Butterfly Stretch?

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Chingo
Posts: 25
Joined: Jan 23, 2006 09:21
Location: England

Butterfly Stretch?

Post by Chingo »

I've heard various people say that their Martial Arts instructor stands or jumps on their knees while they're in the butterfly stretch (Lying on back, heels together and forcing knees to the ground) And if you can't get knees to the ground you have poor ROM of the hip joints and will never do side splits.

1. Is this true?

2. Can anyone who can do side split do this? (without someone standing on your knees)

3. If this is an easy stretch to do for any of you guys, how can i improve on this as i could'nt (with no warm-up).

Thanks.
Chingo

mat
Posts: 131
Joined: May 25, 2005 05:59

Re: Butterfly Stretch?

Post by mat »

sounds extremely dangerous to me.

the butterfly stretch (or groin stretch I think its sometimes called) stretches the same muscles as the side split. To say that not being able to do a 'flat' butterfly/groin stretch means you will never be able to do the side split is absolute rubbish.

Mat

Chingo
Posts: 25
Joined: Jan 23, 2006 09:21
Location: England

Post by Chingo »

Thanks for your reply, sounds dangerous to me too, I was just thinkin' if what was said was true about the hips i needed feedback as its obvious the leg muscles can be stretched but certain hip joints is another matter, and its my hip joints i struggle to loosen up at this point in training.
Chingo

Tim...
Posts: 47
Joined: Sep 07, 2006 03:45

Post by Tim... »

Hi.

There is a Yoga adjustment whereby you stand on the thighs with the feet pressing in on the groin. It's supposed to help align the femur. Since the weight is close to the fulcrum, it isn't like standing close to the knees, so it's not as drastic. Even so, it seems a pretty good way to get damage someone if you don't know what you are doing, or end up in court for sexual harassment. :)

Pavel Tsatsouline talks about an "advanced" stretching method called Clasp Knife, where you get a partner to use force to help you stretch. Allegedly, under extreme load the stretch reflex will stop before the load is big enough to cause muscular or tendon damage. There may well be some science to back this up, but it sounds really dangerous to me. Far better to go slow and steady and get to your goal without a visit to the hospital!

Cheers

Tim...

DanBor
Posts: 180
Joined: Nov 24, 2005 02:27

Post by DanBor »

Tim... wrote:Hi.

There is a Yoga adjustment whereby you stand on the thighs with the feet pressing in on the groin. It's supposed to help align the femur. Since the weight is close to the fulcrum, it isn't like standing close to the knees, so it's not as drastic. Even so, it seems a pretty good way to get damage someone if you don't know what you are doing, or end up in court for sexual harassment. :)

Pavel Tsatsouline talks about an "advanced" stretching method called Clasp Knife, where you get a partner to use force to help you stretch. Allegedly, under extreme load the stretch reflex will stop before the load is big enough to cause muscular or tendon damage. There may well be some science to back this up, but it sounds really dangerous to me. Far better to go slow and steady and get to your goal without a visit to the hospital!

Cheers

Tim...

I don't think its necessary to use partner in clasp knife. The point of clasp knife is to make your muscles " give in" and enable you to go further in the stretch.
This is very powerful technic, but very little people reach this point.

Tim...
Posts: 47
Joined: Sep 07, 2006 03:45

Post by Tim... »

Isn't that the one where the guy came to him having been 3 inches off slits for years and he just forced him down?? Perhaps I'm remembering wrong :(

Cheers

Tim...

DanBor
Posts: 180
Joined: Nov 24, 2005 02:27

Post by DanBor »

Yes, that's the one - but he didn't actually forced him to do the split.
He "forced him" by making him use the clasp knife technic - by himself.

Tim...
Posts: 47
Joined: Sep 07, 2006 03:45

Post by Tim... »

Sorry, I'll reread that secton. I obviously missed the point.

Cheers

Tim...

DanBor
Posts: 180
Joined: Nov 24, 2005 02:27

Post by DanBor »

It is necessary to put some weight on the muscle (dumbells) and tense to the max. (gradually). It is very painful and powerful contraction.
Reaching this point takes time and practise, and the "side effect" is amazing strenght.

Cheers.

Chingo
Posts: 25
Joined: Jan 23, 2006 09:21
Location: England

Post by Chingo »

Thanks for your replies guys, There's no way i'd try that technique... not even if all else fails. i can't remember where i read it now but it was someone knocking this method (isometrics etc) they claimed they'd tryed it for six months from the secrets of stretching video and gained no flexibility and injured their lower back (from isometrics), I'm yet to gain a great deal of flexibility myself but thats down to a strength issue and not the technique, six months to me doesnt sound like a good enough attempt and an injured lower back sounds like a lack of strength training, apparentley they went to the doc's and was told if ur hips dont let you perform the butterfly you'll never do side splits. Since reading this i have realised my hip joints are a bit tight and have worked on it and got results already. I'll spend six years if i have to!
Chingo

Chingo
Posts: 25
Joined: Jan 23, 2006 09:21
Location: England

Post by Chingo »

By that last comment i meant someone standing on my stretched muscles not isometrics, THEY RULE!
Chingo

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