After watching these TI videos I use less than half the strokes and a fraction of the kicks I used to. The opposite end of the pool seems to only be half as far away as it used to be??
Domo Arigato, Takeuchi-san.I'm too far away in Europe to be able to visit your classes, but this video is filmed very well and one is able to pick up quite a few pointers just by watching. Super!
i love it how you kick the water. one stroke, with one leg only, and it gets you going. i have problems because i am big and heavy, and sometimes its hard for me to maintain position
It looks so effortless, but for me, impossible! If I barely kick like that, then my legs SINK! I have to work really really hard just to move! How is it possible to have such a streamlined body position -high legs, with hardly any kick?? And the stroke enters the water very early, but is long UNDER the water. This looks amazing! How is that possible?
Does anybody know if it's possible to download this video and put it onto my ipod?
I am trying hard to get my stroke as smooth as this. The life guards at the pool are kind of helping me out. But non of them have really heard of this style, so they can only go by my description.
It would be far more productive to show them the video rather than describe it.
Other than that...awesome!!!! I've never seen swimming look so graceful!
When you submerge your head, a vow wave is created and the level of the surface gets lower. I do not roll my head so much since the surface is 8-10 inches(20-25cm) lower than the original one.
I've been doing TI for 4 months and have been really working on my lead hand being stretched out. I am your size 5' 8", 140 lbs,and I measured a 71" wingspan, having never measured my wingspan before, is it possible that TI has increased my wingspan? 71" is pretty long for our height.
What's the number one video ? I am refering to the comment in the beginning of the video. Amazing technique by the way, very inspiring and it makes me want to take a look at the TI method.
Wow, Shinji-- congrats on 1.5 million views! I should post some of my own swim vids for prospective clients of the T.I. studio in New Paltz to see... Certainly speaks for itself! (PS-- it's Cari, Terry's daughter) :)
love your style and tried the TI-way. But i still have problems to swim more than 200 m in a row. At the beginning its fine but then my muscles get tired.
Another problem is breathing on the left side. I am trying to push the water with my head but doesnt work out that well as on the right side. Thanks..
@aekno TI has done the opposite for me. I was a 500 meter all out freestyler, now I can swim up to 3200 meters (and guaranteed can push it further) with the help of the TI style. The ease and fluidity of this style is unmatched.
You probably have the most symmetrical and beautiful free-style stroke I ever seen.
I am a near 40 year-old leisure swimmer (qualified life-guard) who weekly swim 3km (60 olympic laps) free-style within an hour mark. My style is definitely not as elegance as yours.
I just spent 4 hours in the pool trying many positions and options.. :) I think that I found my problem! I didnt knew how to use the shoulders. After the hand snap, you rotate the shoulder from outside to the inside. This gets the upper hand into position, and then you move the shoulder forward (the blade). The Sachie Kato clip shows it maybe better.
Please say that its true because I am excited now!
I just got how a proper hand snap should be done. The third phase of snapping with elbow and wrist can be done slowly. What REALLY matters is to do it with both. By doing that, the forearm becomes stiff and behaves like a shovel. This keeps the shoulder and the hand from strains and tightness, and also creates a compact hand entry in the water after recovery.
Is this snap technique taken from martial arts?.. TI Japan is the best swimming style.
When you snap, your elbow will work as the fulcrum of it, so it is natural you cannot loosen both the elbow and the wrist at the same time.
More importantly, you initialize the recovery action by moving your elbow forward, not moving it up.The direction defines how you move your palm underwater when you snap it.
Hi, your video and many of the other tiswimjapan videos have been very inspirational. One of my problems is that I have no control and coordination of my kick. I'm trying to learn the two beat kick, but my legs just don't want to seem to work with my arms. Do you have any suggestions or drills to help me with the coordination of the two beat kick?
First you want to try Superman Glide with snaps. Every 1.30 second you will snap one foot with the glide position. Second you try to extend your opposite hand by 6 inches at each snap. After that, you just do one switch with one snap. The timing of the snap is not when you enter your hand, but when you extend the elbow.
Hi, I was amazed to see that your legs move is synched with your hands stroke. Unlike other swimmers, which their legs move is absolutely independant. Why? does it produce better propulsion?
I would like to ask how deep should hand be entered after recovery(I was taught to always keep the elbow touching the surface, and I am not comfortable with that)?
And upto which position do you push your hand (is it upto waist)?
Also, is there anything you keep in mind during breathing(when to initiate head roll, where to watch like that?
wonderful. I haven't had any swimming lessons but I learned a thing from this video. my freestyle has improved through watching youtube videos for the past couple of months. its been a great help for me watching you guys doing your stuff, truly inspirational for me and I'm just 17.
it would be nice to see how this scales to different swimming speeds. i can maintain pretty good form at this speed but when i start to speed up i lose it.
Wow! This really works... tried it the last few times ive been swimming and was stuck doing 40-45mins for a mile, did this for only the third time and down to 35mins!!
I do have problems breathing every 3 strokes as so used to breathing every 2, any ideas or drills that might help?
This is a beautiful video. You swim with such grace and smoothness -- it's an inspiration. Thank you for posting a video that lets us see so many details, too.
I try to loosen my knees right after the snap. By loosening the knees, the water will push legs up to the streamline position. I can do it better now (than 3 years ago).
I note that your catch and pull is synchronised with the downbeat kick on the same side. Studying the TI freestyle DVD, I interpreted that the catch and pull should synchronise with the opposite leg downbeat? Could you comment on this please
I have watched this video over 100 times and practiced from it; I feel like I have been fighting water all my life instead of swimming (water always wins)
I wish I could do the coaching but I don't live near a place where there is TI coaching
splashing water=wasted energy, splash water all you like and it doesn't move you one bit
I am finding it really difficult to lower my stroke count without feeling like I will sink as it feels like my arms and subsequently speed are incredibly slow. Any suggestions? Thanks you
When you try to decrease your stoke count from 20s to 16-18, slippery position works better. When you try to decrease it to 12-14, you need more propulsion, which comes from your hip drive and underwater finish (hand pushing in the water).
The background music is "My Destiny" by Groove Generator from the Album entitled, "Groove is in the Mix." However, it does not appear to be released for purchase.
In order to glide across the pool and make it in 12 strokes like you did, doesn't the initial kick-off from the wall followed by an extended gliding take a lot of practice and effort? So, if I can glide a third of the way coming off the wall, the rest two third of the pool then won't take that many strokes to cover....so I wonder: if one can glide efficiently thru water, it doesn't make him a TI swimmer simply because it takes him a few strokes to make it across. Any thoughts?
You are right. I am not good at push-off. Your body position will be one foot deeper when you push off, and you keep your body flat with looking down. Many people can decrease stroke counts by polishing their push-off.
i have a problem keepin myself up right when doing a head up freestyle... i keep goin under... so i keep using a swim belt... do u know my problem and what i need to do to fix it?.... also im a beginner
If you raise your head, your lower body will sink. Head up freestyle requires higher balance control and more stable core. It might be better try it after you have more control skills. Head up freestyle does not contribute to forming for beginners.
If you want to swim with grace, I do not recommend hitting the water with your hands because it creates the splash. As for breathing, you do not focus on pulling while you are breathing. You try to extend your arm so that your body gets balanced.
I was taught to kick pointed straight to at the surface,but total immersion says to bend the leg and kick from hips below the surface, Second,I was taught to kick up and down and rotate the torso only during breathing, I am preety good at rotating entire body from hip but could not kick on side and losse momentum that way.
