Flexibility Issues (Newbie)

[Londonrichie]

Been doing taekwondo since last september, always been a sporty person but decided i wanted to take up something less mainstream (other sports i done before - soccer, swimming, basketball etc.). Although ive been sporty ive never had a great flexibility and obviously now this is causing me problems with my TKD training!

Im only a green tag, but now im starting to learn kicking, i feel like my flexibility is seriously holding me back, i have good co-ordination but i just cant physically lock out my leg on kicks (well of a decent height...). I've read many guides and been given loads of stretching guides to help me, however i havnt seen a great improvement.

I asked my doctor and he said i had genetically tight hamstrings, although he didnt seen greatly interested :| (Eg when standing i cant bring either leg straight to 90 degrees infront of me, i feel a very tight pull in my calfs at about 45 degrees....) & (I cant quite touch my toes)

Is there no hope for me then? until i had read articles on the internet i thought everyone had the possibility of high flexibility if they trained for it?

Any advice will be apprecciated, specific or general! Anything really (im not the only one in my taekwondo club, other have the same problem.. we are all around 20 years old - university club).

[bvermillion]

Stretch Kicks really helped me.

[eXcessiveForce]

search for scott kano's thread on flexibilty. I gave a lot of stretches that would probably help you greatly.

[Londonrichie]

Thanks

Ok, ill search for that thread now...

If any1 would like to create me a guide, if they have time , I Would be deeply appreciative!!


Like i said i have guides, but i want just one guide which i can do daily, maybe taking 30 mins or so?... and a guide that i know is specific to what i want to achieve (high kicking)...

I have 1 of those 3 bar stretching framesfor the splits, so that could be incorporated?

My e-mail is

richiearlett2003@hotmail.com

Thank You in advance if any1 will create a guide for me

[cakegirl]

Every time you have a shower, at the end when you're all warm, with the water still running, lean forward and attempt to touch your toes. Don't strain - just let gravity hold you forward, and relax. Stay that way for a while - a minute or two. Do it EVERY time you have a shower. Unless you have a shower in an open change room. That would be weird.

Cakegirl

[AlexJitsu]

You may be doing the kicks wrong. When you do a roundhouse kick, you may have to turn almost all the way around with the leg you stand on.

[cakegirl]

Do a search (on the web or here at defend.net) for PNF stretching. That's good too.

Cakegirl

[EnlightenedOne]

The thing about stretching though is that you have to be persistent. You can't forget about stretching for a week and then the next week start again only to think that you are going to be just as flexible. It helps if you do it daily in the middle of the day or evening. Somewhere around those times. Just some tips that I thought might help. I ,too, am trying to increase flexibility.

[Phorce]

Why are you trying to kick high??

I do have the same issue as you, although i have been in karate now for a good 11 years (im 17)..and the only reason i want to be flexible is for my dance, and sometimes to compete...

But seriously...are you really gonna end up kickin/trying to kick someone in the face in a combat situation?? what if you loose your balance? what if he/she catches it?

Most trainers argue that it is not worth kicking above the hips in a street fight...imagine a drunk guy comin at you with fists swingin, adrenaline pumping..

Because of my dancing i stretch EVERY day for at least a 1/2 hour, and so you really dont want to get to the stage where you want to do that..

Hate to put you off, but im a free-martial artist, and this is my advice. Hope it helped, if you still decide to go into stretching then:

this link

Good luck.

[grubbogoppoly]

Why are you trying to kick high??

I do have the same issue as you, although i have been in karate now for a good 11 years (im 17)..and the only reason i want to be flexible is for my dance, and sometimes to compete...

But seriously...are you really gonna end up kickin/trying to kick someone in the face in a combat situation?? what if you loose your balance? what if he/she catches it?

Most trainers argue that it is not worth kicking above the hips in a street fight...imagine a drunk guy comin at you with fists swingin, adrenaline pumping..

Because of my dancing i stretch EVERY day for at least a 1/2 hour, and so you really dont want to get to the stage where you want to do that..

Hate to put you off, but im a free-martial artist, and this is my advice. Hope it helped, if you still decide to go into stretching then:

this link

Good luck.

They would like to kick high because they take TKD and there are high kicks in the art. They also get more points in sparring for a kick to the head. Don't just tell him to not do them. You may be right that they PROBABLY shouldn't be used in the street. But, it is just annoying when people go around saying not to do them.

[Phorce]

They would like to kick high because they take TKD and there are high kicks in the art. They also get more points in sparring for a kick to the head. Don't just tell him to not do them. You may be right that they PROBABLY shouldn't be used in the street. But, it is just annoying when people go around saying not to do them.

I never said dont, i simply said that i advise him not to- note the difference.

Its like gettin bigger through goin to the gym...if you arent persistent then youll lose out by getting small.

[grubbogoppoly]

Yeah, true you weren't telling him not to. However, you automatically started talking street(to a Tkd person). Just annoys me that no matter what the original post is it always goes to this is or isn't good for the street. Nothing against you, just a pet peeve I guess.

[rotaryman]

I am still not able to achieve a true split. But what is working for me is when I am not tight ie have not worked out for a week of so therefore not sore I can tighten isometrically the area I wish to stretch and then relax using gravity and socks on a slick floor or a piece of paper on wood while holding myself up with my hands so I do not bruise my balls should i magically collapse into a full split. The tighten and loosen seems to have a greater affect then just forcing. Also partner stretches can help . I do value high kicks I think they are a beautiful part of the art and personally would use them on the street if the person was set up right for one ie a side kick to the jaw or throat would be more then slightly serious if done properly and quickly.

[Phorce]

Yea..feelin you...shoulda guessed...but like i say, its still somethin you have to be persistant with, and can take up a lot of time..just my advice....
laters