Active Flexilbility on Power High Kicks

[bruce123]

I read in one of the free articles on Stadion.com that active flexiblity is not the requirement of a martial artist, only dynamic flexiblity and some static flexiblity.

I have recently purchased Power High Kicks which is a great video. Mac shows different kicks by extending and holding his leg out; clearly a display of active flexiblity.

If it is not necessary for MA's why does MAc clearly have good active flexiblity. Also Mac's dynamic flexiblity is excellent, but I would be interested to know how good his static flexiblity is. Can he do front and side splits for example, or has he developed his dynamic flexiblity alone.

Thanks
Bruce

[Thomas Kurz]

I read in one of the free articles on Stadion.com that active flexiblity is not the requirement of a martial artist, only dynamic flexiblity and some static flexiblity.

I have recently purchased Power High Kicks which is a great video. Mac shows different kicks by extending and holding his leg out; clearly a display of active flexiblity.

But not not at a level that requires special training.

If it is not necessary for MA's why does Mac clearly have good active flexiblity.

Because he is not unfit.

Also Mac's dynamic flexiblity is excellent, but I would be interested to know how good his static flexiblity is. Can he do front and side splits for example, or has he developed his dynamic flexiblity alone.

Front split with much warming up. Never seen him do a side split.

[dragon]

I read in one of the free articles on Stadion.com that active flexiblity is not the requirement of a martial artist, only dynamic flexiblity and some static flexiblity.

I have recently purchased Power High Kicks which is a great video. Mac shows different kicks by extending and holding his leg out; clearly a display of active flexiblity.

But not not at a level that requires special training.

In Stretching Scientifically you say you do not need active flexibility if your sport requires dynamic flexibility.However,i don't recall you ever saying though that active flexibility can actually hinder your performance of dynamic actions.
Based on your above statement do you feel active flexibility is permissable to a martial artist as long as their training time isn't being consumed trying to attain a level that requires special training?

I would also like your views on the research quoted by Pavel Tsatsouline(the research is by Iashvili in a study by Dr.Siff and Dr.Verkhoshansky).

".....the greater the difference between one's active and passive flexibility(the active flexibility deficit),the greater the risk of injuries.On the other hand,a very low active flexibility correlates positively with an athlete's performance in his chosen sport".

Not being qualified in sports practice/therapy i have no idea if this information is outdated.Is some active flexibility "healthy" to reduce injury?

Dragon.

[Thomas Kurz]

i don't recall you ever saying though that active flexibility can actually hinder your performance of dynamic actions.

Right. Because I never said such nonsense. BTW, kicks and dynamic leg raises are examples of dynamic active flexibility. Look up definitions of six kinds of flexibility on pages 3, 4, and 5 in Stretching Scientifically.

Based on your above statement do you feel active flexibility is permissable to a martial artist as long as their training time isn't being consumed trying to attain a level that requires special training?

Permissible? Active flexibility (static or dynamic) permissible for a martial artist? Whose permission is needed? Regarding the static active flexibility: It is just a matter of economy of time and effort.

I would also like your views on the research quoted by Pavel Tsatsouline(the research is by Iashvili in a study by Dr.Siff and Dr.Verkhoshansky).

"On the other hand,a very low active flexibility correlates positively with an athlete's performance in his chosen sport".

You (or Tsatsouline) got it backwards. I cannot check with Tsatsouline's book because I do not have it. For me to buy someone's book on flexibility I need to see results that are better than those achieved by people who use my book, Stretching Scientifically, or my video, Secrets of Stretching. To see what I mean, look at some of the people who have used my method and took the trouble of photographing themselves and mailing me their photos, which are on our web site at http://www.stadion.com/testimonial.html .

BTW, Iashvili is quoted not in a “study” by Siff and Verkhoshansky but in their book “Supertraining.”

Not being qualified in sports practice/therapy i have no idea if this information is outdated.Is some active flexibility "healthy" to reduce injury?

Some? Wow, where the sloppy reading can lead! Again, check the original source (Iashvili, A.V (1983). Active and passive flexibility in athletes specializing in different sports. Soviet Sports Review, 18(1), 30-32.), or at least look up p. 183 in Siff's and Verkhoshansky's “Supertraining” (1999).

[dragon]

Right. Because I never said such nonsense. BTW, kicks and dynamic leg raises are examples of dynamic active flexibility. Look up definitions of six kinds of flexibility on pages 3, 4, and 5 in Stretching Scientifically

My apologies.I must have an out dated version of your book,the one i have only starts on page 11 with "theory".
For the purpose of this discussion i am refering directly to the exercises performed in Power High Kicks(that's what this thread was originally about).

Permissible? Active flexibility (static or dynamic) permissible for a martial artist? Whose permission is needed?

Again,i apologize.Bad choice of words.Perhaps recommended.
The video in question is Power High Kicks With No Warm Up.Therefore,one would assume that all of the exercises/drills(including the active flexibility) are geared towards helping you achieve power high kicks.
However,on page 129 of Stretching Scientifically(my version anyway) you say:-
"Static active flexibility exercises will help to develop your ability to lift and hold the leg but not to make your kicks more powerful."
and...
"Specific strength for kicking is developed by kicking a heavy bag,kicking into layers of sponge,kicking with bungee cords attached to the legs,and other dynamic exercises similar to kicking.Strength,just like flexibility,is specific to the speed of the movement,it's angle,and range of motion."

You (or Tsatsouline) got it backwards. I cannot check with Tsatsouline's book because I do not have it.

We can blame that one on Pavel.The quote came direct from his book Superjoints.

Some? Wow, where the sloppy reading can lead! Again, check the original source (Iashvili, A.V (1983). Active and passive flexibility in athletes specializing in different sports. Soviet Sports Review, 18(1), 30-32.), or at least look up p. 183 in Siff's and Verkhoshansky's “Supertraining” (1999).

It is not sloppy reading.It is accurate reading from a possible sloppy source.(That's something for you and Pavel to discuss.As i said,i'm not qualified enough to comment).
I do not have the original Source.As i clearly stated,i was quoting from Pavel Tsatsouline.
I asked a valid question that deserved a valid answer.

Dragon

[bruce123]

I read in one of the free articles on Stadion.com that active flexiblity is not the requirement of a martial artist, only dynamic flexiblity and some static flexiblity.

I have recently purchased Power High Kicks which is a great video. Mac shows different kicks by extending and holding his leg out; clearly a display of active flexiblity.

But not not at a level that requires special training.

If it is not necessary for MA's why does Mac clearly have good active flexiblity.

Because he is not unfit.

Also Mac's dynamic flexiblity is excellent, but I would be interested to know how good his static flexiblity is. Can he do front and side splits for example, or has he developed his dynamic flexiblity alone.

Front split with much warming up. Never seen him do a side split.

Thanks Tom that is very interesting. In your various literature (I have PHK and SOS) you suggest that one can increase kicking height by developing dynamic flexilbity. If I follow your advice would I reach a point where my dynamic flexiblity is held back by the limits of my passive flexiblity. I am unsure of this - as my dynamic ROM has always been better than my static ROM.

[bruce123]

Thanks