The most graceful and natural way of swimming freestyle. I can't stand people who splash water as if they are fighting aganist it. "Water is your friend, not your enemy!" Popov said.
A great vid, it has inspired me to learn TI. It is such an efficient stroke, it's like learning to swim properly. One thing I would like to know however is the name of the background music!?
I watch this video at least 3 times a week. I got the "Total Immersion" book and DVD a month ago and my swimming technique has improve dramatically. I am down to 17 strokes per lap (25 meter pool) and enjoy gliding through the water. I still have a lot of work left, especially on my hand entry. You do it so smoothly is sickening... Thanks to this video I was introduced to T.I..
When you swim, try to look down and submerge your head. When you have trouble with breathing, try to roll your face with your body without raising your head.
This is THE BEST freestyle technique video (both form of swimmer and clarity of the shot) that I've ever seen on youtube. Will his particular version of freestyle that he is doing in this video work well for Ironman-distance Triathlons, where the legs need to be used very little (ideally, not at all) to conserve leg power for the bike and run? If it will work well, I will try to implement it immediately :D
Hi Shinji, I've been practicing this technique for nearly a week after reading T. Laughlin's book "Total Immersion" and was hoping you could give me some tips.
I'm struggling a bit with the 2 beat kick, I feel I need to flutter kick almost constantly. I've tried to improve my balance by pushing my torso down and lowering my front arm as I glide, and by practicing as smoothly as possible but the leg kick seems the hardest thing to get right.
It might be a good idea to practice "without kicking". If you lean enough before you push off the bottom and pull with your arm correctly, you can do 3-4 switches without kicking. Then you will stand up and repeat it until you reach the end.
Hi Shinji, I took your advice today and practiced without kicking and it worked. Then I swam many lengths using very few leg kicks and was a lot less tired. Seems it's all in the mind and you just have to ditch your old, bad habits as TI says!
Just need to get my head position right now, as sometimes I submerge my head to try and go faster but that makes body rotation hard.
But I am very pleased with the results regarding my leg kicks so thankyou for your excellent advice!
I think I saw the TI Japan god today!.. I had an enlightenment at last :)
Suddenly I got that my snap wasnt effective because I wasnt continuing the hand movement backwards and upwards in the air after the pull!
Then I found the real narrow tracks (hand touches the cheek!) which start before recovery when the palm goes above the hip! I used the shoulder blades..its all in place now. I saw the light.. :)
ok thanks so much. I'm having a hard time kicking even though i love this technique. I watch the video everyday a few times before I swim but still struggle. I have my first triathlon in May and I want to do this. How do i kick?? with legs spread out like a frog, or close together to where my knees are touching? to kick close to the surface as with moth kicks.? Thanks ..this has been added to my swimming bible.
If you wear a wet suit, you do not have to worry about your balance and your kick.
If you kick too much, your heels might come out of the water and it is waste of your energy. You will focus on 1) enter your hand closer to your body , 2) extend your elbow quickly in the water and 3) glide until the other hand enters the water.
In Terry Laughlin's Easy Freestyle DVD, he says to rotate "just enough" to clear your shoulder instead of rolling to stacked shoulders. Are you rolling to stacked shoulders? Just wondering, since whatever works for you, is what I want to try. :)
I started to learn TI 5 years ago, so my rotation might be somewhat steep. When I swim with more stroke count (such as 12-14 for 25 meter pool), I try not to rotate my body so much, maybe 45 degrees.
i was intereted by you saying how to breath using an abdominal breathing pattern i have nearly mastered your brilliant technique but still havnt got the breathing right i will put this into action the next time i go to the pool thankyou
Shinji, please confirm that after the hand snap the high elbow is following a line between the hip and the shoulder of the same side. Thats what allows the weight of the back arm (between shoulder and elbow) to "sit" on the shoulder and on the back, and thats what makes effortless recovery. Its so important and I hope that I am not wrong. Million thanks.
High elbow allows the hand weight to lean on the shoulder and the back during recovery! If I move the hand outside the torso width then I must use hand muscles and thats a big error. I have to "lean" just enough and not too much to avoid overrotating. I tried that and it felt amazing,a turbo like feeling... :)
As I mentioned below, you will enter your hands a bit wider where current shoulder line (parallel to your moving direction) exists. This is because you roll your body after you enter your hand. If you enter your hand on the current shoulder line, you have to extend outward as your body rolls.
i suck at swimming, i just got back from the gym and i tried this style, i didnt master it but i noticed i was quick and relaxed and i didnt hyperventilate as with bilateral breathing and i wasn't as tired as with regular freestyle swimming...so here's the question...can i swim this way in open water in a triathlon?
(1) Have you reduced your kicks to just one per arm stroke and is this part of what makes your gliding through the water so smooth?
(2) My body is completely negative, as far a buoyancy, which has made me good at SCUBA but makes surface swimming an extra challenge. Any specific suggestions for someone with my bio-type?
1) Yes, it is. It is the most efficient way. It may not be the fastest way for short distances, though.
2) Try to look down and release your neck muscle. Your head almost looks submerged. Keep your elbow high until you enter your hands. Inhale more by using abdominal breathing method.
My question is about strain and even pain at shoulder and hand when I try to enter my hand with a straight palm with all fingers in same distance from the head. I see after 2.27 minutes here (the camera at your back) that you enter your left palm in an angel and the pinkie is ahead of the thumb. Is it helping the shoulder? Should I do the same with my right palm? I am right handed and you are a lefty so it makes sense.
It is my old habit. If your shoulders and elbows are completely relaxed, you will enter your hand with your palm facing back (i.e. all fingers enter at the same timing). Your pain may come from narrow path, crossing entry, crossing elbow or tensed shoulders.
I watched the part between 2.02 minute and 2.10 few times, and it looks like you are entering the palm in a direct line with the shoulder. The path looks like its a straight forward extension in line with the shoulder. Is that correct or should it be outside the body line?
Good observation. My track is a bit narrow since my shoulders are very flexible. It is a good idea to use tracks with your shoulder width when your body is flat. Your shoulders will be angled when you swim, and these tracks will be a bit (2-3 inches) wider.
I have a question re the timing of the kick and the hand moving back (pushing fwd).
I noticed that when I enter my recovering arm into the water, the leg kicks a split second BEFORE the other arm moves back. There is another way, which is to wait that split second before moving the arm back (meaning, the arms are both in the front quad a split second longer), which causes the kick and the move back of the arm to be perfectly synchronized.
I snap my leg just before I extend my opposite arm in the water. I try not to sync my snap with my pulling arm since the timing is a bit off for my stroke.
Love this video -- I have to watch it several times a week to visualize what my freestyle is SUPPOSE to look like! If this is ranked #3, I wonder what swim videos 1 and 2 are?
Ok, I watched the #1 video which was pretty impressive, but I honestly wasn't impressed with #3. Thanks for your reply, Takeuchi-san - I'm a huge fan! The underwater angles were really helpful to my swimming. I'm convinced that I finally learned the 2-beat kick by watching your video. Do you have any other favorite freestyle videos you think might be helpful to me? I've watched most of the TI videos on youtube.
I was doing elbow lift instead of elbow swing and thats what caused my strange last 7 messages (please delete them if you want). It started when I started doing elbow twist (before the lift). I imagined that you are twisting the elbow which you are NOT. Your elbows are so bent and flexible and thats why I imagined that.
The moment I focused on keeping the palm close to the water surface, ALL my problems disappeared!! The hip drive came easy, the strain and pain in shoulder totally gone. Just by focusing on compact hand recovery(ears hop) I became a TI swimmer at last.
