Allen Wooding - Windsor Workshop, December 2012
Hello Jai,
Just a quick e-mail to say thankyou to Tracey, Tanya and yourself for a great weekend and great coaching last weekend at the TI workshop.
I have been working on the drills we covered at my local pool this week and it's definitely what I needed to move my swimming forward. It's now down to me to make this practice permanent.
Jason Hughes - Fistgloves Review, June 2011
Used them for 20mins sunday evening. They are the most amazing training aid I've ever come across (and not just in swimming).
It took a good few lengths for the brain to organise the body to swim bettter with them on, although I did overkick. Hopefully with a bit more thought I can stop that.
The sensation of the water on my hands for the first 25m after removing them was mind blowing. The sensation lasted strongly for another 3 x 25m and then dissipated.
Converted!
Caroline Fox - Windsor Workshop, February 2011
Thank you very much for the Feb Windsor course. After initially wondering if it would every all come together - I think it might be, slowly !
I have been swimming a few times a week and am very much enjoying my, hopefully, more streamlined self ! .........I am very grateful and singing your praises
Clare Conboye - Windsor Workshop, April 2011
Thank-you for such a brilliant weekend ! I know I struggled a bit more than most on Sunday afternoon [TI Comment: This is really very normal folks], but I feel completely inspired after the course- several things were a revelation , particularly the flutter , the breathing and the arm position.
I had an exciting experience in the sea yesterday as felt that I completely `got` the breathing on my way back from the 3rd buoy & I almost crashed into the rock I get out on because I arrived there much quicker than expected ! I know for me it`s increments of improvement & I`m going to take your advice & go in the slow lane tomorrow & practise drills .
Jo also has found it inspirational...... We both feel that all the teachers were lovely, kind,encouraging people & absolutely wonderful teachers. All-in-all a brilliant experience & well worth the money!
Sally Goble - Windsor Workshop, April 2011
"Thank you so much for such an amazing course this weekend. Not only was it so informative and beneficial you guys were also great fun to be with. Will recommend you to all my tri friends. Please thank the rest of your team. You do an amazing job"
Julian Johnson - Newbury Workshop, February 2011
"I came to your workshop at the end of February and had a great time. When I left I was a bit concerned as I didn't want to revert back to my old way of swimming but was also very slow doing TI freestyle. The following week I had a few attempts at drills and swimming in the slow lane at the pool where the motion was a series of separate movements.
However, the following weekend I was working overseas and went for a swim in the sea, doing a mile down the coast with the tide then back up against the tide. About half-way down, the separate movements seem to click into place and the whole stroke felt more fluid. I then went in the hotel pool and did a couple of one mile swims then had an afternoon where I just kept going and did just over 5km. The key thing was that, at the end of that swim, I got out because It was beer o'clock rather than being tired. I could honestly have done it again straight away whereas, previous to the course, I'd have had achy shoulders after two miles.
Since then I have been working on improving breath management, keeping my stroke length up/rate down and keeping the stroke consistent over longer distances. My issue now is not being tried or achy but the pool shuts before I've finished! Last night I was consistently overtaking someone I have was previously always having to move out the way for. Interestingly there is now a small movement of other people interested in TI at the pool.
So, thank-you very much, I'm really enjoying my swimming and feel that the course has unlocked loads of potential."
Christine Sluman, The Wirral - SwimShack 1:1, March 2011
"I just wanted to say thank-you so much for a fantastic lesson today. Your patience and ability to explain everything in a way I could understand has helped me regained my "mojo"!"
Yvette Rice - Newbury Workshop, February 2011
"I would like to say thank you for a most enjoyable week-end at the total Immersion workshop at Newbury. It was sometimes challenging to get my head round the new positions but I can see all the reasoning behind it and hope I do you proud in fully mastering it. An open water swim is definitely on the horizon (or bucket list!) and I know it is something that I will do this year.
It is always beneficial to be taken out of your comfort zone and learn new skills with new people, even though at the time you may not appreciate it fully.
Thank you and your team for providing a good, informative, thought provoking and fun week-end. It may prove a bit of a lifestyle change for me!"
