Flexibility

[tkdsteve08]

Hi All

I do Tae Kwon-Do and want to know if there are any good exercises for leg flexibility

[ShadownINja]

Surely they teach that in the class. Just warm up and do more of the same.

[StevieS]

Yeah, just carry on doing the same stretches when you're not in your class. They're designed to get specific muscles and limbs warmed up and flexible. To stretch other areas of the body and to help your core strength, try Pilates and/or Mind and Body classes at the gym.

[Chris77]

Hey mate, When I first started I was religious with my stretching, every day Id sit in front of the telly and stretch for 30 min or so, It really helps. Just do the stretches you will do in class, Also if you can go to other clubs, you can pick up different ideas and use the ones that suite you. Also good as a way of measuring your ability level against new people.

I also used to use a 3 bar leg stretcher,
http://www.pro-xsports.com/legstretchers/detail.as...

After a few years I was doing splits over 2 chairs, made a massive difference to my techniques, But be warned just cos you are more flexible doesn't mean you don't have to warm up! (I speak from painful experience )

[triggersbroom]

Chris77 said:

I also used to use a 3 bar leg stretcher,
http://www.pro-xsports.com/legstretchers/detail.as...

That looks like some kind of torture device!

[staceyb]

Yoga

[ShadownINja]

Just a note... stretching is not warming up. Stretching is stretching and moving limbs quickly (eg focusing on the joints) is warming up...

[Animal]

ShadownINja said:

Just a note... stretching is not warming up. Stretching is stretching and moving limbs quickly (eg focusing on the joints) is warming up...

Surely a bit of dynamic stretching before exercise should serve as a pre-warm up to get blood flowing?

[Chris77]

ShadownINja said:

Just a note... stretching is not warming up. Stretching is stretching and moving limbs quickly (eg focusing on the joints) is warming up...

yea good point, I didnt make that clear in my post

[ShadownINja]

Animal said:

ShadownINja said:

Just a note... stretching is not warming up. Stretching is stretching and moving limbs quickly (eg focusing on the joints) is warming up...

Surely a bit of dynamic stretching before exercise should serve as a pre-warm up to get blood flowing?

What, like bounce stretching? /o\

[T40ORA]

http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/dynamicstretc...

Specifically mentions NOT bouncing. I've heard a number of times that it is better than static stretching. Personally I think there is a place for both.

But hey, two fed knees, ditto left hip, back and left shoulder WTF do I know? I'm hardly a good example...

Edited by T40ORA on Wednesday 21st October 14:50

[ShadownINja]

Ah, nothing wrong with that. Guess they felt the need to give it a name. Problem is that some people call static stretching warming up. I roll my eyes at the local climbing walls as I see people stretching or doing yoga before climbing. CBA to get into an argument. They think they know better so I'll let them injure themselves.