That was my "missing link".. I am doing 14 strokes on 25m EASILY now, flying past swimmers I couldnt compete with.. Please delete my last 5 messages, or not.. :)
I apologize for my last 5 messages from last week. They were signs of another problem, and today I found my REAL problem. This may come natural and trivial to good level swimmers. not to me..
Until now, in recovery I have not kept the fingers as close to the water surface as possible. I was raising my palm in all sorts of heights trying to find my relaxed recovery. I saw the ear hop in the dvd and in your clips and got it at last...
Ok, I talk a lot of nonsense while trying to improve, but this time I think I found my problem.
I knew that the elbows can redirect the forearm forward during recovery, but I thought that elbow twist shortens the stroke length (its not).
In the fast 12 strokes video I can clearly see how Shinji is twisting his elbows especially his left elbow(his stronger side).The forearm just hangs lose and the palm is facing forwards.
Thats the key to effortless recovery. No more stiff elbows for me :)
Yesterday I started to wait the ELBOW entry to do the leg snap. I got a longer stroke and a better balance. Thats after bending the knee when the wrist got submerged.
Is that correct or should I only focus on the wrist to start the pull and snap?
Do you also snap "with elbow" or is it my wide torso(not fat) that needs more balance?
You say to raise the elbow "as high as possible" in the recovery. Do you stretch the abdominal muscles to get the elbow as high as possible? I tried that but I am afraid it will tire me after few laps in the pool.
1)How important is it to keep the torso tight and the body long during the swim? I felt different when I started to keep my budy long and tight, and I could do relaxed 13 strokes on 25m, about 2 strokes less than "not so tight".
2)"Hip drive" - Is it just a quick and sharp hip rotation, or do I have to stretch the hip muscles and "force the hip"?
Many Thanks. Without your help I would still been stuck on 18 strokes per 25m.
So your snap is coming from your hips first right? What I'm trying to say is that your keeping your knees relaxes the whole time and when you kick(from your hip) the energy transfer from the hip makes your knee snap correct? is that what helps your body roll as well?
Its the other way around. He first snaps the leg, and after that he is driving the hip and he rolls to the other side. He told the sequence of the recovery in a previous message few months ago.
leg - hip - roll - skate...
You will find that below in his replies.
I am trying to help just as Shinji helped me. :) I hope I am accurate
Yesterday I suddenly remembered the "straight forward" high arm recovery that engages no "sideways" muscles in the shoulder. The back of my palm is facing the swim direction the moment its out of water. This recovery is what triggers the hip drive. The leg snap does not drive the hip on the opposite side . Am I right?...
Its an amazing swim style and you are just great, not just as a swimmer but also as a person. million thanks
i must second with swimmust..... shinji is amazement personified... his technique while is based on TI it still has its own uniqueness....its mind blowing... i have been now watching this video for last 3-4 months and it has helped me tremendously make corrections to every nuance in swimming... if one wants to swim effortlessly and tirelessly this video is right place to learn from... in near future i hope to post my own video as testimony to this ....
My message above is "nonsense". What I really found now is how important it is to snap only after the wrist is in water and not before that. The kinetic energy is used only if I have a "proper catch" in the water.
I am working now on 3 things: 1) 2bk timing. 2)high arm recovery. 3) underwater hand snap to raise the elbow.
I kept today 15 strokes on 25m and sometimes even relaxed 14.
16 strokes looks bad to me now.. 3 weeks ago I couldnt go below 18, then I started to use 2bk.
I have a quick question, its hard to tell here but is your kick more knee driven than hip drive? I've been told by so many that your kick needs to be hip driven. Would the kick coming from the hip help aid in the body roll? or is the knee enough?
I loosen my knees to bend my legs, then I straighten them with downward motion immediately. There is no "drive" point in my mind. I just snap my legs.
I am about to reduce my strokes count to 13-15 on relaxed 25m thanks to your 2bk great help. I work now on stopping my instinctive flutter between the main 2bk.
I have another question please:
Do you start the hand pull only after the other hand palm is fully in water, or just when the entering fingers "get wet"?
Do you "wait the palm" or do you just start pulling when the other hand fingers start entering the water?
1) The moment my wrist is submerged, I start to move my forearm. My elbow is slightly turned inward and kept the position, and my wrist is relaxed so that I can hold the water more with less energy.
2)The moment my elbow is submerged, I push the water back with my forearm, but I engage upper arm and shoulder to do it.
My palm is mainly relaxed, and slightly engaged to keep the shape.
6 days later after your last advice, and if I was a rich man I would have come personally to your place and handed you the keys to a nice new car or something like that... :) but I am not , and I live thousands km away from you :(
I can now do effortless 15-16 strokes on 25m lap in training thanks to your last tip which was invaluable(2bk). I have balance during the hand extension tricky period. When I forget the correct 2bk I regress to 18 strokes.
Shinji, thanks so much for your patience and help. I found before your reply that you start the knee crack when entering the hand, but the snap until the extend is finished is new to me. I can do the 2BK and this tip is very good(the time length of the kick).
I finally got your "high elbow" recovery(almost vertical). Its very relaxed with no "side movement", the hand snap underwater keeps the weaker hand on its track. I still have a lot to do, but I owe you any improvement.
Shinji, I apologise but I just want to make sure an important thing.
During recovery you focus on entering the hand in the water, and ONLY AFTER the palm is under water you start the kick process? When exactly do you start the kick in relation to your recovering hand?
Timing is so important and I apologise again if it was asked before.
Many thanks for all your replies. I think that I still miss the balance and being relaxed. I started 2bk and I try to kick only with my ankles without moving the upper part of the legs, just like you.. I wished.. I also try to use the underwater quick snap which works when I use the legs correctly. I still have a lot of work to do, but I am learning new things all the time.
anyway, not many succeeded to reduce 5 minutes from their 1km time within 2 months like I did, so I still believe... :)
hips rotation versus abs rotation from my 3 months exeprience:
hips create more forward movement and a longer stroke, the body feels much more compact and streamlined, the energy used is much less and the oxygen/energy balance is much better.
I finaly feel like I can swim well and smoothly. I also used light flutter to compensate for my wrong body roll with legs kick, and now with "hips roll" I dont need that.
1 month after my TI course, and looks like I moved from 18 strokes per 25m to 16 or less at last.
My question is: Today I started using my hips to body roll. better late than never... in your list of 13 censors you start with the hips. Is that the most important censor and your list is done by order of importance? Today I kept 16 SPL or less only because I focused on the "hip twist" and not on the "stomach twist" while extending my hand in water (no 2BK).
"Hip drive" is not the most important when you swim short distances(25-200meters). It will be more important when you swim longer, because you rely on "core engine" more to save energy.
Amazin video Shinji, truly inspiring. I have one question. From the underwater footage, it seems that you kick more forcefully with your left leg than your right leg. Is it a left/right difference or is the reason that these kicks occur immediately after you've rolled to breathe? I have a similar experience with a 6-beat kick: when I spear after breathing, I kick on the opposite side with more force and I feel this gives me more propulsion.
Shinji, I would like to second the query from micky below concerning the optimal angle for hand entry when spearing to skating position. In his DVD, Terry Laughlin is shown in the practice tank spearing at about 45 degrees whereas your own technique seems to involve a much shallower spearing angle. I find the deeper angle makes it easier to maintain balance and execute a good catch, but would be grateful for your thoughts.
I change the angle after I enter my hands. When I enter them, the angle is 45 degrees. After I enter them, I extend them forward, parallel to the surface.
