i have been told by my coaches to strech more and the have given me a regime. does anyone know how quickly you improve your flexibility or will i have to work on my flxibility every night forever... or just work for 3 months and then keep what i have?
Most people over do the stretching and as a result you will feel sloppy and slow, done correctly it can help you avoid injuries and give you more power.
I was hospitalized this summer, so my flexability sucked when I came back. I stretch extensively before and after I workout, and now Im very flexible. Its definetly not slowing my speed down though and I'm not sloppy either, hell I rarely miss, especially with the right . As for dong it every night for the rest of your life... why not?
I was referring to over stretching before working out, it does affect the GTO and contracting speed of the muscles. I have been stretching for over 15 years because I did gymnastics and acrobatics, I have never pulled a muscle in my life because of of my flexibility.
It will improve, but if you don't keep stretching some of those gains will disappear again. Reversibility is a *****. Use it or lose it.
You need to do a mild stretch before working out to loosen the muscles, but after warming up first. And your serious stretching should be done after your workout, when the muscles have the least resistance (tired), so they'll stretch further more easily. To improve flexibility quickly, there is a technique called PNF, or Proprietary Neuro-Muscular Facilitation. You do it for only two weeks to peak, then you go back to regular stretching. But, it's best done in the context of a peaking program that includes strength and power training.
i am strching for high kicks and takedown defence / takedowns. 1 week in and i feel much more flexible but my legs are sore as hell.
The pain is normal and you will have it for as long as you keep pushing which is good, being able to produce a high kick requires dynamic stretching ability not static stretching ability, you actual have to to high kicks when cold but with no force behind it, you do not want to rip or hurt yourself, in real life you must be able to kick high from cold, you never get a chance to warm up in reality. Take down defence is more balance and stance, you need to be able to control your body weight and its anchoring to the ground when somebody is trying to pull you off or down, you need to actual practice this to get good at it.
