I'm trying to convince myself ballistic stretching is useless and dangerous, however I can't understand why are so many chinese wushu practionners using ballistic stretching. I look at all their amazing skills and I'm just not sure only dynamic stretching would bring me at that level. Even Beijing Wushu Team uses ballistic exercises such as Pu Bu Ya Tui and many others, they really like putting one leg on a support and moving sideways or foward/badckward. Like in your book http://www.fightingarts.com/content00/g ... /stest.jpg but with ballistic bouncing. Even Bruce Lee, see: http://ppc.warhawkenterprises.com/bruce ... tretch.jpg
If Mr. Kurz, you see this post, tell me, would you be able to do such things with only isometric and dynamic stretching?:
This is an occidental guy who practiced with chinese gongfu masters (thus used ballistic stretching):
http://x.russbo.com/photopost/data/556/ ... _5-med.jpg
Another thing they do is dynamic leg raises but they succeed to kick over the head with leg in line with the supporting leg, like completly straight upward, the foot is even going behind the shoulders.
1)Would your method allow me to get to that flexibility level without ballistic stretching.
2)Do you know why are chinese schools still using the much ballistic stretching?
3)And if I still want to do a few ballistic stretching, what is the propoer order, would it be bad to do them right after dynamic? should I put them after my workout, before static active and relaxed stretches?
Thanks a lot
ballistic and chinese martial artists
I'm not Mr.Kurz but i'll try and help.
First,many of the Chinese Wu Shu teams start at a very early age.The extreme stretching/techniques they perform can permanently alter their bodies(very young people can stretch ligaments).In later life this remains the same and so extreme displays are possible with less risk of injury.
If an adult(who had never trained before) went to train with a coach such as Wu Bin,i'm sure the rigorous training would yield good results but i'm not sure if they would be able to perform the same feats as adults who had trained from a young age.
The trainee here...
http://x.russbo.com/photopost/data/556/ ... _5-med.jpg
....is showing a display of static flexibility and could be achieved without either ballistic or dynamic stretches.
Although i'm no expert on Wu Shu,i have seen quite a few displays(from Wu Shu teams and the Shaolin monks) and to get into that position the kick they perform is no more ballistic than any other martial arts kick.Sometimes they even perform the kick very slowly to display active flexibility or even just take hold of the foot and lift it in the air.
This extreme(pulling the leg behind the head) flexibility may also be because of a physiological change(see my first point).
The Main Wu Shu coach in the UK said on his forum that although the movements used during stretching look like "bouncing" they are in fact gentle "rocking" movements.
However,this method may have evolved due to more adults taking up Wu Shu.
Again,in Pavel's first book Beyond Stretching,he does mention both dynamic stretches and plyometric stretches.Maybe this will give you the information you seek.
Good luck,
Dragon.
First,many of the Chinese Wu Shu teams start at a very early age.The extreme stretching/techniques they perform can permanently alter their bodies(very young people can stretch ligaments).In later life this remains the same and so extreme displays are possible with less risk of injury.
If an adult(who had never trained before) went to train with a coach such as Wu Bin,i'm sure the rigorous training would yield good results but i'm not sure if they would be able to perform the same feats as adults who had trained from a young age.
The trainee here...
http://x.russbo.com/photopost/data/556/ ... _5-med.jpg
....is showing a display of static flexibility and could be achieved without either ballistic or dynamic stretches.
Although i'm no expert on Wu Shu,i have seen quite a few displays(from Wu Shu teams and the Shaolin monks) and to get into that position the kick they perform is no more ballistic than any other martial arts kick.Sometimes they even perform the kick very slowly to display active flexibility or even just take hold of the foot and lift it in the air.
This extreme(pulling the leg behind the head) flexibility may also be because of a physiological change(see my first point).
The Main Wu Shu coach in the UK said on his forum that although the movements used during stretching look like "bouncing" they are in fact gentle "rocking" movements.
However,this method may have evolved due to more adults taking up Wu Shu.
Again,in Pavel's first book Beyond Stretching,he does mention both dynamic stretches and plyometric stretches.Maybe this will give you the information you seek.
Good luck,
Dragon.
-
backinjured
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Jul 03, 2005 12:19
I think an individual can gain great flexibility using the Kurz/Tsatsouline method.Whether you can gain extreme flexibility is down to the individual and whether your art requires it(too much flexibility can hinder performance in some cases).
As i said,i think the feats some of the Wu Shu teams display is down to when they stared stretching,not what stretching method they used.
"rocking","floating","dynamic" are all ways to develop flexibility in motion whilst still retaining control.Ballistic stretching by it's nature relinquishes control.
For example,a dynamic leg raise to the front is done under control but still near maximum velocity(after a few sets).A ballistic version of the same exercise will have you "throwing" your leg up with no control.
The difference in speed of the 2 movements will be marginal but the risk of injury is greater with ballistic stretching.
When i perform dynamic stretches,i don't do it to improve my flexibility.I do it reach my maximum amount of flexibility i already have to prepare me for kicking.
Dragon.
As i said,i think the feats some of the Wu Shu teams display is down to when they stared stretching,not what stretching method they used.
"rocking","floating","dynamic" are all ways to develop flexibility in motion whilst still retaining control.Ballistic stretching by it's nature relinquishes control.
For example,a dynamic leg raise to the front is done under control but still near maximum velocity(after a few sets).A ballistic version of the same exercise will have you "throwing" your leg up with no control.
The difference in speed of the 2 movements will be marginal but the risk of injury is greater with ballistic stretching.
When i perform dynamic stretches,i don't do it to improve my flexibility.I do it reach my maximum amount of flexibility i already have to prepare me for kicking.
Dragon.