I swam competitively as a junior and then again for a while in masters events when I turned 40. I was a competent swimmer who had reasonable pace over 100 or 200 metres but I always struggled with distances beyond 400m. The notion of swimming 1500 to 5000 metres or more was unthinkable to me. I knew I was inefficient but didn't know why. The pull buoy was my best friend.
It was only when I came across Total Immersion that I understood how swimming worked for the first time; how balance and streamlining are vital to becoming an efficient swimmer. I took a lot of coaching and the TI approach was transformational for me as a swimmer. Becoming more efficient in the water and learning to swim with my whole body enabled me to begin open water swimming and enjoying swimming greater distances. Far from being something I dreaded, a 2 to 5K open water swim is something I now relish and enjoy.
My journey with TI culminated when I took the coach training and became a certified level 3.0 Total Immersion Coach in 2015.
The hydrodynamic principles of balance and streamlining being essential for efficient swimming are not unique to TI however. I have also learnt a lot from watching and reading stuff from iconic American coach, Bill Boomer who was a great influence on TI founder Terry Laughlin, and who coined the phrase: "The shape of the vessel matters more than the size of the engine".
I have over 3000 hours experience one to one coaching, directing workshops and leading swim camps. During this time I have developed a good number my own unique ideas and approaches to more effective swim coaching.
It was only when I came across Total Immersion that I understood how swimming worked for the first time; how balance and streamlining are vital to becoming an efficient swimmer. I took a lot of coaching and the TI approach was transformational for me as a swimmer. Becoming more efficient in the water and learning to swim with my whole body enabled me to begin open water swimming and enjoying swimming greater distances. Far from being something I dreaded, a 2 to 5K open water swim is something I now relish and enjoy.
My journey with TI culminated when I took the coach training and became a certified level 3.0 Total Immersion Coach in 2015.
The hydrodynamic principles of balance and streamlining being essential for efficient swimming are not unique to TI however. I have also learnt a lot from watching and reading stuff from iconic American coach, Bill Boomer who was a great influence on TI founder Terry Laughlin, and who coined the phrase: "The shape of the vessel matters more than the size of the engine".
I have over 3000 hours experience one to one coaching, directing workshops and leading swim camps. During this time I have developed a good number my own unique ideas and approaches to more effective swim coaching.
"James is fantastic, he applies the principles of TI, but it feels unique to you and the challenges you face with your stroke. Most of all, what he says makes sense, and he makes it easy to apply, to take away and carry on practising. My biggest takeout from his sessions is that I now get how swimming should feel, and that’s after being a competitive swimmer for over 30 years!" Ann H - London
