Hi everybody,
the 8 weeks Kurz is mentioning is for individual that have already very strong and powerful legs. If your legs are not strong enough you will not get the
results you are after, EVER.
Basil
question on shaolin contortion
-
Vasileios
Monks
As far as it concerns the Shaolin monks. Recently we had in my school around 25 of them visiting and training with us for 3-4 months.
I think the standard rules that apply to every athlete apply for them
too. Injuries were there but not more serious or more frequent
than normal.
One more point to add. My two main teachers (Shaolin Masters)
are extremely flexible and I have never seen them with joint
or flexibility related injury ... clue: they started training at the age
of 14-15 (late for Shaolin standards). They are now 30 and 37 years old.
Finally it is not true that the training program of the monks is not
related to Mr Kurz's suggestion. The classes always are :
1) Good aerobic warm up (jumps/punches/squats etc)
2) Dynamic streches and
3) Streching
Usually followed by a long and very tiring stamina/technique
workout. Occasionally we work on strength and explosive power
always through performing a martial arts movement, for example
imagine doing one leg jumping kicks up a hill or low walking up a hill again, etc. There are many movements that improve your
"live strength" as my teacher calls it. Power on the action.
Total time 2 hours.
Basil
I think the standard rules that apply to every athlete apply for them
too. Injuries were there but not more serious or more frequent
than normal.
One more point to add. My two main teachers (Shaolin Masters)
are extremely flexible and I have never seen them with joint
or flexibility related injury ... clue: they started training at the age
of 14-15 (late for Shaolin standards). They are now 30 and 37 years old.
Finally it is not true that the training program of the monks is not
related to Mr Kurz's suggestion. The classes always are :
1) Good aerobic warm up (jumps/punches/squats etc)
2) Dynamic streches and
3) Streching
Usually followed by a long and very tiring stamina/technique
workout. Occasionally we work on strength and explosive power
always through performing a martial arts movement, for example
imagine doing one leg jumping kicks up a hill or low walking up a hill again, etc. There are many movements that improve your
"live strength" as my teacher calls it. Power on the action.
Total time 2 hours.
Basil
-
UKfightfreak
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Dec 13, 2003 06:58
- Location: Birmingham, England
- Contact:
Re: 2 years
...
-
UKfightfreak
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Dec 13, 2003 06:58
- Location: Birmingham, England
- Contact:
Re: 2 years
Good point!!!vasileios wrote:Hi everybody,
the 8 weeks Kurz is mentioning is for individual that have already very strong and powerful legs. If your legs are not strong enough you will not get the
results you are after, EVER.
Basil
I always forget that, getting a weak person flexibile takes so much longer than a strong person - because you have to get the weak person strong!!!
Not to bruise any egos, but you may think/know you are strong, but the strenth required for great flexibility may not be there.
If it was you would be able to splits on chairs with no problems!!!!
Matt
If you always done what you always did, you will always get what you always got.
If you always done what you always did, you will always get what you always got.
-
tkdw11
flexibility, age and time
HI, regarding amount of time it takes to become more flexible, it is not only strength but technique. As a yoga teacher I see people who practise and improve little and others who make alot of progress in a relatively short time. One thing that the latter have in common is that they work on lengthening and feeling good in a stretch rather than constantly forcing. Check out the sivananda book of yoga or iyengar's light on yoga for flexiblility tips. Ultimately, in yoga the stretch comes from the control of breath, prana or chi. This focus leads to incredible changes in the body, at any age. An interesting book on yoga for older people is yoga over 50. Here a number of 'stiff' adults attain great flexibility. They all practice regularly and consistently. I practice taekwondo and am often asked how people can improve their flexibility. They want what appears so easy to me. Well, I started yoga training seriously four years ago and before that couldn't touch my toes let alone do the splits. However through the Iyengar focus on alignment, the ashtanga focus on bandhas(locks in the body) and sivananda focus on breathing to attain total flexibility my 42 year old body is as flexible as a child.
If someone does dynamic flexibility excercises for two years they should be very flexible. If not, maybe a visit to a few yoga classes will provide a different focus which could help transvers the plateau.
Good luck all those yearning for flexibility. The first thing is to believe it will come.
If someone does dynamic flexibility excercises for two years they should be very flexible. If not, maybe a visit to a few yoga classes will provide a different focus which could help transvers the plateau.
Good luck all those yearning for flexibility. The first thing is to believe it will come.
-
UKfightfreak
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Dec 13, 2003 06:58
- Location: Birmingham, England
- Contact:
Re: 12345678
That is strong press!healthking wrote:I can leg press over 1000 ibs etc. so my legs are not weak
But, are your adductors strong? If they were you would be able to lower yourself into a split and pull yourself up again without the use of your hands.
Matt
If you always done what you always did, you will always get what you always got.
If you always done what you always did, you will always get what you always got.
-
Tony
Hi all
All through this thread no one has mentioned isometric stretching. My understanding is that to improve flexibility a person must do both dynamic stretching and isometric stretching. The isometrics are important for developing the correct strength at extended muscle lengths and also for "re-calibrating" the stretch receptors in the muscles. The stretch receptors trigger reflex cotraction of the opposing muscles and you need to re-train them to trigger at greater extensions. The dynamic stretching re-trains the speed-stretch receptors for the same reason.
Also, if a person is having trouble improving a stretch, I think the pain they feel when they push hard tells them what the problem is. For example, in a side split/stretch, if the pain is felt on the outside of the hip joint then I suspect the pelvis alignment isn't right. Try rolling the pelvis buttocks up/ navel down. If the pain is felt along the inside of the upper leg then muscle length is probably the issue. Isometric stretching should be the answer.
Fyi, I practice In-yo Ryu Kempo Karate in New Zealand
Cheers
Tony
All through this thread no one has mentioned isometric stretching. My understanding is that to improve flexibility a person must do both dynamic stretching and isometric stretching. The isometrics are important for developing the correct strength at extended muscle lengths and also for "re-calibrating" the stretch receptors in the muscles. The stretch receptors trigger reflex cotraction of the opposing muscles and you need to re-train them to trigger at greater extensions. The dynamic stretching re-trains the speed-stretch receptors for the same reason.
Also, if a person is having trouble improving a stretch, I think the pain they feel when they push hard tells them what the problem is. For example, in a side split/stretch, if the pain is felt on the outside of the hip joint then I suspect the pelvis alignment isn't right. Try rolling the pelvis buttocks up/ navel down. If the pain is felt along the inside of the upper leg then muscle length is probably the issue. Isometric stretching should be the answer.
Fyi, I practice In-yo Ryu Kempo Karate in New Zealand
Cheers
Tony