Stretching

[Jerry]

Yes, being able to split will not make you kick higher and being able to kick high does not mean that you are able to split. BUT, being ble to split decreases your warm up time before a fight. Not only does it motivate you to train, but it impresses the spectators . I have been a kickboxer since 1993 and held divisional (weight) South-African titles until my ankle injury in 2002. I will be returning to the ring in January 2005 and I'm currently training in a gym here at work.

 

We had a technique called "hyper stretching" or "negative stretching". Ensure that you are warmed up very good before attempting. Right before you do it, do a side split and see how far you can go down, after this you WILL go futher. The snag here is that you need a partner to help you. Great in the dojo!

 

Here goes: Stand with your back up against the wall and your partner in fron of you. Partner - hands open, palms up. You, front kick position with your heal on your partner's hands. Relax. Then push down hard as you can, partner - resist and let not go down. Hold position for roughly 10 - 15 seconds. Relax and partner must slowly but firmly push your leg up (like leg swing position). Push to max, u relax and breathe, do not resist. When at max, hold for 10 - 15 seconds, then push little more for 3 seconds. Slowly let leg down, partner assisted, bend and hold knee up and let down slowly. Same on other leg. Change positions, do partner and then when your turn, stand with your side against the wall (side kick position). Do the same. After this. relax legs for 1 minute and do a side split. If this does not let u go futher down, you did it wrong. BUT be vary cautious, you can tear a muscle (I saw that once, when the leg was pushed up too quick). Don't do it more than every second week or once a month.