The body must first learn to perform the proper techniques at an extended range of motion comfortably and without excessive effort and strain. The graceful power demonstrated by those proficient in martial arts is comprised of flexibility, focus and strength.
The quickest way to make progress in your flexibility is to have a proper martial arts stretching routine. Routines that have worked the best have a light morning stretching workout, a light evening stretching routine, and a powerful main workout during the daytime. While this routine sounds excessive, it has been proven that an aggressive schedule similar to this will increase your flexibility 2-4 times faster than a martial arts stretching schedule that is less dedicated. After having reached the level of flexibility that is sufficient, you will be able to lighten your routine quite a bit.
The regimen of flexibility stretches that you follow in the mornings and evenings should consist of general exercises to keep your muscles loose and active stretching. Strenuous passive stretches, PNF, or isometric stretches have no place here. You do not want your stomach to be full when you are stretching, so your morning regimen of flexibility stretches should take place before eating breakfast. You want the blood flow to focus on the muscles you are stretching, not on digestive activity. You also want to make sure that your evening regimen takes place at least an hour after you have eaten dinner, but more than an hour before you go to bed. Your stretching regimens, both morning and evening, should be done six times per week and consist of no more than fifteen to thirty minutes of activity apiece.
The primary martial arts stretching workout is strenuous and should be limited to two to four days per week. Your body needs plenty of time to completely recover from the intense stretching routines. Your main workout should start off with some cardiovascular fundamentals paired with mild dynamic stretches that will incrementally ramp up in intensity as your body begins to warm up. Your workout will then segue into martial-art specific movements that will prepare your body for executing the actual techniques of your particular art. The core of the martial arts stretching routine is next in the workout, and it includes relaxed stretches, PNF stretching, and isometric stretching. Following this portion of the workout, static stretching and active flexibility stretches that are not so strenuous should be employed as the body cools down.
Your expertise and experience will dictate how often you work out, how long your intense martial arts stretching routine is, and how you divide your time among the warm-up, cool-down, and intense portions of the workout. Novices should allocate more time to the warm-ups and cool-downs, and spend less time on the intense part of the workout. People with a lot of experience stretching and a greater degree of flexibility can allocate a greater amount of time to sport-specific exercises and on the intense workout. Students who are advanced generally need to spend less time working out to maintain their excellent flexibility. The flexibility routine and exercises that you develop will be determined by your level of experience and expertise and the martial art you are training in.
If you are a beginner, it is important to focus on generic flexibility exercises. For the intermediate and advanced level students, isometric, PNF and relaxed stretching methods are more important.
Martial arts that utilize high kicks require more of a focus on stretching that addresses the legs and hips, where grappling practitioners need to improve the flexibility of their upper body and torso.
Devotion to your plan will help you achieve your goals. - 31491
The quickest way to make progress in your flexibility is to have a proper martial arts stretching routine. Routines that have worked the best have a light morning stretching workout, a light evening stretching routine, and a powerful main workout during the daytime. While this routine sounds excessive, it has been proven that an aggressive schedule similar to this will increase your flexibility 2-4 times faster than a martial arts stretching schedule that is less dedicated. After having reached the level of flexibility that is sufficient, you will be able to lighten your routine quite a bit.
The regimen of flexibility stretches that you follow in the mornings and evenings should consist of general exercises to keep your muscles loose and active stretching. Strenuous passive stretches, PNF, or isometric stretches have no place here. You do not want your stomach to be full when you are stretching, so your morning regimen of flexibility stretches should take place before eating breakfast. You want the blood flow to focus on the muscles you are stretching, not on digestive activity. You also want to make sure that your evening regimen takes place at least an hour after you have eaten dinner, but more than an hour before you go to bed. Your stretching regimens, both morning and evening, should be done six times per week and consist of no more than fifteen to thirty minutes of activity apiece.
The primary martial arts stretching workout is strenuous and should be limited to two to four days per week. Your body needs plenty of time to completely recover from the intense stretching routines. Your main workout should start off with some cardiovascular fundamentals paired with mild dynamic stretches that will incrementally ramp up in intensity as your body begins to warm up. Your workout will then segue into martial-art specific movements that will prepare your body for executing the actual techniques of your particular art. The core of the martial arts stretching routine is next in the workout, and it includes relaxed stretches, PNF stretching, and isometric stretching. Following this portion of the workout, static stretching and active flexibility stretches that are not so strenuous should be employed as the body cools down.
Your expertise and experience will dictate how often you work out, how long your intense martial arts stretching routine is, and how you divide your time among the warm-up, cool-down, and intense portions of the workout. Novices should allocate more time to the warm-ups and cool-downs, and spend less time on the intense part of the workout. People with a lot of experience stretching and a greater degree of flexibility can allocate a greater amount of time to sport-specific exercises and on the intense workout. Students who are advanced generally need to spend less time working out to maintain their excellent flexibility. The flexibility routine and exercises that you develop will be determined by your level of experience and expertise and the martial art you are training in.
If you are a beginner, it is important to focus on generic flexibility exercises. For the intermediate and advanced level students, isometric, PNF and relaxed stretching methods are more important.
Martial arts that utilize high kicks require more of a focus on stretching that addresses the legs and hips, where grappling practitioners need to improve the flexibility of their upper body and torso.
Devotion to your plan will help you achieve your goals. - 31491
About the Author:
If you would like more information on martial arts stretching methods, scientific routines and advanced flexibility stretches, visit www.MartialArtsStretching.com. Courtesy of the Martial Arts Stretching Master and www.MartialArtsStretching.com