A friend took us to the pool to try this technique because he came back from overseas having learned it. For the first time in my life I feel I can actually swim.
it is more difficult to swim if you are muscular, beacause you don not float as easily, so therefore you have to perfect your stroke more. But the those that are more muscular also tend to have more upper strength.
I've been watching your video over and over, and been trying to practice the same. I notice that your head position/upper torso is much lower than the average pool swimmers. This is a challenge since our head is at a lower position below the water line, I think we have to rotate our head to a larger extend, in order to clear the water surface and catch some air. Do you find this an issue especially when you swim around other people?Thank you very much.
If you move very quickly just before you breathe, you can create "a vow wave" and the surface level gets lower and you can breathe much easier. Roll your face with your body when you extend your arm. It is the timing where you can get the maximum speed.
After watching these TI videos I use less than half the strokes and a fraction of the kicks I used to. The opposite end of the pool seems to only be half as far away as it used to be??
stoker20 1 week ago
Domo Arigato, Takeuchi-san.I'm too far away in Europe to be able to visit your classes, but this video is filmed very well and one is able to pick up quite a few pointers just by watching. Super!
MrRickyReject 1 month ago 2
This is a ground-breaking, inspiring and perhaps a life-changing video! Thanks for sharing, Shinji-san, a great teaching tool!
Kum4oWyl4o 2 months ago
I did ti swimming about 3 years ago and it's amazing. I am only 1.63m and regularly swim 50m in 32 strokes I feel like I'm flying!!!
catbate 2 months ago
i practice this everyday - thanks for the inspiration
matthew12345678912 3 months ago
i love it how you kick the water. one stroke, with one leg only, and it gets you going. i have problems because i am big and heavy, and sometimes its hard for me to maintain position
KeepHimAtBay 6 months ago
this is so graceful, it brings tears to my eyes watching it!!!! What an amazing demonstration of human capability.
foxgeek 7 months ago
Awesome !
Wanna learn this...
Thanks for posting this clip
Peekingduck 7 months ago
this is not called breathing, it is called air stealing, isn't it?
shanya1303 8 months ago
oh my god, you're like a human shark D:
randomMissus 9 months ago 13
Your breathing is incredible!
Wiegieboard 10 months ago
It looks so effortless, but for me, impossible! If I barely kick like that, then my legs SINK! I have to work really really hard just to move! How is it possible to have such a streamlined body position -high legs, with hardly any kick?? And the stroke enters the water very early, but is long UNDER the water. This looks amazing! How is that possible?
stlee74 11 months ago
Does anybody know if it's possible to download this video and put it onto my ipod?
I am trying hard to get my stroke as smooth as this. The life guards at the pool are kind of helping me out. But non of them have really heard of this style, so they can only go by my description.
It would be far more productive to show them the video rather than describe it.
Other than that...awesome!!!! I've never seen swimming look so graceful!
vyberman 11 months ago
まるで水面を縫い通るような動きですね！理想です。明日もプールで泳ぎます。水泳は大好きです！早くないけど、長く泳げないけど、水泳は気持ちいいんです。
kaz196974 11 months ago 2
it looks like the head doesn't even come up to breathe. How do you breathe??!!
ezekiel0920 11 months ago 36
@ezekiel0920,
When you submerge your head, a vow wave is created and the level of the surface gets lower. I do not roll my head so much since the surface is 8-10 inches(20-25cm) lower than the original one.
tiswimjapan 11 months ago 39
I wish you would do more of these, underwater, too.
conseler 1 year ago
If I watch this enough, I am hoping it rubs off on me. No TI coaches in Nebraska :(
rycaltor 1 year ago
Elegant & Technical style ! Waching this you can learn a lot about effortless free style swimming
vincereee 1 year ago
Does swimming regularly make you grow taller?
TheLeilisa 1 year ago 6
@TheLeilisa,
My height does not change at all. But my arm span has increased by 5 inches since I started TI.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago 8
@tiswimjapan
Are you serious?
I've been doing TI for 4 months and have been really working on my lead hand being stretched out. I am your size 5' 8", 140 lbs,and I measured a 71" wingspan, having never measured my wingspan before, is it possible that TI has increased my wingspan? 71" is pretty long for our height.
Thanks, Rich
RichCrawford 1 year ago
@RichCrawford,
Mine is 74 inches.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
@tiswimjapan
Woh!
RichCrawford 1 year ago
What's the number one video ? I am refering to the comment in the beginning of the video. Amazing technique by the way, very inspiring and it makes me want to take a look at the TI method.
papetatedouces 1 year ago
Wow, Shinji-- congrats on 1.5 million views! I should post some of my own swim vids for prospective clients of the T.I. studio in New Paltz to see... Certainly speaks for itself! (PS-- it's Cari, Terry's daughter) :)
gunxgirl 1 year ago
watching this since a year before going to swim
thanks!
lachmichweg 1 year ago
Hi Shinji,
love your style and tried the TI-way. But i still have problems to swim more than 200 m in a row. At the beginning its fine but then my muscles get tired.
Another problem is breathing on the left side. I am trying to push the water with my head but doesnt work out that well as on the right side. Thanks..
aekno 1 year ago
@aekno TI has done the opposite for me. I was a 500 meter all out freestyler, now I can swim up to 3200 meters (and guaranteed can push it further) with the help of the TI style. The ease and fluidity of this style is unmatched.
deadflagbluesxxx 10 months ago
How i wish i could do that without being drowning.... :)
nicxkuzz 1 year ago
Hi Shinji,
Thanks for good sharing.
You probably have the most symmetrical and beautiful free-style stroke I ever seen.
I am a near 40 year-old leisure swimmer (qualified life-guard) who weekly swim 3km (60 olympic laps) free-style within an hour mark. My style is definitely not as elegance as yours.
Thanks again.
Wee
007lennon 1 year ago
I wish I had that pool all for myself...
pacoiec 1 year ago
Hi Shinji,
Met you today in MN. What an honor. Your stroke is so smooth. Thanks for coming.
TheBuzzy7 1 year ago
OK Shinji,
I just spent 4 hours in the pool trying many positions and options.. :) I think that I found my problem! I didnt knew how to use the shoulders. After the hand snap, you rotate the shoulder from outside to the inside. This gets the upper hand into position, and then you move the shoulder forward (the blade). The Sachie Kato clip shows it maybe better.
Please say that its true because I am excited now!
Many Thanks!
swimust 1 year ago
Hi Shinji,
I just got how a proper hand snap should be done. The third phase of snapping with elbow and wrist can be done slowly. What REALLY matters is to do it with both. By doing that, the forearm becomes stiff and behaves like a shovel. This keeps the shoulder and the hand from strains and tightness, and also creates a compact hand entry in the water after recovery.
Is this snap technique taken from martial arts?.. TI Japan is the best swimming style.
Many Thanks!
swimust 1 year ago 2
@swimust,
When you snap, your elbow will work as the fulcrum of it, so it is natural you cannot loosen both the elbow and the wrist at the same time.
More importantly, you initialize the recovery action by moving your elbow forward, not moving it up.The direction defines how you move your palm underwater when you snap it.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
Hi, your video and many of the other tiswimjapan videos have been very inspirational. One of my problems is that I have no control and coordination of my kick. I'm trying to learn the two beat kick, but my legs just don't want to seem to work with my arms. Do you have any suggestions or drills to help me with the coordination of the two beat kick?
kcw118 1 year ago
@kcw118,
First you want to try Superman Glide with snaps. Every 1.30 second you will snap one foot with the glide position. Second you try to extend your opposite hand by 6 inches at each snap. After that, you just do one switch with one snap. The timing of the snap is not when you enter your hand, but when you extend the elbow.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
Hi, I was amazed to see that your legs move is synched with your hands stroke. Unlike other swimmers, which their legs move is absolutely independant. Why? does it produce better propulsion?
