I watched the videos he got and the technique seems a bit odd to me. You twist your body completely to each side with each stroke, and use your feet to propel when you twist back to the middle. I attempted to do it once when I was swimming a week or so ago, and it was definitely something that would take work. I guess that's why they have you do so many drills. It seemed like it took a lot more energy than my normal swimming stroke.
My boyfriend has the video... and it's very ODD to someone like me who learned how to swim competively 20 years ago!

I honestly can't see myself swimming like that... but then again... my odd tried and true stroke gets me moving pretty fast. I may be old-school swimming.. but it works.

I think the video/book helped my boyfriend. I have seen him swim though, and he doesn't really swim like they show in the video.

On a side note... I found it very *odd* in the video that they picked someone to demonstrate proper swim stroke... who only has 1.5 arms. Her right arm was cut off at the elbow. Which true... it shows that ANYONE can do this style of swimming... but... we thought it was very *odd* to not pick someone with 2 full arms for demonstration purposes.