I swam competitively as a junior and then again in masters events in my late 30s and early 40s. A specialist breaststroker I was a competent freestyle swimmer who had reasonable pace over 100 to 200 metres but I always struggled with distances beyond 400 metres. The notion of swimming 1500 to 5000 metres or more was pretty much unthinkable to me.
It was only when I came across Total Immersion that I started to learn about how swimming worked for the first time; how balance and streamlining are vital to becoming an efficient swimmer. TI was also the beginning of my own further research into swimming and studying the theories of other notable coaches and the physics and biomechanics of swimming.
Over the years I have refined and distilled my own thoughts and theories on how to swim efficiently and am committed to not letting swimming become unnecessarily complicated.
When not coaching swimming, swimming, or thinking about swimming, I enjoy playing chess, keeping fit in the gym, cycling the Sussex and Hampshire countryside on my gravel bike, good food and being taken for walks with my working cocker spaniel Daisy.
It was only when I came across Total Immersion that I started to learn about how swimming worked for the first time; how balance and streamlining are vital to becoming an efficient swimmer. TI was also the beginning of my own further research into swimming and studying the theories of other notable coaches and the physics and biomechanics of swimming.
Over the years I have refined and distilled my own thoughts and theories on how to swim efficiently and am committed to not letting swimming become unnecessarily complicated.
When not coaching swimming, swimming, or thinking about swimming, I enjoy playing chess, keeping fit in the gym, cycling the Sussex and Hampshire countryside on my gravel bike, good food and being taken for walks with my working cocker spaniel Daisy.
"James is the most thoughtful and engaging coach I’ve worked with. He responds to what’s in front of him rather than trying to fit your swimming to a general model, unerringly zeroing in on one or two points that will help you improve. His understanding of the stroke dynamics of front crawl, in particular, is exemplary. The video segments James sends post-session are invaluable – and every bit of advice is delivered with tremendous charm and thoughtfulness. His coaching has helped recently my short course PB for 1500m from 19:00.17 to 18:42.32. Big thanks."
– Paul Mason, open-water swimmer; National Masters 1500m silver medalist, SE Regional 3k champion.
– Paul Mason, open-water swimmer; National Masters 1500m silver medalist, SE Regional 3k champion.
