The Importance of Stretching

[Gyakuto104]

I've found that using Ensta to monitor my energy levels really complements my stretching routine.

How does it help with stretching though? I can’t make any link.

It provides insights on how my sleep and stress levels impact my recovery after martial arts training

Well, there are free, more reliable ways of doing that.

seeing how these elements interact has helped me optimize my stretching schedules and prevent fatigue

How?

It's user-friendly and offers predictive insights that can be a game-changer when aiming to boost flexibility and performance

It seems a bit of a stretch (see what I did there?)

 

[Buka20]

Those all seem quite difficult to do. I can almost put my hands flat to the floor when doing a standing hamstring stretch. That's a lot better than I could do when I first started. No way I can kiss my toes! Haha

Try this -

Once you’re warmed up and stretched out a little bit- bend your knees and bend forward enough so you can place your palms on your thighs (a little above the knees)

Forcefully press your palms into your thighs for about five seconds - then without rising, straighten your knees and put your palms flat on the floor.

 

[Same Trick49]

Yes, I’ve heard Taijiquan is a bit of a yawn

Yes, for the onlooker that hasn’t really woken up to what they see, I had the same feeling about Iaido back in my inexperienced days

 

[Same Trick49]

You’re point being…?

Eh! I commented KungFu Wang’s post on the point why karate doesn’t have - kick meet hand - I answered some karate kata have such.
But all the other point KFW points out such as kick meet (one’s own)ear/nose etc, there are no such fundamentals in karate, because (my theory)karate is not from traditional nothern(Chinese) long fist martial arts but mainly from southern CMA that focus more on hand/arm techniques than high kicks…

That was my point…. but with a ? mark…because I’m not really versed on the history of these things

 

[Kung Fu Wang104]

Eh! I commented KungFu Wang’s post on the point why karate doesn’t have - kick meet hand - I answered some karate kata have such.
But all the other point KFW points out such as kick meet (one’s own)ear/nose etc, there are no such fundamentals in karate, because (my theory)karate is not from traditional nothern(Chinese) long fist martial arts but mainly from southern CMA that focus more on hand/arm techniques than high kicks…

That was my point…. but with a ? mark…because I’m not really versed on the history of these things

Hand touch kicking foot is strongly emphasized in the long fist training.

 

[Same Trick49]

What our ancestors did, however, that we generally don't is sit on the floor. That's all a lot of floor stretches really amount to.

The “Asian” toilet squat is a good parameter for hip/lower back and ankle mobility. I do it daily, very smooth

 

[Same Trick49]

Hand touch kicking foot is strongly emphasized in the long fist training.

The kicking foot on its pullback make a brief marker toward the knee of the standing leg, is that deliberately done(part of the exercise/technique) ?

 

[Kung Fu Wang104]

The kicking foot on its pullback make a brief marker toward the knee of the standing leg, is that deliberately done(part of the exercise/technique) ?

When your foot and hand reach to the same point, your kick/punch can hit on your opponent at the same time. Of course, your kick/punch won't have the maximum reach at that moment.

This is the opposite training:

 

[Gyakuto104]

Eh! I commented KungFu Wang’s post on the point why karate doesn’t have - kick meet hand - I answered some karate kata have such.
But all the other point KFW points out such as kick meet (one’s own)ear/nose etc, there are no such fundamentals in karate, because (my theory)karate is not from traditional nothern(Chinese) long fist martial arts but mainly from southern CMA that focus more on hand/arm techniques than high kicks…

That was my point…. but with a ? mark…because I’m not really versed on the history of these things

Oh I never read KungFu Wang’s posts…

 

[Prince_Alarming104]

The “Asian” toilet squat is a good parameter for hip/lower back and ankle mobility. I do it daily, very smooth

It's a good habit to get into- it doesn't have to be just going to the toilet, I like to squat while I'm weeding the garden, for instance. As a resting posture, you can rest and stretch at the same time. It's also a good posture for prayer.

 

[Gyakuto104]

Try this -

Once you’re warmed up and stretched out a little bit- bend your knees and bend forward enough so you can place your palms on your thighs (a little above the knees)

Forcefully press your palms into your thighs for about five seconds - then without rising, straighten your knees and put your palms flat on the floor.

The floor keeps falling further away/my shins are elongating/forearms are shortening

What’s supposed to happen?

 

[_Simon_103]

The floor keeps falling further away/my shins are elongating/forearms are shortening

Call into the doctor, immediately!

 

[Stuarto65]

Try this -

Once you’re warmed up and stretched out a little bit- bend your knees and bend forward enough so you can place your palms on your thighs (a little above the knees)

Forcefully press your palms into your thighs for about five seconds - then without rising, straighten your knees and put your palms flat on the floor.

I wasn't able to go completely down but I noticed I went even further! My palms can nearly touch the floor! Thanks for the great tip Buka

 

[Prince_Alarming104]

a short, highly effective mobility routine btw, for general purposes

 

[Buka20]

a short, highly effective mobility routine btw, for general purposes

Great for people already flexible. Not so for others.

 

[Gyakuto104]

From Arnold’s Daily Health Newsletter


Does Stretching Before a Workout Prevent Injury? Not the Way You Were Told

Static stretching before exercise does not reliably prevent injury, and a dynamic warm-up is the better choice; a 2024 international consensus declined to recommend stretching for general injury prevention.
Why it matters: A quick-moving warm-up protects you better than holding stretches. Stretching first won't keep you from getting hurt.
Try this: Before you train, focus on dynamic movements that increase your body temperature, and work-up reps that prime your muscles

Practical recommendations on stretching exercise: A Delphi consensus statement of international research experts - PMC

Consensus was reached in providing uniform definitions for static stretching, dynamic stretching, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation. Stretching is recommended to improve range of motion, both acutely (single session) and chronically ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Revisiting the stretch-induced force deficit: A systematic review with multilevel meta-analysis of acute effects - PMC`

 

[Holmejr2]

Static stretching cold often creates more problems than it solves. Many teachers forego stretching in lue of a progressive workout that starts slow and easy to warm up the body than get progressively more demanding. An alternative method is to warm up (shadow boxing) move to kinetic stretching, work out and static stretch last.
We were at a Rams open practice at a local university and it watched them warm up. A lot of kinetic stretching and moving.

 

[Prince_Alarming104]

Hand touch kicking foot is strongly emphasized in the long fist training.

It's actually in seishan too, but we use a crescent kick. It's also a drill recommended in Thomas Kurz's 'stretching scientifically'. Not only does it develop the right kind of flexibility (which is actually a very specific type of strength), doing it with side kicks forces you to use your pelvis correctly, preventing injury. A very valuable drill

 

[windwalker099104]

Might help to understand what is being stretched, what constrains the range of movement…how to increase it, how to maintain it..

 

[Gyakuto104]

Static stretching cold often creates more problems than it solves. Many teachers forego stretching in lue of a progressive workout that starts slow and easy to warm up the body than get progressively more demanding. An alternative method is to warm up (shadow boxing) move to kinetic stretching, work out and static stretch last.
We were at a Rams open practice at a local university and it watched them warm up. A lot of kinetic stretching and moving.

This method is far from new. I remember the transition from ballistic to static to dynamic stretching in the 80s Karate classes.