Ghazzani 1 year ago
@Ghazzani,
The kick synchronizes with body rotation. This way is more efficient when you swim longer.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
amzing stroke
stevens092473 1 year ago
Shinji, do have any idea what your tempo averaged during this beautiful swim? Thanks!!
1cleandude 1 year ago
@1cleandude ,
It was 1.40 sec per stroke.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
Thanks for video Shinji.
I would like to ask how deep should hand be entered after recovery(I was taught to always keep the elbow touching the surface, and I am not comfortable with that)?
And upto which position do you push your hand (is it upto waist)?
Also, is there anything you keep in mind during breathing(when to initiate head roll, where to watch like that?
Thanks again for such a beautiful stroke.
19990SAND 1 year ago
@19990SAND ,
Hand position- Deep enough to feel balanced.
I start to push my hand in order to get maximum speed at the center of gravity.
Breathing - Keep pushing the water with my head.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
i love this pool...its cool .. nice stroke too Shinji
assi28167 1 year ago
wonderful. I haven't had any swimming lessons but I learned a thing from this video. my freestyle has improved through watching youtube videos for the past couple of months. its been a great help for me watching you guys doing your stuff, truly inspirational for me and I'm just 17.
jbartzce 1 year ago
Shinji, thats beautiful......
pialunden 1 year ago
it would be nice to see how this scales to different swimming speeds. i can maintain pretty good form at this speed but when i start to speed up i lose it.
g1981c 1 year ago
Beautiful Stroke! Just curious, how tall are you Shinji?
nkro 1 year ago
@nkro ,
My height is 170 cm or 5 feet 8 inches.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
Wow! This really works... tried it the last few times ive been swimming and was stuck doing 40-45mins for a mile, did this for only the third time and down to 35mins!!
I do have problems breathing every 3 strokes as so used to breathing every 2, any ideas or drills that might help?
FreddyFlowers1 1 year ago
This is a beautiful video. You swim with such grace and smoothness -- it's an inspiration. Thank you for posting a video that lets us see so many details, too.
dtweney 1 year ago
Real impressive it looks like yoru not even taking a breath.... No drag....
iTehAzn 1 year ago
Thanks. I watch this video at least once every few weeks.
superfisto 1 year ago
Hi Shinji-
Do you have a particular stroke thought that helps you keep your legs still and streamlined?
Thank you.
rupertdacat 1 year ago
@rupertdacat,
I try to loosen my knees right after the snap. By loosening the knees, the water will push legs up to the streamline position. I can do it better now (than 3 years ago).
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
@tiswimjapan
Hi Shinji-
Are there NO muscles that require attention/tone to maintain a streamlined position of the legs while not kicking?
Thank you.
rupertdacat 1 year ago
@rupertdacat,
I engage lower abs to keep crunching my pelvis. It will help to keep my back straight.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
that's incredible kick propulsion
chau2k5 1 year ago
Hello Shinji
excellent demonstration of TI Swim,
I note that your catch and pull is synchronised with the downbeat kick on the same side. Studying the TI freestyle DVD, I interpreted that the catch and pull should synchronise with the opposite leg downbeat? Could you comment on this please
lorddarkdude 1 year ago
@lorddarkdude,
I try to sync my snap with spearing my arm. On the other hand, the timing is when I do "underwater finish".
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
I have watched this video over 100 times and practiced from it; I feel like I have been fighting water all my life instead of swimming (water always wins)
I wish I could do the coaching but I don't live near a place where there is TI coaching
splashing water=wasted energy, splash water all you like and it doesn't move you one bit
BrianGValentine 1 year ago
I am finding it really difficult to lower my stroke count without feeling like I will sink as it feels like my arms and subsequently speed are incredibly slow. Any suggestions? Thanks you
Dee3917 1 year ago
@Dee3917,
When you try to decrease your stoke count from 20s to 16-18, slippery position works better. When you try to decrease it to 12-14, you need more propulsion, which comes from your hip drive and underwater finish (hand pushing in the water).
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
The background music is "My Destiny" by Groove Generator from the Album entitled, "Groove is in the Mix." However, it does not appear to be released for purchase.
dschexnaydre 1 year ago
Hi Shinji,
In order to glide across the pool and make it in 12 strokes like you did, doesn't the initial kick-off from the wall followed by an extended gliding take a lot of practice and effort? So, if I can glide a third of the way coming off the wall, the rest two third of the pool then won't take that many strokes to cover....so I wonder: if one can glide efficiently thru water, it doesn't make him a TI swimmer simply because it takes him a few strokes to make it across. Any thoughts?
jlee4171 1 year ago
@jlee4171,
You are right. I am not good at push-off. Your body position will be one foot deeper when you push off, and you keep your body flat with looking down. Many people can decrease stroke counts by polishing their push-off.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
Great swimmer! You swim very nice and your video is very helpful for me and everybody, thanks.
nicep3rson 1 year ago
i have a problem keepin myself up right when doing a head up freestyle... i keep goin under... so i keep using a swim belt... do u know my problem and what i need to do to fix it?.... also im a beginner
lipqueen04 1 year ago
@lipqueen04,
If you raise your head, your lower body will sink. Head up freestyle requires higher balance control and more stable core. It might be better try it after you have more control skills. Head up freestyle does not contribute to forming for beginners.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
HI SINJI,
I am intermediate in freestyle.
During entry I was taught to enter fingers and then hit water with Carpals (bones between wrist and palm). Is this correct.
Also I struggle furing breathing.When to rotate the body for breathing:where should be the water catching hand during start and end of breathing?
Thank you
19990SAND 1 year ago
@19990SAND,
If you want to swim with grace, I do not recommend hitting the water with your hands because it creates the splash. As for breathing, you do not focus on pulling while you are breathing. You try to extend your arm so that your body gets balanced.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
@tiswimjapan Thank you Sinji(Freestyle kicking)
I was taught to kick pointed straight to at the surface,but total immersion says to bend the leg and kick from hips below the surface, Second,I was taught to kick up and down and rotate the torso only during breathing, I am preety good at rotating entire body from hip but could not kick on side and losse momentum that way.
Thank you
19990SAND 1 year ago
The most graceful and natural way of swimming freestyle. I can't stand people who splash water as if they are fighting aganist it. "Water is your friend, not your enemy!" Popov said.
clusterbeam 1 year ago 2
A great vid, it has inspired me to learn TI. It is such an efficient stroke, it's like learning to swim properly. One thing I would like to know however is the name of the background music!?
Meoldson 1 year ago
I watch this video at least 3 times a week. I got the "Total Immersion" book and DVD a month ago and my swimming technique has improve dramatically. I am down to 17 strokes per lap (25 meter pool) and enjoy gliding through the water. I still have a lot of work left, especially on my hand entry. You do it so smoothly is sickening... Thanks to this video I was introduced to T.I..
hugoaguilar 1 year ago
i have a serious problem on keeping my body level with my legs. please help!
naharibo 1 year ago
@naharibo,
When you swim, try to look down and submerge your head. When you have trouble with breathing, try to roll your face with your body without raising your head.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
This is THE BEST freestyle technique video (both form of swimmer and clarity of the shot) that I've ever seen on youtube. Will his particular version of freestyle that he is doing in this video work well for Ironman-distance Triathlons, where the legs need to be used very little (ideally, not at all) to conserve leg power for the bike and run? If it will work well, I will try to implement it immediately :D
TiestoSiesta 1 year ago
so graceful. i need to buy a cap
laurag333 1 year ago
I just want to thank you! Amazing technique!
