Mat Hudson, Mediterra International's Head Coach is a Total Immersion Master Coach- certified to train swimmers of all levels, and to conduct the training and certification of new TI Coaches.

Originally from Portland, Oregon USA, he currently lives with his wife and 4 children in Antalya, Turkey, Now at 40 years old he has been involved in serious swim training for 25 years first as a pool competitor, then as an Olympic-distance triathlete. He has been deep-practicing TI since 2001 and because of this is now an avid distance open-water exploratory swimmer training along the Turkish Mediterranean Coast- swimming better than he every could 20 years before. After several years unofficially using his TI knowledge to coach others, he received his TI Coach Certification in 2010. With a strong experience in TI swim training, his background in teaching, and communication he took an accelerated path under the guidance of TI Head Coach Terry Laughlin and received his Master Coach certification in 2011- training and certifying new TI coaches, Mat's coaching is distinguished by his intricate understanding of stroke technique, physics and advanced TI training methods, He has a particularly encouraging and inspirational way of working with swimmers and coaches.

• Mat Hudson and Mediterra on Facebook
• Mat Hudson and Mediterra on Twitter
• Mat Hudson and Mediterra on Youtube

Mat Hudson's TI Story

Hello! I'm Mat Hudson, founder and head coach of Mediterra International Swimming.

I would like to share my TI story with you... 

BEFORE TI

I started competitive swimming at my high school back in 1988, at 14 years old. Throughout my childhood, although I participated in many of the typical American field sports and seemed to have a gift for some of them I did not find one that really resonated with me. But I immediately found my home in the water and fell in love with serious training and competition. Hard work was no obstacle.

However, without proper coaching guidance to help me develop good technique and wisdom about training I eventually stumbled into debilitating shoulder injuries that took me out of the water for a few years. I was devastated.

At university I made it back into the water and discovered Olympic-distance triathlons, falling in love with the 3-sport lifestyle. I was enjoying progress working my way from Top-20 to Top-10 OA finishes in regional races, but again, within a few more years over-training provoked injuries in my knee which forced me to quit competition altogether. I continued to train for fitness in the pool but started to concluded that my body was just not as tough has my heart and mind.

DISCOVERING TI

A few years later, in 2001 I stumbled upon the original, best-selling book called "Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way To Swim Better, Faster, and Easier". (You may be delighted to know a very new, powerful TI Book is in the works right now!). I don't know exactly what I was looking for that day, but as I thumbed through the introduction I was amazed at the logic and science that swim coach and author Terry Laughlin was presenting. I stood there and read several more chapters as I felt new hope surging into my body.

As I began to experiment with the first drills it felt strange to my body but it also made sense to my head- the physics and the physiology were much better. Sure enough, within weeks I was experiencing amazing improvement in my ease and speed- without working harder- I was simply working smarter. From 25 strokes per 25 yards before, I was soon taking only 18. Where my monthly timed 1500 yard swim was an exhausting accomplishment, it became easy at the same speed. I was shocked how much a new mindset and some sensible application of good technique could transform my stroke so much. If only I had discovered these concepts 13 years before who knows what I might have accomplished!

NEW STROKE, NEW CAREER

For the last 12 years since then I have been dedicated to the deep practice of TI swimming, in all 4 strokes. I swim faster, farther, and with more ease and enjoyment than I ever did 20 years ago. Out of this practice of excellence, out of the increased passion for swimming after being noticed and asked by so many people how they could learn to swim like me, I took the opportunity to become a certified TI Coach so I could share this transformational technique and philosophy to others who desire this kind of swimming experience.

I am now certified as a Total Immersion Master Coach, sharing this proven approach with other swimmers, and training new TI coaches. I have worked with many and know that Total Immersion can help swimmers of all shapes, sizes and abilities to improve and enjoy their swimming more than ever before. I work with young and old, new swimmers and competitive, disabled and fearful- I have seen dramatic improvements in all of them. Being a TI Coach is quite gratifying.

TODAY

In 2008, I moved to Antalya, Turkey from the USA with my wife and children. With the sea so beautiful, warm, and convenient I enjoy practicing as an avid open-water, long-distance swimmer year-round. I regularly swim 5 to 7 continuous kilometers as a normal practice swim, without exhaustion (unless my practice is designed to)- and this is all due to the Total Immersion technique- both in how it has trained me to swim and how it has trained me to focus my mind for optimal performance and pleasure. I don't train for directly for power or fitness, I train for excellence in technique and to maintain Flow State- fitness and speed come as a natural result. This coming season I am working on a 15km exploratory swim project in my home waters. training to enjoy every minute of it.

Everywhere I swim people notice my amazingly smooth and efficient stroke, appearing to be relaxed and slow yet swimming so fast. In comparison they often talk discouragingly of their inability to swim well. Every time I tell them about Total Immersion and encourage them to believe that they too could swim better than they ever thought possible. I have practiced many hours to achieve this level of skill, but I have also worked with many swimmers and know it is available to anyone who will take these TI principles and practice likewise.

From the proof of my own experience and from thousands of TI swimmers around the world I am confident that, with Total Immersion, any body can swim better than ever. Let me and our global network of TI Coaches help you discover how!

** ** **