Bernard’s training has taught me to swim efficiently and with greater confidence.
The personalized attention during lessons quickly points out where the faults are and you work on correcting the fault immediately. Because of this I swim more efficiently and with greater confidence and faster too!
What I found effective about the programme was that it was well structured. One drill builds upon the next. Although we did the sessions as a group (which was fun), the coaching was very personalised as each of us focused on our drills. I would definitely recommend it to anyone whether you are a beginner or a seasoned swimmer.
Before enrolling with KAIZEN, I was swimming like a “seahorse”…yes no joke…as this was the candid comment I receive from my training buddies. Legs dragging in the water, and strokes were not streamlined.
Ever since signing up with KAIZEN AQUATICS, under the coaching of Bernard Tay, he has help improved my swim technique quite significantly, I have truly benefited from his systematic coaching approach, his constant people engagement and focus attention to details. Another thing that astounded me was the extra effort he made in bridging my confidence with special extra programs towards my first IRONMAN WA challenged. The results speak for itself as even my training buddies were quite surprise with my Ironman WA swim time. Honestly, I wouldn’t have made it this far without KAIZEN.
Well thank you; I have never had a coach that is so engage into seeing us all crosses the finish-line.
3 years ago, I could hardly swim. I did the occassional breaststroke (self-taught) and my front crawl was more like a struggling pig in the water.
Then I wanted to do triathlon, and figured that I should learn how to swim the front crawl at the ripe old age of 37. So in preparation for the OD and 1/2 IM, I took swim lessons from Bernard.
I did survey a few swim instructors, but I chose to learn from Bernard because he ran smaller classes, paid individual attention and he even swam below the swimmer to observe his stroke carefully. He also had a good set of drills to correct flaws in the swimmers stroke. For my first IM swim, I completed it successfully. For my 2nd IM swim, I knocked 15 mins off, and felt a lot fresher.
I would highly recommend Bernard to swimmers who want to continuously improve their swim stroke, and also achieve an “effortless” IM swim.
After racing in Bintan for the first time, I received some sincere advice from a friend that “for my own safety I needed help with the swim”, so I joined one of Bernard’s classes and have never looked back. The programme is well structured with a solid foundation on which skills are progressively built ensuring that you develop into both a fast and efficient swimmer.
In addition, the small class sizes mean that while benefitting from individual attention you are also part of a group. For me this has turned swimming from a chore into a pleasure… and I hope the same transformation happens to others.
Before taking lessons with Bernard, my swim was self-taught and was only sufficient to displace myself from one point to the other in just enough time to avoid the cut off. I remembered clearly that in my earlier triathlon races, I remember getting the most cheers (for being the last one out the water).
After enrolling in Bernard’s class, my lap swim time was cut from 1”45 sec to approx 1” based on a 50m lap swim in 6 lessons (from April to May 2010) which I found amazing.
I guess that for most people like myself is that we have no clue as to what we are doing in the swim, we try just try to make it back alive. With Bernard’s help I was able to do the impossible, improve my swimming without any painful torture sessions or training program.
The only setback I get from Bernard’s lesson is that I don’t get the kind of cheers I used to get from the crowd when I got out of the water and my bike is not as prominent anymore when I enter the transition area.
I did my first ever triathlon in 2003 and the second in 2005. In those two races I was always the last few out of the water. It has always been a concern to me to swim efficiently. That was before I knew Bernard and Kaizen Aquatics ever existed.
After signing up with Kaizen Aquatics, Bernard helped to plan the program and coached me. He was very patient and engaged in his coaching. Always being in the water, he provided immediate feedback on my techniques. He also provided visual feedback with his underwater video cam which escalated my learning process.
Bernard’s coaching approach is structured, systematic and engaging. He plans the coaching programs to suit every individual’s learning needs. I improved significantly in my swim techniques and swim timings. I also enjoy swimming and training ever since. What impressed me most was Bernard’s consistent effort and patience in working with me on my road to my first Ironman in Western Australia in 2009. I must say my swim time in my Ironman swim came as a huge and extremely pleasant surprise even to myself.
I truly have benefited from Bernard’s Kaizen Aquatics Coaching program and you should too!
