Any of you guys go from being a nonswimmer to a swimmer?

**TheTwilightZone** · Today, 10:00 PM

I've always been terrible at swimming but I am trying to get better at it.

I've realized why I have been bad at swimming. As a nonswimmer, when I am submerged in the water, my body has a panic response. My body says, "Keep your head above water. Even if you have to flounder and dog paddle." It's hard for me to focus on proper swimming techniques and dealing with that panic response in my brain at the same time.

Any of you guys go from being bad at swimming to being good at swimming? Got any advice for me?

**WantToBeLeaf** · Today, 10:03 PM

Swimming should be a mandatory class for kids (srs). It's hard because a lot of schools don't have pools on their premises, but it can be a lifesaving skill.

**bfdehewdbyywhn** · Today, 10:07 PM

cant swim for shtt. nearly drowned 3 times in my life

cant even float

**jofedm** · Today, 10:08 PM

There’s “do not drown” lessons they you get as a kid and then swimming like Phelps. Most people learn the former and think they can do the latter.

I learned to actually be able to swim to run a triathlon a few years ago. Went from one length of the pool to being able to do 1500m non stop. Took quite a while to get the breathing down, technique is way more important than fitness in swimming. Check out Total Immersion.

**gainslit** · Today, 10:09 PM

can't imagine parents not teaching their kids to swim. It's a basic skill. I'd almost argue it's instinctive / logical too, not that much of a skill.

**TheTwilightZone** · Today, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by jofedm

There’s “do not drown” lessons they you get as a kid and then swimming like Phelps. Most people learn the former and think they can do the latter.

I learned to actually be able to swim to run a triathlon a few years ago. Went from one length of the pool to being able to do 1500m non stop. Took quite a while to get the breathing down, technique is way more important than fitness in swimming. Check out Total Immersion.

Thanks, brah. I'm checking it out now.

Man, he's good. He's got proper technique and he's maximizing efficiency to push himself forward in the water.

I'd like to get this adept at swimming.

**TheTwilightZone** · Today, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by jofedm

There’s “do not drown” lessons they you get as a kid and then swimming like Phelps. Most people learn the former and think they can do the latter.

I learned to actually be able to swim to run a triathlon a few years ago. Went from one length of the pool to being able to do 1500m non stop. Took quite a while to get the breathing down, technique is way more important than fitness in swimming. Check out Total Immersion.

Do you have any advice on what a person should do with the legs while swimming?

I noticed the man in the video I posted pushed with his legs in sync with turning his body.

**Duckliver** · Today, 10:25 PM

First you need to spend more time in the water to get comfortable. Get comfortable floating on your back and spinning from back to swimming and swimming to back. Should just need to make very minor kicking or arm movements to stay floating and learn to just be comfortable in the water.

Then just get a swim coach for a bit if you actually want to learn how to swim. I don’t know what they charge but I see dudes coming in and getting coached and they all swim good. Most of them are faster then me from what I can tell tbh, and I raced from like age 6-15 so I have pretty good fundamentals. I get stoked on doing chit like swimming a 400 with a breath every 5 strokes. I normally do 3 strokes per breath on miles because I dig the rhythm but I’m pretty sure it makes me slower.

**Casca** · Today, 10:29 PM

Right now I don't swim at all. But @mid 20's, I went from not being able to do much more than dog paddle to breaststroking 500 yards in under 8 minutes and a typical swim workout (every day, unless something went wrong) was at least 3000 yards to 5000 yards and sometimes much more. I forget what my distance pace was per 500/yards, but easily under 10 minutes. Burst speed gets weird because I cause more resistance with the water and only get a little more speed with a crap ton more effort (it's flow. My normal pace, I flow very well. Burst speed/faster...I am forcing my way through the water). When I first started, it was at a 24 hour fitness gym that had a lap pool, that I almost always was the only one using it. I did also take a swim class semester at a community college and that helped a lot and I highly recommend having some coaching to make sure you're form is good. Skip Thompson was my coach and all he did was correct me on timing. Once I got that down I actually felt water flow as I was swimming and was able to make small changes that made me a lot more efficient and faster at breaststroke.

@34 or so was when I fell out of working out/training and got eventually fat. @40 or so was when I got back into it. Lost weight from lifting, walking and not overeating. Started swimming again. It came back fast! Also helped that this gym had a large outdoor pool and usually lots of girls in bikinis lounging around it, which really motivated me.

So ya, get coaching and swim at a pool that makes you look forward to being there doing your swimming.

**RichHomieJake** · Today, 10:56 PM

Learn and practice treading water, everything else will come naturally.

**TheTwilightZone** · Today, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by RichHomieJake

Learn and practice treading water, everything else will come naturally.

lolwut? Treading water is completely different from being able to efficiently push yourself forwards in water.

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