Hey guys, I was wanting to give some yoga stretches a go to see how it would improve my flexibility. I do Goju Ryu Karate so the kicks are pretty basic. I mainly just wanted to improve my balance and flexibility so I can kick higher with out my back breaking if you know what I mean. Just wondering if any of you folks knew of any good yoga postures that would go well. Thanks.
Not really sure what you mean by "so I can kick higher with out my back breaking", but this is a good exercise for balance and general leg flexibility: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/sonnon8.htm
Cat stretches are great for general spinal flexibility. Here are some other postures that will help with both leg and all round core flexibilty, both of which are important for powerful high kicking.
Hello, Hapuka http://www.beyou.tv/videos/Yoga-Shakti-Lunar-Flow [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yuvfHTaftLQ[/ame] [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HHAdkk-o3o0[/ame] http://uk.youtube.com/results?search_query=yoga+sun+salutation&search=Search http://uk.youtube.com/results?search_query=yoga+lunar+flow&search=Search [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eVTsJ6amAZU&feature=related[/ame] http://uk.youtube.com/results?search_query=5+tibetans&search=Search [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-hrH_J4vNdw&feature=related[/ame] [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=TOH6M7himkw&feature=related[/ame] [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ihspyK8HAAw[/ame] [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KG6w036k8u4&feature=related[/ame] [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh-intj-r9c[/ame] [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DTAnwN8JKO0&feature=related[/ame] [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DTAnwN8JKO0&feature=related[/ame] http://uk.youtube.com/results?search_query=yoga+bandhas&search=Search [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RhrU4QxmA5o&feature=related[/ame] [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uPCnf65_OcQ&feature=related[/ame] [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hjbQrme9RyI[/ame] good luck,Hapuka?
You would do well to have one taught lesson to learn what "Lengthen the Spine" and "Flatten your Back" and "Open your Hips" means. It was worth it to me anyway.
I think a good Martial Arts class/instructor will actually help provide you with a bit of work to take home with you regarding the stretching subject and teach you in a way so as to "Not break your back" or any other part of your body come to that. As most experts will tell you, your body has a way of telling you when to stop, or as my association director told us when he was instructing a kicking and flexibility session, "Go as far as the pull, not the pain". These stretches must be practiced every day or every other day otherwise the muscles have a habit of healing themselves.
They should help. http://www.michaelboyle.biz/joomla/dmdocuments/Understanding_Hip_Flexion.pdf [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAUwgrazCg4"]Hip Flexor Training Video Clip - YouTube[/ame] http://www.t-nation.com/readArticle.do?id=1778726
Hi Hap, I would say,like with ma, go to a class.Having done yoga a fair bit a couple of years ago,I would say it's really important to do it with a teacher there so you get the full benefits that you won't get from learning from videos or the internet. Once you have got into it then you can use a dvd, that's what I did (I would actually recommend Antonia Kidman's Ashtanga yoga) .You can easily damage yourself doing postures wrong and won't get the full benefit if you are doing them wrong and don't get the breathing right.
If you're interested, I do think a beginners course, at least, would be a good investment. For me, my yoga background helped a ton when I started MA. In addition to flexibility, it helps develop balance and awareness around body and breath.
Just to offer an alternative viewpoint: Having done a small amount of yoga I was completely unconvinced as to its relevance to MA. I think it promotes completely the wrong type of flexibility and movement and could (and I have no evidence for this last bit whatsoever so please feel free to shoot me down in flames ) be counterproductive. There are many more stretching routines out there that are much more appropriate to MA training. I think Yoga is great for what it does, but that isn't prepare you for the flexibility required in MA. Mitch
I'll disagree with the value to MA. In the grappling game the static holding endurance you can develop plus the flexibility have a very real relevance. On the mat holding down or staving off an opponent the strength has merit. Getting twisted about the flexibility has merit. But it's my nickel's worth of thought. The stretch is not dynamic so I can see a small point there, but over all its value should be considered.
Heh. It seems we disagree a lot these days. I'm currently doing a bit of research into Yoga and find that the more I look into it the more I see parallels with common stretching exercises found in martial arts and popular body weight exercises. I'm actually thinking about doing an article on it. All of the standard stretches done in TKD classes are found in Yoga (bending forwards, sitting with your legs apart etc etc). I won't say much more as I'm actually part way through the article so will expand it there (if I ever finish it of course).