Freestyle is changed!
Thanks!
lachmichweg 1 year ago
how long have you being involve in swimming?
Robertochivafan37 1 year ago
Hi Shinji, I've been practicing this technique for nearly a week after reading T. Laughlin's book "Total Immersion" and was hoping you could give me some tips.
I'm struggling a bit with the 2 beat kick, I feel I need to flutter kick almost constantly. I've tried to improve my balance by pushing my torso down and lowering my front arm as I glide, and by practicing as smoothly as possible but the leg kick seems the hardest thing to get right.
Any advice would be very welcome. Thanks a lot.
fas4moss 1 year ago
@fas4moss,
It might be a good idea to practice "without kicking". If you lean enough before you push off the bottom and pull with your arm correctly, you can do 3-4 switches without kicking. Then you will stand up and repeat it until you reach the end.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
@tiswimjapan,
Thankyou very much. I will try this next time I'm in the pool.
I think this will help smooth out my arm movements as well.
I will let you know the results. Thanks again!
fas4moss 1 year ago
@tiswimjapan,
Hi Shinji, I took your advice today and practiced without kicking and it worked. Then I swam many lengths using very few leg kicks and was a lot less tired. Seems it's all in the mind and you just have to ditch your old, bad habits as TI says!
Just need to get my head position right now, as sometimes I submerge my head to try and go faster but that makes body rotation hard.
But I am very pleased with the results regarding my leg kicks so thankyou for your excellent advice!
fas4moss 1 year ago
I think I saw the TI Japan god today!.. I had an enlightenment at last :)
Suddenly I got that my snap wasnt effective because I wasnt continuing the hand movement backwards and upwards in the air after the pull!
Then I found the real narrow tracks (hand touches the cheek!) which start before recovery when the palm goes above the hip! I used the shoulder blades..its all in place now. I saw the light.. :)
timnet88 1 year ago 2
ok thanks so much. I'm having a hard time kicking even though i love this technique. I watch the video everyday a few times before I swim but still struggle. I have my first triathlon in May and I want to do this. How do i kick?? with legs spread out like a frog, or close together to where my knees are touching? to kick close to the surface as with moth kicks.? Thanks ..this has been added to my swimming bible.
nembhard600rr 1 year ago
@nembhard600rr,
If you wear a wet suit, you do not have to worry about your balance and your kick.
If you kick too much, your heels might come out of the water and it is waste of your energy. You will focus on 1) enter your hand closer to your body , 2) extend your elbow quickly in the water and 3) glide until the other hand enters the water.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
In Terry Laughlin's Easy Freestyle DVD, he says to rotate "just enough" to clear your shoulder instead of rolling to stacked shoulders. Are you rolling to stacked shoulders? Just wondering, since whatever works for you, is what I want to try. :)
ejamandre 1 year ago
@ejamandre,
I started to learn TI 5 years ago, so my rotation might be somewhat steep. When I swim with more stroke count (such as 12-14 for 25 meter pool), I try not to rotate my body so much, maybe 45 degrees.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
i was intereted by you saying how to breath using an abdominal breathing pattern i have nearly mastered your brilliant technique but still havnt got the breathing right i will put this into action the next time i go to the pool thankyou
ditty4 1 year ago
this technique is more relaxed and it suits me well. thanks!
naharibo 1 year ago
Shinji, please confirm that after the hand snap the high elbow is following a line between the hip and the shoulder of the same side. Thats what allows the weight of the back arm (between shoulder and elbow) to "sit" on the shoulder and on the back, and thats what makes effortless recovery. Its so important and I hope that I am not wrong. Million thanks.
timnet88 1 year ago
part 2/2 of my comment:
High elbow allows the hand weight to lean on the shoulder and the back during recovery! If I move the hand outside the torso width then I must use hand muscles and thats a big error. I have to "lean" just enough and not too much to avoid overrotating. I tried that and it felt amazing,a turbo like feeling... :)
Can you confirm that or is it my imagination?
Many thanks.
timnet88 1 year ago
part 1/2 of my comment:
Thanks Shinji, I couldnt ask for better explanation about hand entry on shoulder line.
I am already doing that for a week because it feels much better than narrow entry.
Now, I found a bigger discovery! I think I really understand now "high elbows".. to be continued in part 2
timnet88 1 year ago
@DJJohnSilver,
The BGM was created with using Sonic Fire Pro.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
@timnet88,
As I mentioned below, you will enter your hands a bit wider where current shoulder line (parallel to your moving direction) exists. This is because you roll your body after you enter your hand. If you enter your hand on the current shoulder line, you have to extend outward as your body rolls.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
i suck at swimming, i just got back from the gym and i tried this style, i didnt master it but i noticed i was quick and relaxed and i didnt hyperventilate as with bilateral breathing and i wasn't as tired as with regular freestyle swimming...so here's the question...can i swim this way in open water in a triathlon?
nembhard600rr 1 year ago
@nembhard600rr,
TI is more effective for longer distances, such as for open water and triathlon.
If you can swim more efficiently, you can keep your speed longer thus you can swim faster.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
At last! Its always good to go back and read comments from 2 years ago! You said this:
"I use the follwoing focal points for arm recovery.
- Hands do nothing
- Elbows lead hands
- Wide track."
I was doing narrow tracks entering my palm between shoulder and head!
Many thanks Shinji.
timnet88 1 year ago
Cool Video!
~
So, I have a couple of questions, if I may...
~
(1) Have you reduced your kicks to just one per arm stroke and is this part of what makes your gliding through the water so smooth?
(2) My body is completely negative, as far a buoyancy, which has made me good at SCUBA but makes surface swimming an extra challenge. Any specific suggestions for someone with my bio-type?
~
Thanks!
~
Luv-n-Light
drumbuddha 1 year ago
@drumbuddha,
1) Yes, it is. It is the most efficient way. It may not be the fastest way for short distances, though.
2) Try to look down and release your neck muscle. Your head almost looks submerged. Keep your elbow high until you enter your hands. Inhale more by using abdominal breathing method.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
nice!
seeUseeMecn 1 year ago
Wow - amazingly smooth and relaxed
miamijarvis 1 year ago
Hey Shinji, many congratulations on 1,000,000 views!! I am responsible for about ten of those.
Janos
janoserno 1 year ago 17
i wish i could swim like that
captdavidwebb 1 year ago
Hello,
My question is about strain and even pain at shoulder and hand when I try to enter my hand with a straight palm with all fingers in same distance from the head. I see after 2.27 minutes here (the camera at your back) that you enter your left palm in an angel and the pinkie is ahead of the thumb. Is it helping the shoulder? Should I do the same with my right palm? I am right handed and you are a lefty so it makes sense.
