I am interested in knowing what swimming theory you use and why you use it. I hear much about Total Immersion and not just from this forum. I hear much about swimming high on the water slightly looking forward, and I hear much about people developing their own swimming theory best suited for them but using guidelines that help them maintain a technical stroke.
Given all these different theories, it is no wonder that swimmers new to the sport are confused as to whom to listen to.
I borrowed the TI book from a friend a year or so ago, and found several things I agreed with, but more that I didn’t. I am not close-minded, I just cannot find a reason to swim so low in the water with the head looking down. The rolling of the shoulders really concerned me and the fact that so much of the body is low-parallel to the water, this has to increase drag, especially on the shoulders. One thing I will say is most people who swim using TI have beautiful strokes. But, and there is a but, they just don’t swim fast. Maybe I have just been so isolated here on this island that I have not heard of any, but are there any Olympians using TI? Or, will the young-uns using it be our next generation?
There is a USMS club in Fort Worth who advocated TI. Sadly, now they are deconstructing all those methods because no matter what the workout and intensity, their swimmers’ speeds could never develop. I get to speak to many triathlete swimmers here every March. The Elite (professional) swimmers swim high on top of the water looking forward and they use hip rotation, not shoulder rolling. Many of the age-groupers in this event just don’t understand why they are not swimming faster using TI. Now, we all know that most of the triathletes who were swimmers first, and runners and bikers second, always fare better in the swim portion.
I have said this before and I will say it again, there is more than one way to swim. I swim higher on top of the water looking forward, about a yard or two and use hip rotation. The reason for this is picture a person throwing a rock that skims the lake. The rock is flying on top of the water and not in it, so it moves much faster until its momentum ceases. Now, I know people are not rocks, but the principle is founded. Swimming on top of the water generates power and the swimmer can truly feel it. I swim slightly “planed” outward and upward and skim over the water, not in it.
Nowadays, because I am older and carry more weight, I swim not quite as high on the water and this has evolved over the last ten years or so. So even though I started out swimming “high” on the water looking forward, my stroke has become my own personal one that suits me very well. I also want to mention that I am referring to only freestyle here even though with all of my backstroke days, I, again, swam rather “planed” upward because I could get more rotation on top of the water rather than “in” the water.
I am not trying to cause a brou-ha-ha. I am just curious about the swimming theories and why people select them. And after swimming with any specific theory, are you happy with it?
Donna
I agree with Terry that swimming eats it's young. High volume is good for the people it's good for,the others get out. Notice that Rowdy Gaines is one of the few Olympic Champions swimming Masters. I wonder if that's because he started swimming late and so didn't burn out. Gary Hall Jr.wrote an interesting article(quoted elsewhere in this Forum) about how swimming doesn't have to be a one size fits all sport. In track,if you had someone who was a natural shotputter,would you say"great,we will work on your shotput as soon as you warm up with a 10 mi. run and then do 880s on the 2:00 for an hour first. That's what too many swim coaches do,IMHO
I am amazed, and grateful, that Terry sticks around here. I don't agree with everything he says, and he could probably offend less people by generalizing less about other coach's approaches, but he posts a lot of interesting and thought provoking stuff. If he gets a little defensive on occasion I think you only need to read what some people say about him to understand why. In any case, I encourage everyone to refrain from comments of a personal nature, there are plenty of interesting topics to discuss without needing to get personal, discuss the issues not the personalities and all that. :2cents:
To be sure, Terry has been completely ragged on in those old closed anti-TI posts. He shows guts to stick around. He does post a lot of interesting and thought provoking stuff. But provoking thoughts sometimes means provoking disagreement. And sometimes he's a bit of a terrier in defending the "thought" he provoked. No doubt, the forum is way better off with him. Just like it's better off with you because you are a rocket scientist. But civility works both ways. As you said, "everyone" should refrain from nastiness. :2cents: I have noticed you yourself like to tweek people on occasion with logic and the spot on acerbic comment. ;) But it's OK, that's the entertainment value of the forum. We don't need to be snoozin' here.
Okay, that's it.
I agree these personal attacks against another member and coaching techniques are not appropriate for this forum. If you have a problem with another forum member, please use private messages or email.
Good gracious! I go away for awhile and the slings and arrows come out.
