When stretching, are you suppose to keep your knees totally straight or have a slight bend in them? Thanks for the replys.

Depends on what stretch. Personally I recommend doing them with a slight bend so you don't over strain your knees.

When doing some static stretches, like the front and side splits, toe touches, leg stretches on bars, etc., I make sure to keep the knee straight while stretching. There are some stretches that it may be ok to bend the knee on, but it is stretching different muscles then.

I think i tried to hard with the big boys and was hurting bad, now i know not to push my limit to the max. Little by little instead.

I think i tried to hard with the big boys and was hurting bad, now i know not to push my limit to the max. Little by little instead.

This is very true. You can't get it all at once. Almost 14 years, and I am still working on the splits. It's all good, though.

Most guidance says to never lock your knees for stretching (or anything, for that matter). An inch or so of bend will keep you from ruining the muscles behind your knees and the tendons that connect them.