Blending With Waves

by Coach Mat | 11 Sep, 2012

Something strange happened two swims ago. I was in calm, deep, clear water, making my way 2km along the cliffs to the old harbor. I had just seen my first sea turtle of the season swimming below as I started which lifted my spirit. But then, 30 minutes into the swim, ...

Health versus Fitness

by Coach Mat | 9 Sep, 2012

There is a difference between the concepts of “health” and “fitness”. Let me propose a definition for each: Health = the condition when systems of the body and mind are in an optimal state and harmony for energetic, productive, long-lasting, regenerative living....

Break The Rules

by Coach Mat | 20 Aug, 2012

I am getting ready to fly to Poland for another TI Coach training camp- but I will share some words from TI Head Coach Terry Laughlin. And I strongly urge you to spend some time browsing the TI Forums. A lot of good stuff for you there. Terry: I’m writing today...

Coaching Ethics

by Coach Mat | 16 Aug, 2012

[This originally was at the end of Smart Speed Part 1 but I felt it needed it’s own essay- and to shorten that one]. When considering the strategy for pursuing our potential as swimmers- whether young or old, it brings us to an ethical point for coaches and for...

Power From The Core

by Coach Mat | 12 Aug, 2012

Today’s post is taken from my response to a dedicated TI swimmer friend in Sweden. She sent some videos clips for me to examine as well. “Could you please give me some advise on how I can get the whole body working when I swim? I feel as if I am just...

3 Aspects Of OW Training

by Coach Mat | 10 Aug, 2012

There are probably several ways to break this down but I have found it helpful to divide swim training, particularly training for open-water swimming, into 3 parts, when I organize all the skills and points we should cover. An accomplished swimmer looking at these...

Heat, Waves, and Head Down

by Coach Mat | 31 Jul, 2012

I am struggling in this Antalya heat. It’s ‘cooled’ down to the low 30’s but the humidity is high. After a several weeks, even with precautions and rest, the body and brain just start running more sluggishly. I hit the sea today a bit later-...

Swim-Coach Cycle

by Coach Mat | 20 Jul, 2012

Recently, one of my TI swimming students commented that he was hesitant to teach TI to his friends out of concern that he might teach them the wrong things, that he might mis-represent TI. He is a professionally minded engineering type who wants to do things right....

5 Points For Children (and Adults too)

by Coach Mat | 19 Jul, 2012

Today, in the brutal sun of Antalya I finished 3 weeks of lessons (2x per week, 35 minutes of instruction per class) with children 4 through 13 years old. I finally settled on 5 main Focus Points to ingrain some Fish-like swimming concepts into the childrens’...

Thirty Minute Make-Over

by Coach Mat | 17 Jul, 2012

If you had just 30 minutes to work with a friend who has asked you for help with their swimming, what would you do with that time? What would be the most important things you would focus on in order to give them the most dramatic improvement in the shortest amount of...