Leslie, if I needed a lawyer, I'd hire you (unless you get corrupted by LBJ and take up racewalking). I would like someday to meet everyone in these forums in person and I bet that we would get along famously face to face where you get immediate feedback via body language, facial reactions in a discussion to possible excesses in use of the language. In the forums, via the typed word, it is all too easy (I am as prone as anyone) to admire one's own well-turned zinger and fire it off, then realize that you have napalm in trying to illuminate your point, rather than Diogene's lantern.
I used to swim freestyle with a technique I learned in 70s. Then I started reading and applying Terry's and Hines's books 8-9 years ago. I worked hard about this technique over nearly 6 months and I managed to change my technique (or I think I did, because I am self-coached and there is noone teaching this technique in İstanbul). I can say that my stroke count decreased from 20-21 to 15-16 per 25 m. I am so happy with it. I had no injuries although I did a few dryland exercises. But when it comes to speed, ...... :help: . No improvement. OK, my swimming golf result is far better than before and my friends love my strokes, but in swimming races, they don't care about swimming golf score. I am happy with my new technique, but speed speed speed.:dunno:
This is all well and good, but don't be spoiling our fun. Levity is good. A little personality spices things up as well. :groovy: I personally get a bit of a laugh when Geek swooshes in like Batman and zings someone. I'm sure he'll be zinging me at some point.
Are you afraid that Geek will steal your cape? :rofl:
I believe there is a verse in the Christian bible to the effect that "Heaven shall rejoice more at the repentence of one sinner than in the deliverance of all the righteous." Or something to that effect.
Now we just have to get you into open water races as well.
-LBJ
Leonard:
I thought the topic of religion was taboo on this forum. :rofl:
Plus, if I really quit the law altogether, I won't be able to buy expensive fastskins or give free advice to my master swimmer friends or pay the outrageous USS fees for my kids' coaches. Plus, Terry couldn't call me "counselor." :D
I said it before, I put my toe in that blue stuff occasionally. :agree: Apparently not nearly as much as you and Donna and Batman and the other distance junkies here.
Fortress, I hope your daughter beats the pants off you in the 50 fly.:lolup:
She has informed me, not so civily, that she will. But she ain't got me in backstroke yet Batman. :rofl:
My theory on swimming is pretty much just this: If it feels good, do it.
I’ve never used props (except to give them a try), and almost never do drills, kick sets, etc.
I mostly pay attention to how I feel moving through the water.
I’ve never been coached except to get some pointers now and again.
My theory has always been to concentrate on technique, and speed will follow.
I’ve never been the fastest fish in the pond (but I have been fastest in a few puddles).
While conditioning is important in swimming, it is mostly mental (... as is just about everything else).
I look and feel great. I get plenty of compliments on my swimming form.
I saw my rheumatologist just yesterday and he said if it were not for my swimming practice I could very well be in a wheelchair now. So while I rarely beat anyone at the USMS meets I’ve attended, I have beat a few, so I’m pretty confident you’d be hard pressed to find anyone with a health condition similar to mine that could beat me. But I’m not nearly as concerned with speed as I am with staying healthy, mobile, and injury free.
I recently tried to increase my practice (over a period of several months) to 2400yds in about 1.5hrs., 5x/wk (M-F). It was too much, so I’m back to about 1700 in 1hr., 3-5x/wk (generally every other day). I basically do 3 sets of 300IM (back, ***, free), with two of those followed by 6x50 kick/fly (dolphin kick on back out, fly back). I throw in a few other 50’s here and there of this and that. I’ve always practiced in a SCY pool (simply because that is what was there).
I generally don't watch the clock except to see when I start and end my practice for the distance covered. I rest until I’ve caught my breath, and am confident I can take off again w/o risking an injury. I’m extremely goal oriented, and always try to push myself, while still remaining kind to myself.
I have a lot of study and practice experience in Yoga as well. I’m amazed at the number of similarities between the two.
Are my ideas right for everyone? I hardly think so. But I firmly believe anyone could reach very close to their own personal top potential using my “theories”. (The amount of effort it takes to go from being really good to being the best just does not seem worth it to me.)
So I say:
Be patient. Pay attention to how you feel going through the water. Listen, watch, and talk to others (the web has been fantastic for these). And last, but certainly not least, have fun with it!
