxed mode that's so peaceful.

update: 26.4.2010

I've been known in the past to give amazing reviews then move on after a few months. But I love this style of swimming. I had to take a break for about 6 weeks as I was feeling very low on energy. It was due to weight-training introduced. I've now corrected the level of weights used per week which is loads better. I'm currently on 3 * 12 laps. I prefer the slower style of swimming. Our pool is bizarre 33 metres. I am trying to build the laps up to 3 * 20 eventually. But I only increase my laps if I feel really strong. There can be a tendency to push with will power. I find that over trains my system. I go into the pool twice a week.

update 31.5.2010

I'm now up to 50 laps twice a week. I've broken it down to 18,18,16. The last set I'm going quite a bit faster. I was kicking more but I found it aggravated my hip so I've switched to a 90% arms only front crawl. I increased my speed and have broken the last set down into 8 fast, break, 4 fast, break, 4 fast. Going faster has made my breathing a lot more heavy for now. I would never have been able to swim at this pace before starting this way of swimming. My breathing feels in control even though its faster. For legs I'm now doing breaststroke on the middle 18 laps. There is a DVD from this series on it.

Having cut back on the number of sets I was doing with weights, I can now put more effort into increasing my speed and stamina on swimming. So far my new routine feels good.

On the whole this is an excellent training aid for those looking to get to grips with Total Immersion Free Style. It takes you through each of the drills from the most basic right up to advanced, racing and tumble turns. I understand that the process of training TI is evolving constantly and so there may well be slightly more upto date guides. I use it to support my training with my TI coach and have found it to be very helpful. It is a guide rather than a de facto manual however. I recommend it for anyone either learning from the ground up to those who are looking to compete.