GoGoGo Posted September 26, 2004 Posted September 26, 2004 I've never done anything that requires flexibility before. I know though in order to do martial arts you need to be at least a little flexible. I can barely even lift my leg past my waist. I want to be able to do a high kick. How do you fix this? I have absolutely no experience so please go into detail. Thanks. Learner GoGoGo
foreveryoung001 Posted September 27, 2004 Posted September 27, 2004 I think a good daily stretching routine may be the best way to start out. The are several different thoughts on the topic, and you may want to research them. But, once you find a routine that you enjoy, and has some proven benefits, stick with it. I'm a firm believer that you can never stretch too much. I took almost ten years off of my training after my 1dan test, but I still stretched every day, and now that I have begun training again, I've found that I have not lost any of my original flexability. In some ways, I would say I have even improved. Not in technique, of course, but even my regular side kick seems to get up a little higher than it used too. I don't have any suggestions for a name of stretching routine, I just use the same routine that my original instructor liked me to use, but I have seen on-line some different books and videos that look like they may be worth investigating. I would suggest find a routine that incorporates static and dynamic stretching, and eventually some isometric (sp?). Static stretches are ones where you are not moving the muscle that you are stretching, like doing the splits. Dynamic stretches would be where you stretch by moving the muscle, such as swinging your arms or legs to a point where your muscle stretches, or rotating your head to stretch the neck... things like that. isometrics then get you using the muscle while you are stretching. These can be quite hard on your body, and might want to be avoided until you have worked with a certain routine for period of time. If you make an honest effort to stretch regularly, even to the point where you might be in some pain... a little pain is good, a lot of pain is not so good... then I think you will find your flexability will increase very quickly. By quickly, I mean you should see some real improvment within a couple of months. Good luck! Student: "Why did you hit that guy with a chair? Why didn't you use your karate?"Master: "Hitting him with a chair was the only karate I could think of at the time."Lesson: Practice until you don't have to think.
dear john Posted October 3, 2004 Posted October 3, 2004 before you work out is a good time for light stretching but if you really want to some progress then you should find about an hour or so once or twice a week to stretch. studies have shown that stretching for long periods of time everyday is no better than doing it once a week, but if you dont keep up with light stretches your long stretch is pretty pointless. but then again everyones body is different. i read this in a book and it seems to hold pretty true to me. find what works for you. the funny thing is that i know im wrong and i know your right, yet you keep argueing like it will change my mind. you should really know, you dont have to be right to win:)
Recommended Posts