taking a course: now versus later

[Lil Dragonfly]

At some point I will be taking a freediving course (probably with Martin Stepanek).

I think that I should wait a bit before taking it. The way I see it, the whole point of taking a course is to get better at freediving. But there is a lot of getting better that I can do on my own. (I haven't practiced breath holding for 10 years!) I think it would be best to practice my skills on my own until I hit a plateau, and then take the course.

But my mom wants me to take the course ASAP. She thinks that learning the safety tips isn't something I should put off. (I am not oblivious to the safety practices btw, I have read a lot of stuff on the internet)

What do you guys think?

(edit- I will be buying some books on the subject too)

 

[apneaboy]

I think she is right.

You will get more than safety from the course too. You will get some more motivation, be taught how to train effectively and save you a lot of wasted time. Maybe you will meet people or get contacts of other freedivers to train with.

You can always go back again and see him once you have been training for a while after the course.

Safety first!

 

[titan]

not only for safety I staterd freediving very early I was 13 at the time that was almost ten years ago at the time I couldn't take a course beacause the comunity was small at the time I don't even have a buddy to wacth my pool pratice and I can tell I would double the fun and the safety if had those
course + body = fun stepanek is the best teacher in terms of performance and pellizari in fun that was what some people told me either way in US you PerformanceFreediving and stepanek wich are both great
study a lot be curious discuss with other freedivers and u will learn a lot both in apnea science and sea tricks and tips

 

[EcchiK]

Strongly recommend taking the course now. Five reasons:

1) Safety
Theoretical knowledge, of course, is very important. I've read all about the rescue techniques as well. However, nothing beats getting the chance to practice safety and rescues with experienced professionals who will critique you and help you learn to do these without having to try to remember the theory on how to do.

2) Techniques
Whatever you can read online will help you out quite a bit but going through a course will help you learn the fine details.

3) Buddies
Going through a training course gives you the chance to meet all kinds of people from various places. It's a fairly good chance you'll keep in contact with these people.

4) You can always go back for a higher level training.
In case you feel like becoming an instructor or want to learn as much as you can you'll already have a course behind you and can jump right to the next level.

5) Try to get your mom to foot the bill if she's so worried.
Perhaps you can convince your mom to help pay some of the costs if she's so adamant about you taking the course now. :blackeye

Cheers and have fun in the water!

 

[vali]

just curious...what are your PB now?

 

[EcchiK]

Me? (just kidding, but i'll post anyway)

Static: 2:50 (Dry:3:30)
DYF: 50 m
DNF: 40 m

CWT: 4 m :blackeye

 

[cdavis]

Now or later?? In some ways, a bit of a toss-up. The more you know, the more good the course can do for you. But, take it from me, a lot of years of bad habits are hard as heck to break in a few days of a course and can be a serious impediment to learning as much as possible. If it was me, I'd want to get comfortable in modest depth and time underwater, but not delay very long. Taking it now has a lot of advantages as outlined above.

One the safety issues, reading stuff ain't the same thing as getting it drilled into you for several days in a course. A buddy of mine is alive because of that difference.

Its a nice kind of decision to make. Good luck with it.

Connor

 

[nostres]

To me it's very simple. NOW is always better than later.

Training with Martin will not only be good info on safety etc., it will be great times, joy and fun.
So You wanna have fun next year or You want it now?

 

[JennyWren]

I'd say do it now, if you start off with good training you'll be less likely to develop bad habits that are hard to break.

 

[samdive]

I'd say to definitely do a course now - but there might be a cheaper beginner course than the one with Stepanek. An AIDA ** course with any AIDA instructor would set you up with safety and the basics, then you can work on your pbs for a bit, and then train with someone super experienced like Martin - but if Martin is the only person training in your area, then go for it.

 

[azapa]

take it now, for all the reasons mentioned above. you will never stop learning and meeting great people (the teachers and participants) will inspire you further. you live in a wonderful place to be a freediver! enjoy and report back.

 

[ILDiver]

I have not read all the posts, but I say NOW. Not just for the safety tips, but you are better off learning the right way first rather than to develop bad habits and having to correct them.

Plus Martin and Niki are great people, you will enjoy the class. You can then do training dives and pool sessions with them too.

Sign up today!

 

[Spaniard]

Lot's of sensible advice posted already so i'll just say go for it now! I did my first and only course a couple of years ago and it was the best money i've ever spent! You are also lucky to be training with a top-class freediver in Martin! Imagine what tennis lessons from Roger Federer would cost!

 

[vali]

Me? (just kidding, but i'll post anyway)

Static: 2:50 (Dry:3:30)
DYF: 50 m
DNF: 40 m

CWT: 4 m :blackeye

the question was for lyl dragonfly, BUT....thanks
and another BUT.... are you really serious with that 4mCWT?????
it seems very hard to believe because my PB are 2:20 in static, 50m in DYF, 30 in DNF, but 20m in CWT....this puzzels me a lot...

 

[EcchiK]

Yup totally serious.

Don't worry, I'm sure I'll best it as soon as I go out to lake dive for the first time. :blackeye

I've only done pool stuff so far, so I'm estimating the depth of the pool. :t

 

[vali]

aaaaa!!!!
so you where constrained by the pool bottom....i see....never dived in open waters?
in that case your PB is allready more than 4m, but you don't know yet

 

[Lil Dragonfly]

just curious...what are your PB now?

I recently tried a static on dry land: 2:15. (Lousy yes, but keep in mind I haven't practiced breath holding for 10 years)

Haven't been able to find a buddy for dynamic or constant

 

[EcchiK]

No worries D-Fly (Can I call you D-Fly? :blackeye)

when I started out I had a tough time doing 2 min in dry static. If you do some drills, you should be over 3 min pretty quickly. I personally, try to do 3 trials of my "comfortable max" every 2 or 3 days, I log the time to help give me motivation, seeing your time increase is a good motivator.

But I'm still sticking to my original answer. Take the course now, you'll probably see a pretty nice jump in your static time even during the course I think. Plus you'll start with the right techniques right from the beginning, there'll be no need to forget any nasty habits that you learned on your own.

@vali
Nope, never done a lake/ocean session. I started getting into freediving once I moved to Belgium (1.5 years ago). The water isn't too friendly for diving without a wetsuit. I expect my Elios suit to come in tomorrow so I'm not leaving the front door until the UPS guy shows up! Then I'll either hit La Gombe with the freediving club I train or some lake with ptoot if he's available.

 

[ptoot]

@Ecchik: Got your suit? Let' go and work on your CWT then!

 

[EcchiK]

I'm literally sitting at my window looking for the UPS guy. PM me a when and where to meet up and I'm in.