Dawn Brunning - Newbury Workshop, February 2011
"Just to say a massive thank you to you, Tracey, Keith and Jai for all your help and support at your workshop this weekend. The last session I was starting to feel a little frustrated but worked through it.
I arrived home last night shattered thinking I'd have an early night and maybe go to the pool sometime today if I got time. I then started to have a look through the Triathlon swimming made easy book whilst thinking about the stuff from the workshop, and the next thing I knew I'd witten a training plan!! It's the first time I've ever tried to do a plan myself. I used the workshop handbook you emailed to get the percentages of each drill to swimming for about an hour at the pool. I ended up going to bed late not early.
I woke early this moning thinking about swimming. I laminated my training notes and the drills from the workshop manual and went to the pool. I started by just doing a few lengths swimming to warm up and count SPL. 20 metre pool normally 26-27 SPL, it was 25, so a lttle improvement. Then on to the drills, some full stroke focal point swimming and ending with a few lengths counting SPL. It's down to 23!!!!!!!
OK technique not perfect but I'm taking baby steps. I'm enthused to use the pool and already looking forward to my next session. What normally happens is I see no improvement, get bored and end up going to the pool to do boring lengths every 4-6 weeks if I can be bothered. (Opposite to the Martin's of this world who see no improvement so just keep thrashing through it!)
It's going to take loads of work especially as I wasn't even sure what a drill was before Saturday!!! But I hope to keep trying, it's already starting to feel more natural. I'll never be quickest but will get there quicker and less knackered than before. I still hope to get across the channel one day too.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you."
Annabella Bartholomew - Windsor Workshop, February 2011
"Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the course last weekend. I've got a lot out of it and my swimming has already improved as I found out this morning when I went for my usual Tuesday coaching session. Today was an endurance session and so it gave me time to think about each stroke and I could definitely feel when I was doing it right. Anyway, at the end of the swim the girl next to me (who is substantially faster than me normally) actually said that she had been struggling to keep up and yet I felt like I could have swum a lot further!
Anyway, thank you so much for the weekend - it was brilliant!"
Paul Shrimling, Derbyshire - SwimShack 1:1, February 2011
"Thanks Ian for yesterday. Watched the video last night to help hard wire the learning - it was really useful. Swimming tonight and look forward to the drills. I will be recommending you to all out swimmers!"........."Swam last night and not sure I was going any quicker but it definitely felt easier.
Looking forward to the postal swim on Sunday to see how I am after 1 hour of non-stop freestyle!"
David O'Donoghue - Dublin Workshop, March 2009
(Feedback from January 2011) "Just back from the local pool and had to write..........
After many months drilling ( years, according to my long suffering swimming widowed wife) and trying to breath both sides and alway very clumsy on my left side - tonight I really focussed on leading with my laser. Although I thought I was always relaxing my head into the water and keeping it neutral - I obviously was'nt. Lots of superman glides and then tonight with just a slight adjustment- my head went deeper ( while leading with my laser) and when rotating to breath - the air was there - effortlessly! - in fact so effortless that I now have to readjust my stroke so that I should'nt have to rotate so much in future for air which should in turn help my stroke. I found that elusive wave from the wake of my head - I always thought that was a myth.
Really enjoying the drills - took a long time to get there but patience paid off. Still can't kick but thats another days battle. Still sea swimming on Saturdays and Sundays - even in the snow!"
Kim Lundgren - Windsor Workshop, October 2010
"Swimming in San Francisco Bay while visiting my son - my head is up a bit as I started due to cold water at 12 C (ice cream headache), but breathing is better using idea from booklet that you provided, with idea of looking over your shoulder - it has helped to breath on either side.
At least I had arm out front, but left arm is going to come up too vertical - trying to swing up with elbow.
In any case really enjoying and met a fellow at 86 that swims most days - without a wetsuit! I am 68, so I have some years to enjoy this wonderful activity.
