Groin/Hips Flexibility/Strengthening

[Hawkmoon]

... hot baths!!

Seriously being serious here, really I am!

Stretch as you do , just change how you breathe through the stretch.

As you relax into a stretch breathe out!

The more relaxed you are the more 'extra' movement (stretch) you will get and see/feel as you stretch!

Once you get used to breathing right ... time for a bath!

Hot bath, 'go lobster' get out and have a stretch, as its your side kicks (yoko geri) you seem to describe and being your weakest these are what you need to work on most so do box splits, relax and breathe!

5 or so mins of stretching do some 4 in 1 exercises splits but focus more on the box split!

Now get back into the bath, relax and 'go lobster' & repeat!

The box split will open your hips up a great deal and in doing that your other kicks will benefit and come along by themselves without much extra effort!

The secret to kicks is stretching, the secret to stretching is breathing!

Now you are getting more and more supple, time to work on strength ... easy to say abut a real nightmare to do!

Core and more core is the ONLY answer here!

Leg lifts, sit ups crunches, lots and lots and lots of stiff leg kicking (Kearge mai, uchi, osoto yoko...all of them) lots and lots of them!

Russian twists, superman, swan back arches, planks

And of this and ...yup you guessed it repeat!

[vaporman]

Excellent post Hawkmoon.

To add to this, Epson salt is recommended for hot baths because the magnesium in it gets absorbed through the skin better then the stomach and people who sweat a lot or do regular workouts can benefit the most and also anyone can probably use it for relaxation, but always consult a professional for safety.

As for stretching good form is important too regardless the stretch put as much effort into it as anything a conscious effort, most times holding the form/stretch for 30 seconds to a minute while breathing deeply and correctly through the abdomen area. Learning about hatha yoga and practicing it regularly will loosen the body because of all the postures and techniques, Yoga should keep you moving fluidly for life regardless what you do especially people who train hard it might even be necessary for the long run!

Talk to a professional for advise for your situation.

Treating trigger points with hot baths helps to because the blood flows good,Mild stretching can help introduce back the full movement of the muscle, Mild is the key to hard it might do the opposite and cramp worst!Be in tune with your body all the time doing these keep your mind in check..

There are opposite muscles to every muscle so if you lengthen one shorten the other side (opposing muscles) as to keep tension on the stretched part to keep it for going back to its original position and giving it time to heal in the proper position.

Example; You have a tight biceps, The muscle is maybe massaged and or stretched, After the biceps is loosened tension is introduced in the Triceps with usually full range movement and contraction in the end of rep,10 reps is alright. Very light weight or elastic band could be used for the tension in opposing muscles otherwise the movement is done with the body only like a pretend triceps curl or pulley extensions only the muscle in contracted within itself.Hope this makes sense lol

vap

[Hawkmoon]

Good point, ... I sweat a great deal when training, that's a good call!