#366 : How Anyone Can Become A Great Swimmer with Brenton Ford
The Effortless Swimming Podcast
Release Date: 02/17/2025
#413 : How I qualified for the Nationals (at 38 years old) with Brenton Ford
The Effortless Swimming Podcast
At 20 years old, I missed qualifying for the National Championships by three hundredths of a second in the 50 backstroke. Fast-forward 18 years, and at 38, I qualified for Nationals in the five-kilometer open-water swim—training mostly just three times a week. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly how I did it in my late thirties: the one thing an Olympic gold medalist taught me that helped me generate more power with less effort, why getting injured before the race actually worked in my favor, how just five minutes with one coach changed my technique in the final two months, and the...
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#412 : The 5 Core Principle Of Fast Freestyle (#5 - Find Your Rhythm And Timing) with Brenton Ford
The Effortless Swimming Podcast
.Today, we are talking about the 5th and final Core Principle of Fast Freestyle: find your rhythm and timing. 00:36 The Dancing Part Of Freestyle 01:13 Kick Timing 04:35 Use Different Types Of Kick 10:33 Serape Effect 13:35 Hand Speed 14:07 Split Tempo 17:54 Drills 19:22 8 Week Faster Freestyle Course Join the 5 Day Catch Challenge Join the Effortless Swimming Membership Effortless Swimming Freestyle Clinic
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#411 : The 5 Core Principle Of Fast Freestyle (#4 - Develop An Effective Catch And Pull) with Brenton Ford
The Effortless Swimming Podcast
01:40 No Need To Overpower The Catch 03:07 Teaching The Four Key Positions 04:00 Start Of The Catch 06:00 High Elbow Catch 07:35 Power Diamond Position 10:20 Exit Of The Stroke 11:36 YMCA Drill Progression 14:38 More Drills To Work On Your Catch 15:07 Setup Phase 16:35 Path Of The Hand 17:57 Hand Speed
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#410 : The 5 Core Principle Of Fast Freestyle (#3-Rock, Return And Align) with Brenton Ford
The Effortless Swimming Podcast
Today, we are talking about the third core principle of Fast freestyle which is Rock, Return And Align. 00:36 Rock v.s. Rolling 02:15 Return 03:24 Correct Entry 06:08 Align
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#409 : The 5 Core Principle Of Fast Freestyle (#2 Find Your Balance) with Brenton Ford
The Effortless Swimming Podcast
01:46 Proud Posture 05:06 Taut Core 9:00 Effective Kick The 5 Core Principles Of Fast Freestyle: https://effortlessswimming.com/5-core-principles-of-fast-freestyle/
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#408 : The 5 Core Principle Of Fast Freestyle (#1 Breathe Deep And Relax) with Brenton Ford
The Effortless Swimming Podcast
01:45 Use Your Diaphragm 02:29 Breathing Exercises Out Of The Water 03:42 Box Breathing 04:04 Relax Your Chest And Upper Back 05:38 Having The Right Posture 06:52 Letting Go When You Exhale
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#407 : 10 Ways To Increase Your Swim Speed with Brenton Ford
The Effortless Swimming Podcast
In this episode, I'll share ten ways to increase your swim speed and become a better swimmer. So, let's dive in and explore these effective strategies. 00:35 Train Another Stroke 01:56 Change The Way That You're Training 03:10 Being Diligent With Your Skills 05:12 To Become Supple 05:59 Joining a Squad Or a Group of Swimmers 09:06 Occasionally, Don't Track Anything 10:25 Keeping Calm Under Pressure 10:43 Commit To A Swim Block 13:48 Pick One Thing And Stick To It For Three Months 15:35 Get Professional Help
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#406 : What does 1:05/100m for 2 hours look like? with Nick Sloman
The Effortless Swimming Podcast
Imagine holding a 1:05 pace per hundred for nearly two hours—no walls, no turns, just pure precision. Every stroke efficient, every breath controlled. How do you sustain that kind of speed without breaking down? What should your catch feel like? And how do you stay smooth when the ocean, the pack, and your own heartbeat are all working against you? In this episode, we dive into the story of Nick Sloman. He’s not the biggest guy on the start line, and he wasn’t a childhood prodigy. But over 12 years, he turned sheer efficiency into his competitive edge. After missing Tokyo, he rebuilt...
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#405 : Why Most Swimmers Run Out Of Air In Flip Turns with Brenton Ford
The Effortless Swimming Podcast
If you’re someone who avoids flip turns—or you’re completely out of breath every time you try one—chances are, it’s not your fitness holding you back. It’s your technique. In this episode, I’m breaking down a simple, step-by-step method to help you master the tumble turn, so you can actually save energy on your turns, move faster off the wall, and keep up with the swimmers beside you. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to execute a smooth, controlled flip turn without getting dizzy, without gasping for air, and with way more rhythm and confidence. Let’s dive in. 00:48...
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#404 : Why Your Arm Drops When You Breathe with Brenton Ford
The Effortless Swimming Podcast
Struggling with your arm dropping whenever you take a breath in freestyle? You’re not alone—and there are five common reasons this happens. In this episode, we break down each cause, show you exactly how to fix them, and help you transform your breathing technique. By the end, you’ll swim farther with less effort and finally feel like you have all the time in the world to take a smooth, controlled breath. Dive in and level up your freestyle. 00:38 Breathing 04:17 Rotation 05:57 Hand Entry 07:31 Exit Of The Opposite Hands 08:59 Starting Catch Position And Reach 09:54 Where Is Your...
info_outlineWelcome to the podcast. This is a rebroadcast of another podcast called the Human Endurance Podcast with two friends of mine, Bruna and Fabi. I was a guest on there recently, and I wanted to share this episode with you because I feel like a lot of key things were covered that if you're a swimmer or a triathlete, this is going to help you improve.
Whether you want to get better at open water swimming, making sure you fuel correctly, how you should train, what are some common mistakes and foundational skills
01:28 Meet Brenton Ford: Founder of Effortless Swimming
11:24 Common Mistakes and Foundational Skills for Swimmers
18:56 Improving Swimming Technique and Training Tips
29:16 The Importance of Drills and Effective Training
39:45 Skills in Open Water Swimming vs. Pool Swimming
44:02 Increasing Stroke Rate vs. Distance Per Stroke
47:47 Choosing the Right Wetsuit
58:15 Fueling for Long Swim Sessions
01:03:14 The Journey of Effortless Swimming
01:15:12 The Future of Swimming
01:20:38 Fire Questions