A highly customized swim program professionally taught by a dedicated and earnest instructor- Bernard.
Under Bernard’s coaching, I’ve made salient improvements to my swim strokes hence enabling me to swim more efficiently with an improved timing.
Bernard’s personalised stroke correction classes helped me breakthrough a plateau in my swimming progress and enabled me to swim with a smoother and more effortless glide. With his own training experiences as an ex-national swimmer, he has a keen eye to spot even very minute errors and is dedicated to help swimmers improve their technique and rhythm. With his coaching, my swim strokes have been transformed and I now swim more comfortably and efficiently.
Would recommand Bernard’s coaching method to both new and seasoned swimmers looking to either pick up swimming using the correct strokes or to improve on their swim technique.
Through Bernard’s coaching program, which consists of 12 drill sets and stroke correction, I learned to have better buoyancy and balance in water, better swim strokes, with better body sensing and feel of the water. The class size is not too big, which allows Bernard to give us very personalized attention. By being in the water, swimming with us and filming us with his digicam, we get instant feedback of our strokes. I strongly recommend his program to swimmers of any capability level, beginners to competitive swimmers, especially those going for triathlon or open water swim.
Swimming is much more technically demanding than I ever imagined, and swimming with the right technique makes all the difference in the world. Prior to meeting Bernard, the front crawl was, to me, just moving your arms in a windmill fashion in water.
Through his structured swim program, Bernard taught me proper swim techniques and helped me understand how each drill contributed to helping me move more efficiently. Where I could barely swim the length of the pool without getting breathless, I can now do several laps comfortably.
Bernard is an enthusiastic but patient coach, and I have faith that he’ll make a difference to your swimming, as he did mine.
I am finally an Ironman!
I began participating in triathlon events/races in 2008. It started off with sprint triathlons, olympic distances and later 70.3 Ironman races (I struggled). I have always used the breast stroke and I could only barely manage to swim 50 meters with the front crawl.
Nonetheless, I was determined to complete an Ironman race in which the swim leg required me to swim an unpresidented 3.8km (yes, 76 laps). As such, Front crawl was almost mandatory especially with a wetsuit on, a demanding bike leg and what more a full marathon ahead.
Several of my friends recommended me to take up lessons with Bernard and in 2010 Dec, I finally made the move. I started all over, doing basic drills and laps. In 12months (Dec 2011), I completed my 1st Ironman race with a pretty decent swim time. Thanks to Bernard for turning the impossible around and making a dream come true for me.
For years I have not been able to swim the front crawl and the only swim style I know is the breaststroke. I have always admired those who are able to swim the front crawl effortlessly and I finally took the plunge after making a resolution to take part in a triathlon. I was recommended by a friend who took swim classes with Bernard and then, there was just no turning back.
Bernard is an extremely patient coach. He helped someone like me who huffed and puffed in attempts to swim just one lap in the front crawl and who feared swimming in the open waters swim effortlessly. He built my confidence by teaching me the very basics from buoyancy, turning drills, half strokes, to finally swimming laps, not just one lap but lapS. I surprised myself when I find myself swimming laps without panting. Even my friends were surprised by my progress. In fact I am now able to surpass a couple of them, a feat that I would have thought impossible in the past.
What I really liked about the classes were that he reinforces the fundamentals and not just plunge into the full stroke straight away. His patience and including that fact that he is a triathlete himself, he was able to give the right advice when it comes to swimming in the open waters as it can be rather different especially for someone like me who has no experience in that department.
I would recommend Bernard to all those who wants to be able to swim effortlessly and efficiently and who needs correction in their strokes as he really looks into every aspect by swimming under water to observe your strokes.
In past races I had no confidence do the front crawl stroke in open water swim. That motivated me to take up lessons with Bernard. After going through a series of structured drills and stroke correction processes coupled with Bernard’s patient and personalized coaching, I had a huge improvement in my swimming time. Nowadays I am so glad that coming out of the swim and on the bike in the first transition, my bike is no longer the last few ones left in the transition area during the race. As such, I highly recommend Bernard’s coaching for triathletes or those aspiring to be triathletes. His passion for coaching will allow you to have both an enriching learning experiences in addition to having lots a fun during the lesson.
