How important do you think flexability is?

Tsing Tao · Dec 5, 2003

What about the IMA standpoint of flexability?

Syd · Dec 5, 2003

If you are sung, you are loose, if you are loose like you are supposed to be loose you can strike with effortless speed and explosivity. If you train in your forms and various jiben gong you will be flexible.

Taijiquan is a complete system. Those who train correctly should have no problems with flexibility, I don't.

zun · Dec 5, 2003

The various positions in the form, such as sitting like a mandarin duck and snake creeps down, naturally encourage flexibility.

Ad McG · Dec 15, 2003

Originally posted by Capt Ann
Flexibility, balanced with muscle tone, is the single greatest asset to any style...internal or external.

Provides the following:

1. Greater range of motions: flexibility opens up the possible targets you have on an adversary, the range of moves you can make in a sparring/competitive situation, and possible retreats/counters. Notice that advanced techniques in any style (hard or soft, competitive or not) tend to require a greater range of motion.

2. Flexibility and muscle tone will improve your balance...key in any martial art: [Note that I'm talking about a "key", NOT a "ki" ] A lot of talk about "ki"/"chi" really boils down to basic physics. Deep yells (as in kihap/kiai) strengthen and tone the four major abdominal muscle groups, ALL FOUR of which are responsible for three major functions. One of these functions is rapid exhalation (that's why kiai/kihap works these muscles). The second function of these muscles is torso flexion (twisting at/above waist, bending motions like crunches or sit-ups, and practically all lifting motions). These are precisely the motions required for maintaining active (while moving) balance (like cats twisting in mid-air when falling from a great height).

3. Flexibility and Muscle Tone will decrease the risks of injury in any physical sport: The third major function of those same abdominal muscle groups is to maintain abdominal pressure. I read online that excess abdominal pressure is the leading contributing factor in hernias. Poorly toned abdominal muscles leave you more vulnerable to an excessive increase during your physical training. Well-toned abs act just like that belt that lifters wear to reduce the risk of hernia. Flexibility will help in other muscle groups, too--one of those "just makes sense to me" things that I will be less likely to injure myself if I am operating at 75% capacity, as opposed to working at 98% capacity (in other words, stretch out so I am not trying to learn and practice new techniques at the farthest outer limits of my range of mobility).

4. Finally, it sure feels great: OK, so it just plain makes old geezers like me feel better when I'm not cracking and creaking all the time. So, stretch out, and pass the glucosamine!!
Click to expand...

Couldn't have said it better myself, I agree totally.

Chase · Jan 28, 2004

The less you have, the more you want.

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