

The Effortless Swimming Podcast
Brenton Ford
Faster times and better technique aren't a guarantee when you train hard. What really makes a difference to your speed and efficiency in the water? The Effortless Swimming podcast helps make a complex sport really simple to better your swimming. We cover open water swimming, triathlon swimming and pool swimming. Hosted by Australian National swimmer and coach Brenton Ford.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 19, 2021 • 10min
#170: How To Make Your Swimming Feel "Effortless"
In this episode, I want to talk about making your swimming effortless. I have been watching about Lionel Sanders, a professional triathlete has put up in his swimming recently which he has titled "Stop Sucking At Swimming" and he is basically trying to improve his swimming to be a front pack swimmer in his swim and not lose so much ground on his swim. It has been interesting hearing him talk about the things that he is going through and how he is going to change his mindset and his approach to swimming. 00:56 Try Less To Go Faster 02:35 Try This The Next Time You Are In The Pool 04:22 Effortless Swimming? 05:16 Not Going To Happen Every Time 05:37 Do A Longer Warm-Up 06:36 Sets That Progressively Get Quicker 08:16 Get Your Technique Looked At And Be Consistent

Mar 14, 2021 • 12min
#169: How To Avoid Being A "One Speed Swimmer"
Do you only have one speed? In this episode, we are talking about developing your gears as a swimmer. If you want to develop your ability and your skills as a swimmer or as a triathlete, then it is going to really pay off to be able to adjust the effort you put in and the speed that you get back as a result of it. We are also talking about the common mistakes that people make when they struggle to increase their speed. 01:15 Accordion Effect 02:23 Apply More Pressure and Power At The Front Of Your Stroke 03:31 Difference In Speed Is Minimal 07:25 Tighten Up The Kick 08:41 Tuning Into Your Breathing

Mar 5, 2021 • 16min
#168: 7 Things I've Changed With My Swimming In 2021
I thought it might be useful through some of the things that I am tweaking, adjusting, and changing with my own swimming that you may find useful in your own swimming. 00:36 Changing Habits and Having a Good Routine 02:55 Starting The Day The Right Way 05:50 Training Harder and Longer Sessions 06:17 Expanding Skillset and Boundaries 10:03 Listening to Fictional Audio Books 11:16 Loosening Up and Staying on Top Of My Mobility 12:58 Do Less

Feb 4, 2021 • 22min
#167: Case Study: A 50 Second Improvement Per 100 Yards with Chuck Rine
In this episode, Chuck, who joined the Effortless Swimming Membership a couple of years ago, shares about his swimming experience, his hesitation in joining the membership, and how he has significantly improved over the years 01:06 Joining Effortless Swimming Membership 04:23 Putting Attention To More Important Things 08:52 It's all about "Reduce Drag, Increase Propulsion" 13:49 What You Think You're Doing And What You Are Actually Doing Often Times Are Different Things 16:24 You Can't Change Your Stroke Overnight 16:53 "I Didn't Know Where My Lats Were"

Jan 17, 2021 • 19min
#166: From Barely Making 25m To Swimming 1:47/100m with Karsten Weber
00:58 Swimming Background 01:53 Joining Ironman After A Heart Attack 04:57 "Never Did Any Freestyle" 11:05 Comparing Strokes From A Month Ago 12:04 Finding The Right Balance With Your Stroke (Sweet Spot) 14:12 Not Power But Technique 14:30 "You Don't Know What You Don't Know" 16:05 Breaking It Down (Focus On One Thing At A Time)

Jan 5, 2021 • 29min
#165: Deep Core vs 6-Pack Abs - Developing What Really Matters In Swimming with Sam Fenton - Part 3
Here's the third installment of our podcast episode with Sam Fenton. In this episode, Sam discussed what really is Deep Core, the muscles that are involved in strengthening the deep core, and some exercised to improve it. 1:11 What Is Deep Core? 3:17 Stability Of Pelvis 4:11 Inter-Abdominal Pressure 6:40 Crossfitters Destroying Their Joints and Back 08:48 Serape Effect 11:34 Need To Learn The Fundamentals 14:53 There Are No Secrets In Drills 17:45 Leg Lift 19:38 Cat Dog Exercise 23:06 Control High Performance

Dec 21, 2020 • 29min
#164: Transforming Your Feet Into Propellers (Even If Your Ankles Are STIFF!) with Sam Fenton - Part 2
Welcome to Part 2 of our podcast episode with Sam Fenton. In this episode, Sam talked about the importance of having ankle strength and flexibility; and how can you improve your stiff ankles. 04:36 Why Underwater Dolphin Kick? 05:36 Ankle Strength And Flexibility 07:04 Range And Strength 09:21 How Do You Improve Range And Strength? 12:39 Need To Have Strong/ Smart Feet 13:03 Improving Stiff Ankles 19:28 Improving Strength 23:54 Conditioning Takes A Long Time.

Dec 16, 2020 • 38min
#163: The Smarter Way To Progress Your Swimming with Sam Fenton - Part 1
Sam Fenton is the High-Performance Manager of Control High Performance, he has been involved with sports for close to 20 years now and is in charge of Strength and Conditioning/ Performance programs. Sam will be joining us for a three-part podcast, for the next episodes, Sam and I will be talking about: Part 2:Transforming Your Feet Into Propellors (Even If Your Ankles Are STIFF!) Part 3:Deep Core vs 6-Pack Abs - Developing What Really Matters In Swimming Watch out for the next episodes!! 05:42 Looking Into High-Performance Approach 06:12 High-Performance Approach and Physical Literacy Approach Together 07:12 High-Performance Approach - Wholesome Approach 12:21 Does Elite Swimmers Suffer As A Result Of Taking Softer Approach? 15:53 Being Smart About Your Rest 16:52 Incremental Improvements 19:01 For Coaches Transitioning to High-Performance Approach 22:55 Thinking Brain v.s Feeling Brain 24:15 Going Into The Zone 26::34 What Happens If You Are Training Tired? 27:02 Pre-Training Routine 28:36 Load Management 32:25 Follow The 10% Rule 33:47 Strength and Conditioning - Balance Your Body Out ===

Nov 9, 2020 • 19min
#162: Brett Sutton's "TBF" Style Of Swimming
1:15 WHY? Total Body Force Swimming 3:50 do not focus on trying to feel the water 5:14 use whole body to create force 7:40 Bilateral breathing > Is bilateral breathing necessary? 9:21 TBF swimming gives both rhythm and balance > 12:08 straight arms recovery stroke 12:45 hand entry 13:15 head position 14:55 find the stroke that best suits you

Sep 28, 2020 • 29min
#161: Fish Out Of Water: Making Yourself Bulletproof From Running Injuries with Ryan Twist
My guest in this episode is Ryan Twist, a Podiatrist from Bayswater Foot and Ankle Clinic. Anyone who is listening who wants to get into running or they have been running and they have found themselves injured, this episode is for you. 01:13 People Are Starting to Pick Up Running And Walking 02:49 What Are The Most Common Running Injuries? 04:56 Recommendations For Beginners (Walk Run Cycle) 06:33 The Best Strengthening Exercises For Runners 10:21 The Wrong Shoes Can Cause Injury 15:10 Injuries And Niggles: When To Run And When To Stop 18:27 How Much Should We Run? 20:37 Running Slow To Running Fast Makes A Massive Difference 24:36 Nasal Breathing 26:18 Be Patient 26:59 Role Of Mobility I Avoiding Injury