Thank you"
Mary Farrell - Dublin Workshop, November 2010
"Just to say thanks for a great workshop, I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and have learnt so much - will start practicing from tomorrow, took a rest today! They were a great group of people and I felt so comfortable at the sessions"
Zack Hocking - SwimShack 1:1 November 2010
"Following the swimming lesson I had with you a couple of weeks ago I have been practising the breathing and balance drills and have found that I can now swim 600m comfortably; before the lesson I could not swim more than 200m of crawl so it feels like a real breakthrough.
Thanks for the coaching"
Melvyn Fokard - Windsor Workshop, October 2010
"Just wanted to say ‘thanks’ to you and your colleagues for the Total Immersion Workshop last weekend. At times, I felt a little overwhelmed by the amount of information we were being asked to assimilate and I wondered afterwards if any of it had really sunk in. However, a trip to the pool this week showed me that I had retained a lot more than I realised. I found that without the ‘pressure’ of being in a teaching situation I was more relaxed and the drills seemed to ‘come together’ much better for me.
After about 45 minutes of drilling, I tried a few lengths of full swimming... You may recall that at the weekend my stroke count went from an unimpressive 28 to a not-much-better 26. This time around, I found my stroke count hovering around 17-19 (for the same size pool); the lowest it’s ever been by quite a margin! I know I’ve still got a long way to go, but I do feel your course has given me the knowhow to get me where I want to be; a proper swimmer!"
Amanda Howarth - Hampton Workshop, Septemebr 2010
"Just wanted to say a massive thank you for this weekend. Sylvia and I had a brilliant time and really enjoyed ourselves whilst we have learnt loads. We'd defiantly be interested in coming back down for a "top up" day if the rest of the group were up for it, or if not we'll come down to Loughborough for one of the 90 minute sessions you mentioned.
I'm about to bunk off work to head to the pool to work on my legs/flutter!!"
Chancie Knights - Hampton Workshop, September 2010
"Just wanted to say cheers again for a great weekend.
I feel like I have learnt a ton and cant wait to get back in the pool again to feel the sense of balance in skating again and build up the drills over the next few months.
I think that I was having problems integrating the breathing in the drills since breathing out too much through my mouth causes me to sink and lose my balance as i climb for air as a result. Once I get this
breathing sorted, the rest should be able to flow together more effectively. I'm going to do some experimenting with the breathing and think that I'll know that i have it nailed if I can breathe consistently with the fist gloves on since I wont be able to "cheat"and climb as much. In the meantime, i'll work on the more basic drills to continue improving the balance and core rotation.
You have sold me on Total Immersion and you have changed my outlook on swimming. I hope to make swimming a big part of my future life"
Salka Hintikka, Cumbria - Swimshack 1:1 Sessions, Summer 2010
"I've had strangers commenting how smooth it looks, so I must be doing something differently from the old me (and all the others). And best was yesterday when a woman on my lane had watched my warm-up (just kicking head first and switching from side to side followed by skating) came to say to me that "you must be a very good swimmer as you look so relaxed in the water!!" Well, not yet, but I will be :)
So big thanks to you again - swimming's giving me such a buzz these days!"
Tobbe Ingemansson, Belgium - Hampton Workshop, March 2010
"Thx for a very good course....I actually swam a bit faster at my half Ironman in May and I had a very good total time of 4.58 which nearly got me to the worldchampionship in Clearwater Florida in my agegroup. I minute faster next time maybe :-)
Did the full Ironman without wetsuit in Frankfurt, due to the heat, and swam 3900 meters on 1.30. Total time 12.46 in the heat!!!!"
Age-Group Swimmer Sophie Taylor (13) - 1:1 Sessions, Aug 2009
"I came 4th in the final of my 200 breast with 2.38.40 (previous 2.43.29) but was 3rd fastest british swimmer. in my 100 breast I CAME 3RD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) in 1.13.20 (previous 1.15.33) but was 2nd fastest british swimmer. Thank you for all your help you really helped me this week!"
FOOTNOTE: Sophie is refering to the British Age Group National's. In June 2009 she won the 50m breast at the Scottish National's and is currently ranked number one in her age group in the British Swimming rankings in 50m, 100m and 200m long-course breast stroke. Sophie later attended our 4-stroke camp in London. Read the earlier comments from her mother, Julie, further down the page.