by Thomas Kurz
Those readers who have read my previous article “Flexibility Problems, or Kiddie Stretches for Adult Joints–You Have to Be Kidding!” and also listened to the interview on flexibility and strength for PhysIdex.com already know the mystery sport, the subject of the question in my previous article.
For those who have not read the previous article, I repeat my characterization of the sport:
“There is a sport in which all athletes display both great flexibility and great strength, even though very many of them begin training long past the age of 16. The sport is so strenuous and puts such a great load on one’s joints that if they were not in the safest positions they would be destroyed.”
And here is my question again:
What is the sport I am hinting at, the one in which all athletes display both great flexibility and great strength?
Before I wrote this article, I got a few guesses (in comments on the previous article). Most were sports that do not meet the criteria for developing both great flexibility and great strength in adults. Only three commenters named the correct sport.
Olympic weightlifting is that sport. There are research papers showing this, but those who look and actually see don’t need those papers to, well, see the obvious. A look at Olympic weightlifters doing their lifts is enough…. Those who see notice how a weightlifter’s hip position in the low squat or in the bottom position of the snatch transfers to the side splits, how the hip position in the split-style clean and jerk transfers to the front splits, and how alignment of the back and shoulders in the snatch transfers to the back bridge. Here are photos showing how training for a snatch develops flexibility for splits (see the front view) and back bridges (see the side view).
Front view of a snatch performed by Tom Goegebuer, Belgium, photographed by Keith Levet. Used by permission from Keith Levet.
Side view of a snatch performed by Tom Goegebuer, Belgium, photographed by Keith Levet. Used by permission from Keith Levet.
By the way, it has been known since the 1970s that Olympic weightlifters rate second only to gymnasts in overall flexibility (Jensen and Fisher, 1979).
Reference:
Jensen, C. R., and Fisher, A. G. 1979. Scientific Basis of Athletic Conditioning (2nd ed). Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger.
This is astonishing, informative and and mind blowing piece of information Thomas, a million thanks for your incomparable posts. I totally believe flexibility could present a huge advantage to say, a green belt in Karate [fighting] a 3rd dan black belt who has little flexibility (although may be more knowledgeable)–the green belt’s flexibility can give him the edge.
Wow this is brilliant – I am old enough to remember being told weight training would make you “muscle bound” and shorten your muscles so do NOT lift if you are serious about Martial Arts.
I guess the old “it’s not what you do it’s the way that you do it” really applies here.
Would I be wrong to assume heavy bench devotees do not naturally have solid punches unless they specifically stretch?