Comments on: Stroke Thoughts: A Practice Set for Mindful Swimming https://www.totalimmersion.net/blog/stroke-thoughts-practice-set-mindful-swimming/ Total Immersion Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:52:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1 By: Hanpu https://www.totalimmersion.net/blog/stroke-thoughts-practice-set-mindful-swimming/#comment-6661 Sun, 30 Jun 2019 18:03:00 +0000 http://www.totalimmersion.net/blog/?p=5249#comment-6661 I have been following TI for decades (I still have TI video t a p e s) and have gone through successive generations of reading materials and AV materials by Terry and other TI coaches as well as coaches influenced by TI. I have been studying a slightly less than 30 minute long video “Popov – what’s the limit?” by and about Alexander Popov and his coach Gennadi Touretski for the past 20 years or more. I came across A. Popov, when Terry mentioned him in one of his earlier books. I have noticed the continuous improvement in Terry’s writing (Kaizen applied to writing?): whereas his first book was full of useful and often original information, there was a little too much redundancy and too obvious “self advertising”. Terry’s latest book is in my opinion not only the best book ever written on teaching the front crawl stroke and on teaching swimming in general, but probably the best book I have read on any subject taught, a model for other books and other writers. This super-affordable book exclusively available in electronic formats is such a joy to read, with its didactic power and clarity, entertainment value, seamless integration of media (videos, charts, internet, YouTube, etc.) and overall ease of use. It is packed with relevant and memorable information yet beautifully concise. I recommend it to every aspiring swimmer. Largely because of Terry and TI, every day my swimming becomes a bit more effortless and a little more fun.

Some elements Terry could have emphasized more in his teaching include IMO:

1. Watching video recording of yourself swimming
2. Use of front snorkel
3. Focus on rhythm of breathing, especially exhalation.

So I was – pleasantly – surprised to find “focus on your breath” listed as Stroke Thought #1, because I know from my own experience how lack of focus your breath can mess up your swimming.

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