Stretching

[Eye of the Tiger]

I really want to know what are the best books out there on flexibility. My teacher suggested to look at mona books but it doesnt really give a description of what the books are about . Its just flexibility that I dont really know how to do. I want good overal flexibility so I want a good book on the subject.

 

Thanks in advance

[KickChick]

Stretching Scientifically : a Guide to Flexibility Training, by Tom Kurz (an excellent book that goes into detail on just about everything you want to know about stretching, more devoted to increasing flexibility...some of the discussion gets very technical though!) stadion.com

 

Sport Stretch, by Michael J. Alter (about how stretching works and what different stretching methods to use ... easy to understand)

 

 

 

Mobility Training for the Martial Arts, by Tony Gummerson (pretty good and comprehensive enough, but not as good (IMO) as Sport Stretch or Stretching Scientifically.

 

Beyond Kicking: A Complete Guide to Stretching and Kicking

 

by Jean Frenette

 

Stretching: 20th Anniversary (Stretching, 20th Ed)

 

by Bob Anderson (this happens to be the #1 bestseller currently in stores, but that doesn't mean anything to me really)

 

As far as ordering from monabooks.com ... This is the only book on stretching I found on there and basically it contains just PNF stretching and self-stretching techniques that you can use to maintain your gains in range of motion but not to increase)

 

Facilitated Stretching: PNF Stretching Made Easy, by Robert E. McAtee (explain the history and principles of PNF without getting too technical, and shows how to perform PNF techniques )

 

 

 

Better source for you.....

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk Search for books on "stretching" and "flexibility"

[aes]

I quickly read an older edition of "Stretching Scientifically " and found it too complicated for me to translate into a quick daily routine to improve my stretch.

 

I just turned 41, I have been studying MA for a bit over a year. My kicks and stretch have improved but are a long way off of being acceptable in my mind. I have been revisiting what it is going to take to improve my stretch considerably, so i searched the topics here for the ever popular stretch questions.

 

My ham strings are a way too tight. I cannot even raise my leg perpendicular to my body for a decent front kick. My round house is a bit higher but still not to the head, lastly my side kick is about the same as the roundhouse.

 

I found the following link that describes PNF partener stretching pretty well. I would like to adapt these for solo use though.

 

http://members.lycos.co.uk/Tamari/pnf.htm

 

Does anyone have a practical yet very effective routine to follow that will get me where I want to be in say 1/2 a year?

 

Currently I have been doing standing Y splits with the pnf technique to try to increase the stretch. Plus toe touches to try to help with the ham strings.

 

I do them about twice a day or more and hold the positions for 20 seconds or so and repeat about 3 times. Plus the full set of stretches we do in class about 3 times a week.

 

I am not as stuck on showing off a remarkable splits, but doing what needs to be done to get my kicks higher and enable me to do a good cresent kick.