Advantages
Improvements in technique and efficiency help any level of swimmer, beginner or elite. Terry Laughlin's claim is that while gains in fitness will produce gains in speed and endurance, improvements in technique are more important. Beginners being trained with the TI method may be more comfortable in the water, encouraging them to swim more, and letting them swim farther and faster than they would have without the training.
The emphasis on balance and streamlining removes the need for a strong leg kick (so often needed to prevent the feet from sinking) and directs more of the force from the kick to forward propulsion. The stroke is thus less tiring, and can be sustained for long distances. Many triathletes use Total Immersion methods because their sport is very endurance based, and TI lets them conserve their legs for the cycling and running stages of the competition.
Read more about this topic: Total Immersion
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