Private monofin class with Martin, WOW!

[nostres]

Wow is what say! Or amazin!
I finished 3 hour session with Martin few hours ago and I still can't get over the best training I ever had.
So I signed for his monofin class and finally got there today, fighting Miami traffic I got there 5 minutes to 5 and Martin already awaits me at the pool entrance. After throwing few words in his native language I ask how many more students is coming today. Turns out there is no more students today so I get private class, wow! Is all I gotta say
With my natural born ADHD I promise myself to shut up for once and listen, I almost succeded. But it feels like there's plenty of time and I answer Martin's questions about my freediving history, goals, concerns etc
Soon we go right to business, starting with easy but interesting exercises. Next one is more difficult for me, requires back strenght I am missing but I manage.
Water time! Same here, easy first and then BOOM! First surprise, first challenge. And another one. Then big surprise! What? So all my monofin technique for the last 3 yrs was ALL WRONG! Yes it was but that's OK, I am here to correct it.
Slowly I get it, I receive good comment, and another one.
I swim 25m, Martin is watching, after one lap I get review, repeat and so on.
This system works like magic, it's very hard to realize certain things on our own but guy like him can easily point at bad movements and fix them.
One hour later four more guys show up for bi monthly training session, local DB people - Tony Babowicz the great guy, my Palooza friend DiverTodd also great guy who to my surprise moved to Miami, another great guy Eschhik and another Martin who is not a DB member yet but he seems to be a great guy.
So we start the real deal which is A WORKOUT! Before I got there I was expecting some relaxin swimming using mermaids tail. I was way off, this is not a leisure time. We are almost done and Martin says we could have pushed it harder. "Bring it" is not the word You want to use in front of Martin. Well, I did so 10 long laps later I was out of juice, we all were.
So let me say again, WOW! is all I gotta say
I will do it again as soon as I can and if You read this, trust me - You want to do the same. If You say You can't afford it I simply won't believe it, the price is so great. If You can't afford the airfare then take a Greyhound or hitchhike, that's how great this class and this guy is.
Man I got carried away, anyway WOW! is all I gotta say
stay wet my friends!
Pete

 

[vali]

ooo man
you are indeed a lucky one!!!!

 

[apneaboy]

Result!!!

 

[Tony Babowicz]

Nice to have met you Peter. One word of advice for the next time you come down to train. If you tell Martin to "bring it!" all of us will grab you by the neck and swim you down to the bottom of the deep end and hold you there until you blackout. Then we will take turns practicing rescues with your bluefaced body. Don't worry, you won't remember a thing. Just kidding. That was a fun workout. I just like to complain. Make sure you give me plenty of warning when you come back down. Lots of good freediving to do.
Do widzenia
Tony

 

[nostres]

I forgot to tell You guys about the fins.
I was surprised to learn that most of the monofin training takes place without monofin. About 80% of swim we did using old school short rubber fins, like this

Deep See Sea Star Adults Full Foot Fin


Vali, I am little lucky but really lucky are the guys who live in Miami area, they get to do this every two weeks, plus they can dive with Martin in the ocean every time he's teaching class

Apneaboy, You will have to wait and I will have to work (hard) for some results. This class gave me good base so I know how to train now but good technique takes time

And finally Tony, no more bring it !

 

[ILDiver]

Peter, I hate you. If you make it to Palooza, I will be forced to beat you!

 

[Jon]

You better come to Plaooza and spill the beans on what you learned!

 

[AlexD]

I've been wanting to take this class for a bit. I live around 15 minutes away from the aquatic center, now I just need to shift my psychotic schedule around a bit. I took a class with Martin not too long ago and it was great, can't wait to take the next level and keep on training. Heading out with the F.I.I. peeps tomorrow for a practice depth dive(weather permitting)

I have never worn a monofin before, so hopefully starting with a complete blank slate will prevent me having to relearn anything.

 

[nostres]

You better come to Plaooza and spill the beans on what you learned!

But do You provide oxygen and protection against ILDiver?

You know, he wants to beat me up

 

[black1]

Was this training done in Pompano/Ft Lauderdale area or down in Miami, I am taking the intermediate Performance Freediving course this October and I spoke to Mandy-Rae (I know this is different from Martins FII) and she said I will meet some trainers who teach pool and open Ocean all the time that I can learn from after the course, I believe they teach at the swimming hall of fame pools in Ft Lauderdale and was wondering if this is also were Martin teaches. Are these only advanced training courses you can take with Martin? how did you get to take the course and others here if they could give me an idea about how to do the same for after my course, thanks all.

 

[Tony Babowicz]

visit freedivinginstructors.com for details. You have to take an introduction to monofin course that lasts about an hour or so to participate in his bi-monthly training sessions. Martin is currently out of the country for family obligations so I am not sure as to when he will start the monofin sessions again. He also holds a weekly winter training program geared for all types of freedivers from recreational to spearfishing to competitive training. Drop him an email and he can give you the details.

 

[nostres]

Was this training done in Pompano/Ft Lauderdale area or down in Miami,

It was in Pompano Beach Aquatic Center, not Miami

 

[black1]

Great thank you all, I sent an e-mail to the contacts at his site about the weekly winter training, look forward to hearing back when they can.

 

[black1]

Great they e-mailed me back with all the winter training info for spearfishing, recreational and freedive competition people who wish to train slowly leading up to advanced training for the months of Decmber to March, looks to be every weekend right down the road from my house.