Fears to slide into the split

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Jan
Posts: 15
Joined: Mar 26, 2005 10:19

Fears to slide into the split

Post by Jan »

Hello Members,

I´m personal on a good way to silde into the side split, my muscles feel strong enough and I can easly stand in the 7-step horse riding stance with the thighs parallel to the floor for more then one minute.

But when I move on further apart, then I´m afraid of sliding to fast to deep - in terms of losing the"slide" control - especially in this moment when the sole of the feet leave the ground and I keep the load more and more on the edge of the feet.
Can you maybe help me?
It would be very nice of you when you can send me a short response
Thank you very much

Jan

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

Post by dragon »

Hi,
I'd say the simplest thing you can do is place a stool/chair/bench in front of you.That way you know you can catch yourself if you need to.

This should help eliminate fear of injury.


Dragon.

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

Post by DanBor »

Maybe you can do it on the different surface.

CrazyBoy
Posts: 300
Joined: May 16, 2005 15:09
Location: Romania, Oltenita

Post by CrazyBoy »

Maybe you should try performing the side split with your snickers on. But mainly follow Dragon's advice. It's always better to have a support in front of you.

Jan
Posts: 15
Joined: Mar 26, 2005 10:19

Post by Jan »

Hi,

thanks for the quik response. I try to use a bench or a box or something like this.
Hey guys, hadn´t you got my problem, when you started to train for the side split ?
Didn´t you need any support while sliding down during the first attemps?

Best regards
Jan

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

Post by DanBor »

I never got my splits from standing position. I got close though (10 cm).I remember I trained on a perfect surface ( in my basement). It was smooth just enough to easily slide legs apart, but not too smooth to lose control (even when I held dumbbels in my hands). Hm - I should start again with this.

I'm only able to perform relaxed roadkill side split.

CrazyBoy
Posts: 300
Joined: May 16, 2005 15:09
Location: Romania, Oltenita

Post by CrazyBoy »

I performed the isometric side split while honlding on to a stick. I spread my legs apart until my current limit, afterwards I stepped on to some sheets and slide further while controlling the movement of the legs and of the body. Now i can only do a roadkill split, like DanBor.

Kit
Posts: 120
Joined: Mar 09, 2004 20:45

Post by Kit »

whilst in roadkill split, can't you raise your body up from the floor into the side split? If no, what muscles appear to be stopping you from doing so?

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

Post by dragon »

Yes,this is the way Pavel teaches the side split.

You start in seated groin stretch and progress with this until you can get your torso low enough(and your legs wide enough) to be in the roadkill split.

From there you can work on rocking your hips back and forth until you can pull yourself upright.

Dragon.

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

Post by Tim... »

Hi.

I presume the roadkill splits you are talking about is the same asca toes-up split, except you have rolled forward so your boby is resting on the floor.

In his book, Thomas Kurtz says the angle of the pelvis is the same for side splits toes-forward and toes-up. If this case, surely your main focus to get an upright-toes-forward split should be back flexibility.

Personally, I find the toes-up split easy, but have difficuly with the toes forward split because my lower back flexibility is not so good (long story :)).

Does this soud corret, or have I missed something?

Cheers

Tim...

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

Post by dragon »

If you're performing a toes forward split with you body upright,your lower back will be arched.

This will mean your lower back is contracted,not stretched.To stretch your back would require it to be rounded(like if you bend forwards to touch your toes with a rounded back).

In Dr.Stuart McGill's new book it says that in all the research he's done he's never found an instance when more back flexibility helped athletic performance.It's a training myth.

I think concentrating on back strength as opposed to back flexibility is more important.

Dragon.

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

Post by Tim... »

Hi.

Yes, by back flexibility I do mean arching the back.

If only back strength were an issue, surely I would be able to straighten up by pressing my hands on the floor or using a chair. Neither of these work for me. The angle of my body to the floor is still quite acute.

I suppose another factor here is the angle of the foot. The more you can inwardly rotate the foot, the less you have to arch the back, since your hips can be rolled backwards, if you see what I mean.

I have almost no inward rotation of the foot or femur, but great levels of outward rotation in both. I've been told b various therapists this is a ligament issue and cannot be rectified by stretching. I'm hoping they are wrong :)

Cheers

Tim...

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

Post by dragon »

Tim... wrote: If only back strength were an issue, surely I would be able to straighten up by pressing my hands on the floor or using a chair. Neither of these work for me. The angle of my body to the floor is still quite acute.

Look through the Stadion articles for horse stance training for the side split.This should help with body alighnment whilst keeping your trunk upright.

Dragon.

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

Post by Tim... »

Hi.

Thanks for the advice. I'll take a look at it.

Cheers

Tim...

Update: I assume you mean this one:

http://www.stadion.com/column_stretch2.html

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

Post by dragon »

Yes,that's the one.

This teaches the correct body position without the feeling of toppling over.

Dragon.

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