I've noticed at lot of dicsussion in recent threads about TI principles,
As you can see from my location, I'm on the other side of the atlantic and TI has started to make an impact over here.
I've come across a lot of people in my local University pool who seem to have been mesmerised by the TI message and it is now common for me to see people swimming on their sides with one outstreached arm and a submerged head.
When the time comes to breath these guys have their heads so deep from pressing their bouy that they end up lifting it so high that they loose whatever alignment they had in the first place.
From talking to them, none of them seem to want to develop a proper kick and build up endurance so they can develop
good form.
I have decided to post a list of TI priciples and my own critism of these, feel free to add to the list or post a TI defence!
TI PRINCIPLE 1
Side to Side Rotation
to get into Low Drag Fish-like Position
Criticism
Rotation is good to get extentsion and
a good catch + power into the stroke,
Excessive rotation slows down the stroke.
TI PRINCIPLE 2
Swim DownHill
Press your Bouy
Criticism:
Holding head too deep creates drag
Makes breathing Difficult
TI PRINCIPLE 3
No Kicking
Criticism
Kicking essential to fast swimming
+ to maintain good form particularly
for male swimmers.
TI PRINCIPLE 4
Front Quadrant Swimming/
Distance per stroke,
Criticism
A reasonably high Stroke rate is necessay for
fast swimming,
Unless you have a very strong kick a glide
phase in your stroke will cause decelleration
TI PRINCIPLE 5
Drills will make you a better swimmer
Criticism
Drills are important, but there is no
substitute for good quality fast training.
Originally posted by geochuck
Does any one really think that good technique is Laughlin's idea or that we don't have to workout to swim fast?
It's fine to say "good technique", "swim longer", "improve your conditioning", but the arguments come from how you do those ideas.
Take conditioning. For most of us, more is better. But more sprinting? Less rest? Some people advocate lifting weights, others say don't do it. At what point am I wearing down muscle instead of developing it? The devil is in the details.
As far as good technique, it may not be as mainstream as you think. Many swimmers, when sprinting, put in more effort without concern about their stroke breaking down.
Originally posted by geochuck
When I train fast I use good technique.
And that is the goal of TI. To teach people *how* to maintain good technique when swimming fast. (When I read the books, Laughlin always states that improved conditioning will lead to faster swims. His emphasis is that improved technique can lead to large rewards.)
(BTW, while I've read the books, I have never gone to a clinic. I am trying to argue the ideas, not brainwash you. :D In my experience as a scientist, often you don't really understand something, right or wrong, unless you try to teach it or vigorously argue it.)
Originally posted by geochuck
Does any one really think that good technique is Laughlin's idea or that we don't have to workout to swim fast?
It's fine to say "good technique", "swim longer", "improve your conditioning", but the arguments come from how you do those ideas.
Take conditioning. For most of us, more is better. But more sprinting? Less rest? Some people advocate lifting weights, others say don't do it. At what point am I wearing down muscle instead of developing it? The devil is in the details.
As far as good technique, it may not be as mainstream as you think. Many swimmers, when sprinting, put in more effort without concern about their stroke breaking down.
Originally posted by geochuck
When I train fast I use good technique.
And that is the goal of TI. To teach people *how* to maintain good technique when swimming fast. (When I read the books, Laughlin always states that improved conditioning will lead to faster swims. His emphasis is that improved technique can lead to large rewards.)
(BTW, while I've read the books, I have never gone to a clinic. I am trying to argue the ideas, not brainwash you. :D In my experience as a scientist, often you don't really understand something, right or wrong, unless you try to teach it or vigorously argue it.)
