Too stiff to stretch?

[Gatsby]

Hi all,

I'm a 37 y/old karateka who's recently gone back to karate after an 18 year break (life got in the way). I've managed to find a great club locally who practice a similar style to the one I used to do, which is a great help.

My problem: I've only been back and training for a month, so am not expecting any miracle results, but find I'm so stiff in the legs and hips and lower back following my twice weekly class, that it's difficult to know whether I should be allowing my body to get used to this before isometric stretching, or whether I should work through it.

Most of the time, after some dynamic stretching to warm up, the discomfort eases considerably, but don't want to injure myself, so thought I'd post here for peoples advise/experiences.

I have Thomas Kurz's book and DVD on stretching scientifically, and they're great, but would benefit from some further advise in this particular area.

Anyone else gone back after a long lay-off?
Does the fact that I have a sedentary job have a bearing?
Should I be increasing my protein in take to aid recovery (I haven't really changed my diet).

Not looking for a silver bullet, and happy to put the hours in, but am hoping this stiffness is only a short-term thing.

All the best!

[Thomas Kurz]

I'm so stiff in the legs and hips and lower back following my twice weekly class, that it's difficult to know whether I should be allowing my body to get used to this before isometric stretching, or whether I should work through it.

Wait until you get used to this training and the stiffness and soreness are gone.

Does the fact that I have a sedentary job have a bearing?

Yes. But your level of activity is up to you--regardless of the job.

Should I be increasing my protein in take to aid recovery (I haven't really changed my diet).

Can't tell without seeing what you eat, how you look, and how you move.

[Gatsby]

Thanks for replying, I really appreciate it.

Should I be increasing my protein in take to aid recovery (I haven't really changed my diet).

Can't tell without seeing what you eat, how you look, and how you move.

I have a background in bodybuilding (something I was doing during my 18 years out), and am therefore used to taking protein supplements to increase my intake for muscle repair and building. I was just curious whether, seeing as the process of strengthening and stretching seems to follow similar logic, I could minimize DOMS and improve the repair/strengthening process by increasing my food intake.

Given the fact that I have a sedentary job (software engineering) and a five hour daily commute, my current food intake is minimal, (cereal for breakfast, some fruit mid-morning, sandwiches for lunch, and a moderate cooked evening meal) or I'd just get fat.

Having started back at martial arts, my activity levels have just increased many-fold, and that additional energy requires fuel from somewhere. I haven't increased my food at all really commensurate with this extra requirement.

I'm quite heavy at 190lbs and five feet seven inches tall (still quite muscular from the bb).

This is still probably not enough information, and you haven't seen a picture of me or how I move (not all that lightly) but was curious if you had any insight into the contribution nutrition bears on stretching.

Thanks once again

[Thomas Kurz]

my current food intake is minimal, (cereal for breakfast, some fruit mid-morning, sandwiches for lunch, and a moderate cooked evening meal) or I'd just get fat.

If I ate like that, I'd have full-blown diabetes in no time. See info on nutrition in Stadion News ( http://www.stadion.com/freebies.html )

[tyciol]

I guess this explains why Diabetes is increasing, this is pretty much the average diet. It would be for me except I don't eat sandwiches anymore, I usually skip lunch or eat some pizza pockets. Actually, that's not all too better...