Thanks for any help.
timnet88 1 year ago
@timnet88,
It is my old habit. If your shoulders and elbows are completely relaxed, you will enter your hand with your palm facing back (i.e. all fingers enter at the same timing). Your pain may come from narrow path, crossing entry, crossing elbow or tensed shoulders.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
Thanks a lot,
I watched the part between 2.02 minute and 2.10 few times, and it looks like you are entering the palm in a direct line with the shoulder. The path looks like its a straight forward extension in line with the shoulder. Is that correct or should it be outside the body line?
timnet88 1 year ago
@timnet88,
Good observation. My track is a bit narrow since my shoulders are very flexible. It is a good idea to use tracks with your shoulder width when your body is flat. Your shoulders will be angled when you swim, and these tracks will be a bit (2-3 inches) wider.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
very smooth!!!!! thanks for the upload
ZwaanAfghan 1 year ago
Its all CGI!!!!!!
Just got my TI "Easy Laps" DVD, and working my way to achieve this ridiculous level of streamline/technique!
WTG guys.
gene73505 1 year ago
Hi Shinji,
I have a question re the timing of the kick and the hand moving back (pushing fwd).
I noticed that when I enter my recovering arm into the water, the leg kicks a split second BEFORE the other arm moves back. There is another way, which is to wait that split second before moving the arm back (meaning, the arms are both in the front quad a split second longer), which causes the kick and the move back of the arm to be perfectly synchronized.
Which way is the right one?
thanks,
Avi
avibitter1 1 year ago
@avibitter1,
I snap my leg just before I extend my opposite arm in the water. I try not to sync my snap with my pulling arm since the timing is a bit off for my stroke.
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
Love this video -- I have to watch it several times a week to visualize what my freestyle is SUPPOSE to look like! If this is ranked #3, I wonder what swim videos 1 and 2 are?
ejamandre 1 year ago
@ejamandre,
#1 is Phelps' multi angle camera (1.3 mil). #2 is Popov's training video (1.1mil).
tiswimjapan 1 year ago
@tiswimjapan
Ok, I watched the #1 video which was pretty impressive, but I honestly wasn't impressed with #3. Thanks for your reply, Takeuchi-san - I'm a huge fan! The underwater angles were really helpful to my swimming. I'm convinced that I finally learned the 2-beat kick by watching your video. Do you have any other favorite freestyle videos you think might be helpful to me? I've watched most of the TI videos on youtube.
ejamandre 1 year ago
nice
bigoceandotnet 1 year ago
very nice swimming!!
jackysew 1 year ago
wow amazing 3d! water looks so real! I'm impressed!
smoothmove 1 year ago 4
The water is real, its not a simulation.
Cryto 1 year ago
good video
davichoso 1 year ago
Shinji,
I was doing elbow lift instead of elbow swing and thats what caused my strange last 7 messages (please delete them if you want). It started when I started doing elbow twist (before the lift). I imagined that you are twisting the elbow which you are NOT. Your elbows are so bent and flexible and thats why I imagined that.
A bit of regression but it wont stop me.. :)
Thanks
swimust 2 years ago
Hi again,
(part2 of 2 messages) -
The moment I focused on keeping the palm close to the water surface, ALL my problems disappeared!! The hip drive came easy, the strain and pain in shoulder totally gone. Just by focusing on compact hand recovery(ears hop) I became a TI swimmer at last.
That was my "missing link".. I am doing 14 strokes on 25m EASILY now, flying past swimmers I couldnt compete with.. Please delete my last 5 messages, or not.. :)
Million thanks!
swimust 2 years ago
Hello Shinji,
(part 1 of 2 messsages) -
I apologize for my last 5 messages from last week. They were signs of another problem, and today I found my REAL problem. This may come natural and trivial to good level swimmers. not to me..
Until now, in recovery I have not kept the fingers as close to the water surface as possible. I was raising my palm in all sorts of heights trying to find my relaxed recovery. I saw the ear hop in the dvd and in your clips and got it at last...
(to part 2...)
swimust 2 years ago
Ok, I talk a lot of nonsense while trying to improve, but this time I think I found my problem.
I knew that the elbows can redirect the forearm forward during recovery, but I thought that elbow twist shortens the stroke length (its not).
In the fast 12 strokes video I can clearly see how Shinji is twisting his elbows especially his left elbow(his stronger side).The forearm just hangs lose and the palm is facing forwards.
Thats the key to effortless recovery. No more stiff elbows for me :)
swimust 2 years ago
Shinji Hi, another "strange" question:
learners always ask "silly questions".. :)
Yesterday I started to wait the ELBOW entry to do the leg snap. I got a longer stroke and a better balance. Thats after bending the knee when the wrist got submerged.
Is that correct or should I only focus on the wrist to start the pull and snap?
Do you also snap "with elbow" or is it my wide torso(not fat) that needs more balance?
Many Thanks
swimust 2 years ago
Thanks Shinji. Your smooth stroke helps my daughter to understand the subleties of recovery and arm pull.
NexsyWhite 2 years ago
Sorry Shinji but I have another one please..
You say to raise the elbow "as high as possible" in the recovery. Do you stretch the abdominal muscles to get the elbow as high as possible? I tried that but I am afraid it will tire me after few laps in the pool.
Million thanks.
swimust 2 years ago
Hi again Shinji,
I have two more questions please:
1)How important is it to keep the torso tight and the body long during the swim? I felt different when I started to keep my budy long and tight, and I could do relaxed 13 strokes on 25m, about 2 strokes less than "not so tight".
2)"Hip drive" - Is it just a quick and sharp hip rotation, or do I have to stretch the hip muscles and "force the hip"?
Many Thanks. Without your help I would still been stuck on 18 strokes per 25m.
swimust 2 years ago
Hi Shinji. Just wonder: Do you ever do 6-beat kicks, and also fast swimming? Thanks again for your replies.
dmdml 2 years ago
So your snap is coming from your hips first right? What I'm trying to say is that your keeping your knees relaxes the whole time and when you kick(from your hip) the energy transfer from the hip makes your knee snap correct? is that what helps your body roll as well?
Thanks again for your time.
Macro934 2 years ago
Hi Macro934,
Its the other way around. He first snaps the leg, and after that he is driving the hip and he rolls to the other side. He told the sequence of the recovery in a previous message few months ago.
leg - hip - roll - skate...
You will find that below in his replies.
I am trying to help just as Shinji helped me. :) I hope I am accurate
swimust 2 years ago
@swimust
Yes, you are.
tiswimjapan 2 years ago
very cool video videos are worth a million words
ChuckMiser 2 years ago
Ok Shinji.. almost the same subject as Macro934
Yesterday I suddenly remembered the "straight forward" high arm recovery that engages no "sideways" muscles in the shoulder. The back of my palm is facing the swim direction the moment its out of water. This recovery is what triggers the hip drive. The leg snap does not drive the hip on the opposite side . Am I right?...
Its an amazing swim style and you are just great, not just as a swimmer but also as a person. million thanks
swimust 2 years ago
swimpal1 2 years ago
Hi again,
My message above is "nonsense". What I really found now is how important it is to snap only after the wrist is in water and not before that. The kinetic energy is used only if I have a "proper catch" in the water.
I am working now on 3 things: 1) 2bk timing. 2)high arm recovery. 3) underwater hand snap to raise the elbow.
I kept today 15 strokes on 25m and sometimes even relaxed 14.
16 strokes looks bad to me now.. 3 weeks ago I couldnt go below 18, then I started to use 2bk.
swimust 2 years ago
I have a quick question, its hard to tell here but is your kick more knee driven than hip drive? I've been told by so many that your kick needs to be hip driven. Would the kick coming from the hip help aid in the body roll? or is the knee enough?
Thanks!!
Macro934 2 years ago
@Macro934 ,
I loosen my knees to bend my legs, then I straighten them with downward motion immediately. There is no "drive" point in my mind. I just snap my legs.
tiswimjapan 2 years ago
Hello again Shinji
I am about to reduce my strokes count to 13-15 on relaxed 25m thanks to your 2bk great help. I work now on stopping my instinctive flutter between the main 2bk.
