How do you take a non-flexible person and make them flexible for martial arts?
I am back interested in martial arts again taking a self defense class at my college to learn all the techniques and remember the some I learned when I was a kid and such.
The biggest struggle I have with martial arts is flexibility. My hamstrings the worse. On my softball team, soccer, and many other teams I have been on and little league/high school, I can see everyone (99% of players) being able to touch their toes except for me. I have always wondered why I can't touch my toes and something is blocking me from going farther than my knee. I cannot even sit on my tailbone with my legs straight and sit up straight! I have been stretching my hip flexors a lot lately and it has not helped with my hamstrings.
There is so many different ways to stretch muscles, so what is the best way to do it, what technique, how many reps, and how many seconds hold each.
My goal is to be able to touch my toes. If everyone else can, I can too. There is no excuse for me not to be able to touch my toes! It also seems like whenever I stretch my hamstrings, it makes it worse.
If I want to continue with martial arts after taking self defense class and getting back into it, I need to get my hamstrings to where they are supposed to be. How can I do certain kicks without good hamstring flexibility?
If I want to continue with martial arts after taking self defense class and getting back into it, I need to get my hamstrings to where they are supposed to be. How can I do certain kicks without good hamstring flexibility?
There are benefits to having a healthy amount of flexibility and it might be something your want to work on, but in the meantime why not just study an art that doesn't involve kicks that would require hamstring flexibility beyond what your currently capable of? Jujutsu, judo, aikido, Krav maga, and a number of kung fu styles would probably fit the bill. Just an option to keep in mind, unless your particularly attached to doing those kind of kicks.
I am going to go out on a limb and say if you want to be flexible you need to do a stretching routine on a regular basis... just a thought though I could be wrong.
__________________
Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
One thing to not is that you will not be as flexible as some other people even if you work at it. There are many factors that can affect flexibility, in particular genetics and previous injury. But a simple answer to your questin is stretch with the a "LONG TERM GOAL".
You will not see a miraculous change in your flexobilty in a week or a month, but if you do strech regularly you will see a marked improvement over the course of a year.
Mon, you have demonstrated on numerous occasions you ability to search the web for references so go find something for stretching and do it for a year. Then come back and report on your success.
Good luck.
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Peter
After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend…
When I saw cousin practicing kung fu in his earlier ages, there is always a person helping him to stretch his legs up on the wall. Like 180 degrees to the wall. I could it was pain but I guess with practice actually you can gain some flexibilities.. Hope that helps
I am back interested in martial arts again taking a self defense class at my college to learn all the techniques and remember the some I learned when I was a kid and such.
The biggest struggle I have with martial arts is flexibility. My hamstrings the worse. On my softball team, soccer, and many other teams I have been on and little league/high school, I can see everyone (99% of players) being able to touch their toes except for me. I have always wondered why I can't touch my toes and something is blocking me from going farther than my knee. I cannot even sit on my tailbone with my legs straight and sit up straight! I have been stretching my hip flexors a lot lately and it has not helped with my hamstrings.
There is so many different ways to stretch muscles, so what is the best way to do it, what technique, how many reps, and how many seconds hold each.
My goal is to be able to touch my toes. If everyone else can, I can too. There is no excuse for me not to be able to touch my toes! It also seems like whenever I stretch my hamstrings, it makes it worse.
If I want to continue with martial arts after taking self defense class and getting back into it, I need to get my hamstrings to where they are supposed to be. How can I do certain kicks without good hamstring flexibility?
Sorry to dig up an old thread but it sounds like you should read Stretching Scientifically by Tom Kurz. It's worth buying. If you can't even touch your toes, then you'll need the full range of static and dynamic stretches that he recommends. Good luck.
Here is my suggestion, it's also something I do. Yoga! While the practice of Yoga is not dedicated solely to ones' flexibility it comes with practice. Key, in any style of yoga is breathing. Breathing is also key in your flexibility, regardless the stage. Baron Baptiste has some great DVD's from his live series that you can pick up cheap at Amazon. I have all of them and use them daily. My flexibility has increased by leaps and bounds. If you can pull off a half hour of a yoga routine each day you will be well on your way.
__________________ "Do the thing and you shall have the power"
How do you take a non-flexible person and make them flexible for martial arts?
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