I decided to give the Total Immersion Swim Method a try. I purchased the Perpetual Motion DVD's and began using them in mid March. And just so you know, I am not at all affiliated with Total Immersion, nor am I trying to sell you on their methods or products. I'm just going to share my honest opinion of the program.
I know it isn't for everyone, but Total Immersion did help me over some hurdles. Very early on I realized that swimming is a technique driven sport. And sometimes there's so much to think about (head position, hip position, body rotation, rotating to air, spearing the water, kicking...) you get it! Like a million different things coming at you at the speed of a freight train.
There were 10 lessons in the Perpetual Motion Freestyle DVD series. It starts with the Superman Glide (lesson 1) and ends with lesson 10 (the Two-Beat-Kick). And FYI, good luck trying to figure the Two-Beat-Kick. Each lesson is about 10 to 15 minutes long, and is broken down in baby steps. Great for the novice and/or older swimmer. You can complete the lessons as quickly or slowly as you need to. But why rush through them?
I was a little apprehensive at first because I felt as though I was starting over again. But who was I kidding?! I didn't have a good swim technique at all, so it wasn't a big deal. I realized it would be easier starting over again now, as opposed to learning bad habits and starting over again later. Yes, I looked silly doing the Superman Glide but I really didn't care what anyone thought anyway.
Lesson 3 was really challenging for me. Lesson 3 is where you begin learning how to balance yourself while rotating to air and taking a breath. I was stuck on this lesson for a while simply because I kept losing my balance every time I rotated to air. And I kept getting water in my nose and I detest water in my nose! It's very common for beginners to develop a terrible habit of lifting their head when they rotate to take a breath. I'm guilty of this myself and its something I need to work on.
The best thing about the lessons was that I completely ditched the swim fins. I had gotten to a point where I couldn't swim without the fins. Every time I tried swimming without them, my legs sunk terribly. It started making me nervous that I was never going to be able to swim without them. And you can't use fins in a triathlon. But here I was...swim-fin-free!
Now there are Total Immersion "Junkies" (as I call them) out there. There are some who overthink EVERY single aspect of EVERY single movement. I'm not that person. I took a lot away from the program technique-wise, but there are a few things that don't work for me. Mainly the two-beat-kick (I just don't get it) and the pull phase of the stroke. Two triathletes recently told me to learn a "high elbow catch and pull", which I'm currently working on. I have read that EVF (Early Vertical Forearm) is more efficient, especially in open water. But other than that, I consider it a pretty good investment. For the first time since I completed my swim lessons in January I look forward to practicing. And I use the TI drills in my warm up every time I swim.
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