Side split stretch

Post questions and tips on making your stretches or your whole flexibility training most effective.
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Pu-key
Posts: 53
Joined: Jul 05, 2005 03:47

Side split stretch

Post by Pu-key »

Im referring to the stretch in Stretching Scientifically where you tense your adductors, i think, and keep doing so until you can't stretch anymore. When im doing it, I always keep both my feet flat on the floor. Is this alright, because I think it might be holding myself back from going down further.
Also with the horse stance for flexibility, are you suppose to just lower yourself down and hold for 30 secs?

dragon
Posts: 734
Joined: Jul 03, 2004 05:55

Post by dragon »

At some point your feet will have to turn out(unless you have amazing ankle flexibility).This depends on how low you can already get into the side split.

Horse riding stance-lower yourself down and hold for 30 secs.As you progress you want to try to get wider.
The main thing when trying to go wider is make sure your thighs are moving wider,not just your feet.I've seen some people who think they are making progress when actually, they are just stressing their knees by moving their feet whilst their knees remain in the same position.

Dragon.

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

Post by DanBor »

For horse stance-like the Dragon said, but I also concetrate on standing in stance longer than 30 sec., actualy as long as I can (currently about 2 minutes). When I use isometric contractions I try to hold (squeeze my legs) for 30 sec. when I use horse stance I try to hold the position for few minutes (without squeezing legs).

Pu-key
Posts: 53
Joined: Jul 05, 2005 03:47

Post by Pu-key »

dragon wrote:At some point your feet will have to turn out(unless you have amazing ankle flexibility).This depends on how low you can already get into the side split.
You mean by balancing on the inside part of your foot?

dragon
Posts: 734
Joined: Jul 03, 2004 05:55

Post by dragon »

Yes.If you look at the photo at the top,left hand side of the page(Thomas Kurz with the lady sat on his thigh),you will see he's on the inside of his ankles.
If you've ever seen the Jet Li film,The One(sorry,it's the only example i could think of),during a fight scene he is in the side split with the soles of his feet still in contact with the floor.

Dragon.

Broncco
Posts: 14
Joined: Jan 10, 2006 10:50

Post by Broncco »

So which one is correct? toes up or toes down? Or there is no correct way?

dragon
Posts: 734
Joined: Jul 03, 2004 05:55

Post by dragon »

I think you misunderstand,i'm not refering to a toes up or toes down split.
I'm refering to a split either with the soles of the feet remaining in contact with the floor or with the soles of the feet facing outwards.
Both of these have the toes pointing forwards.

Dragon.

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