Friday, January 1, 2010

Tips To Make Martial Arts Stretching More Efficient

By Donald Borah

With every one of the myriad martial arts styles out there, there's a martial arts stretching program that's unique to that particular discipline. People who practice martial arts that emphasize high kicking, such as savate, Northern shaolin, or taekwondo, you might want to exercise your hamstrings and hips with your flexibility stretches; grappling arts will need greater core strength and arm flexibility from the results of its martial arts stretching routine. If you're just starting out in martial arts, you'll need a more well rounded martial arts stretching regimen to increase your flexibility in general.

There are basic rules that should apply to any martial arts stretching program. Here are some pointers to make your flexibility stretches efficient and make you less prone to injury.

1. Morning Stretching

Martial arts stretching each morning is a great way to keep improving. These flexibility stretches should be done on an empty stomach and last no more than 30 minutes. Be sure to include a warm up, a few dynamic type stretches and a cool down. Static, isometric or PNF stretches should be set aside for your primary stretching workout because they are too taxing to your muscles and are harder to recover from. Once you get used to starting your day with stretching, you will be very pleased with the results.

2. Begin with a Warm-Up

It is a good idea to use a two part warm-up procedure with a beginning and specific warm-up for the muscles. It should include calisthenics which will increase body temperature and increase the blood flow to the muscles. The specific warm up will have dynamic flexibility stretches that will mimic the movements of your martial art and will specifically help you attain the flexibility you need for the movements. This warm-up is vital as part of the morning stretching routine because your body may be more tight in the morning and there is a greater risk of injury if the warm-up is neglected. After the specific warm-up is completed, the main part of the stretching routine can be started, in this part of the routine you may focus on the flexibility needs of your particular martial arts program.

3. The Cooling Down

After the main martial arts stretching routine, it's time to cool down. This segment should mirror the basic warm-up, which assists with blood flow and recovery.

Safety and Injury Prevention.

Martial arts stretching is meant to keep your body limber and safe as you improve your skills in your specific martial art. If you don't stretch properly, you could damage your skeletal system, muscles, or connective tissues, permanently delaying your progress. If you want to make your flexibility stretches safer, be sure to:

* You should consult with your doctor before beginning a stretching program or training routine. This meeting will give you confidence and peace of mind as you move into the program and establish your routine.

* Stop if you feel pain during or after doing flexibility stretches. You should feel your muscles stretching, but the warmth you feel should not turn into pain. Even a small amount of pain can signal muscular or connective issue injury and puts you at greater risk of permanent damage to your body. Moderate or severe pain while stretching should be reported to your doctor.

* Do not bounce or bob during stretching. This is called ballistic stretching and carries an unnecessary risk of injury.

I invite you to use this martial arts stretching information to increase the benefit of your stretching routine by rapidly increasing your functional flexibility.

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