Stretching to improve flexibility

[Scoop 0]

Anyone got any tips or forward me to a good online resource regarding stretching to improve flexibility rather than to prevent injury.

I've found some good sites and spoken to some people but I was wondering how frequently you can do this. Is it like when your working muscle groups you should allow some recovery time or is it something you can continuously work on?

Any help appreciated.

[AggieDave 6]

Back when I first started martial arts I was working really hard to stretch and really improve my flexability. I would sit on the floor every evening while watching TV and spend about an hour stretching. I was training at the dojo 5-6 days a week for the first 3 years, so I tried to make this a nearly daily occurance. I became insanely flexible and it kept my muscles from tightening up after a workout. Fast forward to now. I don't really do that anymore, but its easy for me to keep most of that flexibility by stretching a couple of times a week.

Stretching machines *can* be used, but be very very careful. Its easy to give yourself a serious injury with one. The biggest trick to stretching is to breath (most people hold their breath) and to drink a LOT of water.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Scoop 0]

Thats handy info cos I am pretty much doing the same thing. Starting TKD when I haven't really done any similar sports so my flexibility is certainly lacking at the moment.

[bluiev 0]

Try this site:
http://www.trickstutorials.com/index.php?page=content/flx3

That's a link to the 3rd section of the Flexibility portion of his site. Some useful information / video there.

-b

[AggieDave 6]

For martial arts (including TKD, which is what I do) a stretching bar is an amazing help. Since you probably don't have those running around your house, use what you have. A table, the washing machine then work your way up to the fridge. You know, put your foot on top of whatever, learn forward and stretch. Continue as needed and switch legs. Then turn your base foot into your "target" and stretch your side kick out.

Besure to stretch your lower back and hip flexors as well as your quads, hams, groin, etc. Its important for your flexability. I also found it important to stretch and articulate my ankles. It helped greatly with foot placement with the different kinds of kicks as well as the different balances (stances). You can't do a good front stance with both feet forward and a nice wide stance without having trained your ankle to do it. Same with the foot placement for a side kick, etc.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Scoop 0]

Thanks! I shall keep at it then. Ive been using bannisters as an improvised bar at the moment. The top one is just the right height. Pretty much only 90 degrees, but got to start somewhere! As per the usual that I see here a lot. I will ask my instructor too

[AggieDave 6]

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Thanks! I shall keep at it then. Ive been using bannisters as an improvised bar at the moment. The top one is just the right height. Pretty much only 90 degrees, but got to start somewhere! As per the usual that I see here a lot. I will ask my instructor too

Definately talk to the instructors. The biggest key to gaining flexibility is dedication to stretching, drinking water and breathing while stretching. It takes a little bit of time (it took me over a year of dedicated stretching before I could fall into the splits). I can't do that anymore, but I can still kick well over my head. Why is that important? You wouldn't kick someone in the head if you used your martial arts in real life. However, being able to be flexible and being able to do that means that when you kick someone in the ribs/side/groin if you need to do that when you're cold, you'll be much less likely to hurt yourself while kicking. Thus being more effective for your overall safety.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[GQ_jumper 4]

A quick add to AggieDave's first post, make sure you are warmed up before you stretch, stretching a cold muscle will almost guarantee you will hurt yourself eventually.

History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.
--Dwight D. Eisenhower

[eeneR 3]

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I can't do that anymore, but I can still kick well over my head. Why is that important? You wouldn't kick someone in the head if you used your martial arts in real life. However, being able to be flexible and being able to do that means that when you kick someone in the ribs/side/groin if you need to do that when you're cold, you'll be much less likely to hurt yourself while kicking. Thus being more effective for your overall safety.

That depends on who is doing the kicking and who is being kicked! I would have to kick over my head to kick them in the ribs

And yes I can infact kick over my head but have never had to use it

She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway."
eeneR
TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto

[Scoop 0]

Lol, sod it, i wont bother training then, im pretty tall. Odds are they'll be smaller than me anyway.

[jtval 0]

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A quick add to AggieDave's first post, make sure you are warmed up before you stretch, stretching a cold muscle will almost guarantee you will hurt yourself eventually.

I was going to tell him about the 2 car technique.
you tie yourself to two cars and let your friends do the stretching for you.

Its the only way he's ever gonna be flexible enough to give himself oral. (which is why we all know he posted this question)

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[Scoop 0]

SSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Dont tell anyone

A guy knos what a guy wants right. Well lets take it a step furthur... I KNOW WHAT I WANT! lol

[jtval 0]

Exactly.

I stopped self philating when i started filming skydives. I was hurting my neck too much.

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[GQ_jumper 4]

Its the only way he's ever gonna be flexible enough to give himself oral. (which is why we all know he posted this question)

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dude I swear to god you need to be careful making statements like that, had i been drunk right now i would've tried that

History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.
--Dwight D. Eisenhower

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[jtval 0]

do you mean self philating or the 2 car method?

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My Videos

[FlyingJ 0]

This isn't an online resource, but "Stretching" by Bob Anderson is an amazing book. Their website is www.stretching.com. In addition to piles of basic stretching instruction and suggestions in regard to flexibility and basic health it also has sections dedicated to activity specific stretches. They range from most basic sports to things as seemingly mundane as sitting at a computer all day.

The book was actually suggested to me by my therapist when I injured my back kayaking and it has been an amazing resource ever since.

Don't get turned off by all the other stuff they try to sell (videos, equipment, etc.). The book sold well and they branched out to sell pretty much anything else people would purchase. The book is worth it!

Killing threads since 2004.

[GQ_jumper 4]

both, and I'm sure one of them would result in my untimely death, before you know it there would be a memorial thread about me and i'd go down in history as the guy who died trying to go down on himself

History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.
--Dwight D. Eisenhower

[Scoop 0]

Now I know there is a video of this very act somewhere

[Scoop 0]

Cool thanks. I might put that on my Amazon wish list for my Birthday

[jtval 0]

GQ Jumper went in goin down.

If only someone would have told him heshould start from a prone position, I bet he woudln't have broken his neck.

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My Videos

[udder 0]

Best bet is to go to a stretching class or two. Or yoga, but Im not into the kooky aspect of yoga.

And whatever you do, increase your flexibility slowly. In a month I got around 25 degrees more of hamstring flexibility and my lower back wasnt used to dealing with the direct load that my new flexibility allowed.

Also it would be well worth your time to go to a physio to tell you which muscles need stretching/are tighter than others.

"In one way or the other, I'm a bad brother. Word to the motherf**ker." Eazy-E

[sunshine 2]

I've always been very flexible. I started yoga a few months ago and have gained more flexibility. It really is an amazing stretching/workout. Who knows you might even meet some hot chicks in the class.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[GQ_jumper 4]

GQ Jumper went in goin down.

If only someone would have told him heshould start from a prone position, I bet he woudln't have broken his neck.

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History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.
--Dwight D. Eisenhower

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