I have another question please:
Do you start the hand pull only after the other hand palm is fully in water, or just when the entering fingers "get wet"?
Do you "wait the palm" or do you just start pulling when the other hand fingers start entering the water?
many thanks, I owe you a lot :)
swimust 2 years ago
@swimust ,
1) The moment my wrist is submerged, I start to move my forearm. My elbow is slightly turned inward and kept the position, and my wrist is relaxed so that I can hold the water more with less energy.
2)The moment my elbow is submerged, I push the water back with my forearm, but I engage upper arm and shoulder to do it.
My palm is mainly relaxed, and slightly engaged to keep the shape.
tiswimjapan 2 years ago
Thanks and thanks again
swimust 2 years ago
excellent work!
1888junkteam 2 years ago
Hi Shinji!
6 days later after your last advice, and if I was a rich man I would have come personally to your place and handed you the keys to a nice new car or something like that... :) but I am not , and I live thousands km away from you :(
I can now do effortless 15-16 strokes on 25m lap in training thanks to your last tip which was invaluable(2bk). I have balance during the hand extension tricky period. When I forget the correct 2bk I regress to 18 strokes.
I cant thank you enough.. :)
swimust 2 years ago
got it!, you start bending the knee after your hand entered the water, and snap during the hand extension time. million thanks :)
swimust 2 years ago
Shinji, thanks so much for your patience and help. I found before your reply that you start the knee crack when entering the hand, but the snap until the extend is finished is new to me. I can do the 2BK and this tip is very good(the time length of the kick).
I finally got your "high elbow" recovery(almost vertical). Its very relaxed with no "side movement", the hand snap underwater keeps the weaker hand on its track. I still have a lot to do, but I owe you any improvement.
Thanks!!
swimust 2 years ago
Hi Shinji - quick question - what is Your avg stroke rate per 25meters pool when swiming 1500 meters distance??
Thx - regards from Poland
boolekx 2 years ago
@boolekx
12-14.
tiswimjapan 2 years ago
How much of a pullout do you do when you count strokes?
dimeraider 2 years ago
@dimeraider
I push off about 7 meters.
tiswimjapan 2 years ago
Shinji, I apologise but I just want to make sure an important thing.
During recovery you focus on entering the hand in the water, and ONLY AFTER the palm is under water you start the kick process? When exactly do you start the kick in relation to your recovering hand?
Timing is so important and I apologise again if it was asked before.
Many thanks.
swimust 2 years ago
@swimust
I finish my snap when I finish extending my arm. That means I start to "crack" my knee after I enter my hand in the water.
tiswimjapan 2 years ago
Many thanks for all your replies. I think that I still miss the balance and being relaxed. I started 2bk and I try to kick only with my ankles without moving the upper part of the legs, just like you.. I wished.. I also try to use the underwater quick snap which works when I use the legs correctly. I still have a lot of work to do, but I am learning new things all the time.
anyway, not many succeeded to reduce 5 minutes from their 1km time within 2 months like I did, so I still believe... :)
swimust 2 years ago
hips rotation versus abs rotation from my 3 months exeprience:
hips create more forward movement and a longer stroke, the body feels much more compact and streamlined, the energy used is much less and the oxygen/energy balance is much better.
I finaly feel like I can swim well and smoothly. I also used light flutter to compensate for my wrong body roll with legs kick, and now with "hips roll" I dont need that.
Any comments please? :)
Many Thanks
swimust 2 years ago
Hi again Shinji,
1 month after my TI course, and looks like I moved from 18 strokes per 25m to 16 or less at last.
My question is: Today I started using my hips to body roll. better late than never... in your list of 13 censors you start with the hips. Is that the most important censor and your list is done by order of importance? Today I kept 16 SPL or less only because I focused on the "hip twist" and not on the "stomach twist" while extending my hand in water (no 2BK).
Thanks!
swimust 2 years ago
@swimust
"Hip drive" is not the most important when you swim short distances(25-200meters). It will be more important when you swim longer, because you rely on "core engine" more to save energy.
tiswimjapan 2 years ago
Amazin video Shinji, truly inspiring. I have one question. From the underwater footage, it seems that you kick more forcefully with your left leg than your right leg. Is it a left/right difference or is the reason that these kicks occur immediately after you've rolled to breathe? I have a similar experience with a 6-beat kick: when I spear after breathing, I kick on the opposite side with more force and I feel this gives me more propulsion.
torfis1 2 years ago
@torfis1
It is a left/right difference, and it relates my breathing. I am left handed and my left leg is stronger than right one.
tiswimjapan 2 years ago
Another question please Shinji,
Do you kick only after your palm is fully submerged under the water, or do you start kicking the moment your fingers touch the water surface?
Your answer may help my timing and my balance(legs).
many thanks!
timnet88 2 years ago
@timnet88
I try to snap my legs just before I extend my arms. It is the only timing I control. When I enter my hands, I focus on the angle and smoothness.
tiswimjapan 2 years ago
Shinji, I would like to second the query from micky below concerning the optimal angle for hand entry when spearing to skating position. In his DVD, Terry Laughlin is shown in the practice tank spearing at about 45 degrees whereas your own technique seems to involve a much shallower spearing angle. I find the deeper angle makes it easier to maintain balance and execute a good catch, but would be grateful for your thoughts.
DaddyWasADolphin 2 years ago
@DaddyWasADolphin
I change the angle after I enter my hands. When I enter them, the angle is 45 degrees. After I enter them, I extend them forward, parallel to the surface.
tiswimjapan 2 years ago
Shinji...You are the best ¡¡¡¡¡ A pleasure to see over and over this beautiful video..¡¡¡
perfume08031951 2 years ago
Beautiful!!!!!!
dodonat1991 2 years ago
A friend took us to the pool to try this technique because he came back from overseas having learned it. For the first time in my life I feel I can actually swim.
Thank you, Thank you.
xtinana 2 years ago
@xtinana
Congratulations on your success!
Please feel free to ask me if you have any questions.
tiswimjapan 2 years ago
it is more difficult to swim if you are muscular, beacause you don not float as easily, so therefore you have to perfect your stroke more. But the those that are more muscular also tend to have more upper strength.
su1do 2 years ago
Dear Shinji,
I would like to use an excerpt from this video on a TEDx talk I intend to give very shortly.
I'd like your permission to use this video in the talk. The talk will be recorded and it may be displayed on the internet.
I will need your permission over the next couple of days. The video clip will be with complete acknowledgement.
Best regards,
Porus Munshi
porusmun 2 years ago
Hi Shinji,
I've been watching your video over and over, and been trying to practice the same. I notice that your head position/upper torso is much lower than the average pool swimmers. This is a challenge since our head is at a lower position below the water line, I think we have to rotate our head to a larger extend, in order to clear the water surface and catch some air. Do you find this an issue especially when you swim around other people?Thank you very much.
jlee4171 2 years ago
@jlee4171
If you move very quickly just before you breathe, you can create "a vow wave" and the surface level gets lower and you can breathe much easier. Roll your face with your body when you extend your arm. It is the timing where you can get the maximum speed.
tiswimjapan 2 years ago
Shinji -
After about 200 or 300m my back muscles start to get tired and fatigued.
I want to improve my distance swimming. Could you please give me your thoughts on why my upper back muscles tire so quickly?
Thank you very much!
nosoup808 2 years ago