Stretching without warmup???

Karate_Warrior

Orange Belt
Joined
Mar 9, 2006
Messages
79
Reaction score
0
Location
Norway
Hi guys.

I want to become more flexible, and I don't think that it is enough with stretching just after my workouts.

I was wondering if I can stretch without any warmup or workout? example; can I do it once I wake up in the morning? Thanks:uhyeah:
 

Nolerama

Master Black Belt
Joined
Apr 5, 2008
Messages
1,227
Reaction score
71
Location
St. Louis, MO
Try getting that heart rate up. Maybe jumping a rope or running in place. My coach has us do jumping jacks and that seems effective to get that heart rate going.
 

MJS

Administrator
Staff member
Lifetime Supporting Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Messages
30,187
Reaction score
430
Location
Cromwell,CT
Hi guys.

I want to become more flexible, and I don't think that it is enough with stretching just after my workouts.

I was wondering if I can stretch without any warmup or workout? example; can I do it once I wake up in the morning? Thanks:uhyeah:

You could, however, you run the risk of a) injury and b0 not really getting a good stretch. As its been said, I'd do something to elevate your heart rate. Doing 50 jumping jacks, or running place for a few would be good.
 

TheOriginalName

Blue Belt
Joined
May 21, 2007
Messages
239
Reaction score
19
I've actually been doing a fair bit of reading on this subject recently as i am developing my own stretching plan to increase the height of my kicks.

You do need to do some type of warm-up to raise the body temperature a few degrees. This helps to increase blood flow to the muscles and also helps to loosen up a little as well.

I would highly recommend getting you hands on the book Stretching Scientifically - awesome reference. Or else grab any pilates book and have a read, they have some awesome info on how to maximise the gain from stretching.

Best of luck
 

rabbit

Blue Belt
Joined
Jun 3, 2006
Messages
207
Reaction score
3
I do jump rope for 3 minutes, then joint rotations for every joint, and again 2 minutes of jump rope. (imaginary jump rope is fine)

I do backbends and if i don't warm up my lower back tenses up. Which is the opposite of what you are trying to do when you stretch your muscles. You are trying to relax the muscle not tense them.

Warm up enough so the muscles don't tense when stretched.

You'll be able to stretch farther.
 

Logan

Green Belt
Joined
Sep 19, 2006
Messages
140
Reaction score
3
It is ok to do some static stretching after a series of joint rotations and dynamic stretches (leg swings et al). Stretching is most effective when you are warmed up - you will stretch further as well.

Stretching in the morning is good because it helps reset your range of motion. This is good to do pretty much everyday. You could use after workouts to try and increase your range of motion and then develop a daily routine that helps maintain that.
 

Montecarlodrag

Green Belt
Joined
May 24, 2008
Messages
115
Reaction score
2
Cold stretching is good, but you have to be very careful and good experience is needed to avoid injury.

Stretching is easier if your body is warmed. You can stretch more with less pain.

But remember your true flexibility is the one you have when body isn't warmed up. Imagine if you are walking on the street on winter, then a few guys try to attack you, you can't take your time to warm up and then stretch to do high kicks. You have to fight as you are, cold.

Because of this, you should also learn to stretch with no previous warming. Combining the two you will achieve good results.

I personally have very bad flexibility. I can achieve good results with traditional methods (runing, bicycle, rope jumping, etc) but I have to be always warmed up to make the most of the degree of flex I have.

Lately, I have been stretching cold. I bought a Flexmaster machine and I use it cold. It is more slow, painful and dangerous, but it helps me to keep the flexibility I gain when I stretch warmed up. No injury as far..

Regards.
 

girlbug2

Master of Arts
Joined
Apr 25, 2008
Messages
1,543
Reaction score
70
Location
Southern Cal.
But remember your true flexibility is the one you have when body isn't warmed up. Imagine if you are walking on the street on winter, then a few guys try to attack you, you can't take your time to warm up and then stretch to do high kicks. You have to fight as you are, cold.

Because of this, you should also learn to stretch with no previous warming. Combining the two you will achieve good results.

That's pretty much the argument my sensei made to me. It makes all the sense in the world.

Now, I actually have to put it into practice..
 

Logan

Green Belt
Joined
Sep 19, 2006
Messages
140
Reaction score
3
That's pretty much the argument my sensei made to me. It makes all the sense in the world.

Now, I actually have to put it into practice..


Kicking high is more about technique than flexibility. If you train correctly you should have no problem kicking high without warming up or stretching prior.
 

MantisStyle21

Orange Belt
Joined
Sep 25, 2007
Messages
61
Reaction score
2
Location
TN
Kicking high is more about technique than flexibility. If you train correctly you should have no problem kicking high without warming up or stretching prior.

I would have to agree, I have noticed that early in the morning I am still able to kick to my head unstretched, I don't think kicking high(completely) involves being stretched out.
 

TheOriginalName

Blue Belt
Joined
May 21, 2007
Messages
239
Reaction score
19
But remember your true flexibility is the one you have when body isn't warmed up. Imagine if you are walking on the street on winter, then a few guys try to attack you, you can't take your time to warm up and then stretch to do high kicks. You have to fight as you are, cold.

I accept the fact that when we have to fight to defend ourselves we will not get to do a warm up - no argument with regards to that.

However, the goal should be to be able to do say a head height round kick without needing to warm up - in other words to have that as your "baseline" flexibility.
Then after you have warmed up and done some stretching you should be aiming to get even higher........

But you shouldn't be pushing past your "baseline" without doing some form of warmup.

Just my thoughts again.....
 

federico

White Belt
Joined
Jun 10, 2008
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Just start out easy without pushing yourself at all. you'll find that the body quite quickly gets warm by doing very carefull stretching excercies. Aswell as someone else mentioned rotating joints throughout the whole body is a very good way of preparing your body for both training and stretching. I've had a very positive experience since i started rotating my joints on a regular basis.. for example, I've got a far better height on my kicks now without warming up than i did before.
Ever seen a dog waking up? The first thing it'll do is to strech out the body, and we should do the same thing to remain flexible. Stretch out and rotate our joints to keep them flexible. Specially since many of us spend alot of time sitting at the office or in the sofa at home :)

my 2 cents =)
 

hpulley

Orange Belt
Joined
May 2, 2008
Messages
85
Reaction score
3
Location
Guelph, Ontario
Some mornings after judo I have to stretch before I can walk so jumping jacks are out ;)

I've seen a karate guy warm up before a fight. He did OK until the guys' friend jumped in too. There will rarely be time before a real fight.

At most dojos they will warm you up either with handball/football (judo) or jumping jacks before you really get into stretching.

Scientifically I don't know that there is that much truth about warmups and stretching before exercise to prevent injury. At home I'll often practice without warming up anywhere near as much as at the dojo and after a few minutes of full speed practice open handed or with a bo I find I'm warmed up already.
 

CanuckMA

Master of Arts
Joined
Dec 24, 2003
Messages
1,726
Reaction score
57
Location
Toronto
But remember your true flexibility is the one you have when body isn't warmed up. Imagine if you are walking on the street on winter, then a few guys try to attack you, you can't take your time to warm up and then stretch to do high kicks. You have to fight as you are, cold.

Because of this, you should also learn to stretch with no previous warming. Combining the two you will achieve good results.


You should always warm up before stretching. You are trying to improve your flexibility without injury. You will lose a good percentage of your flexibility when cold so you need to be able to stretch farther when warm.

In a street fight, I would not be worried about pulling something. I can deal with healing after the fight. But why take that risk in training?
 

Latest Discussions

Top