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.
If you want to make the most of your martial arts stretching program, you have to keep a few things in mind. The following outlines ways to maximize the efficiency and safety of your flexibility stretches and exercises.
1. Morning Stretching
A daily morning routine of martial arts stretching can really help you accomplish the requirements of your martial arts program and advance within it. It is best to do the morning stretching routine before breakfast, and fifteen to thirty minutes should be devoted to it. It is important to include a warm-up and cool down for safety, as well as custom stretches designed to help you accomplish the requirements of your martial arts program. Static, isometric and PNF stretches are hard on the muscular system, have a long recovery time and should be left for the main stretching work-out. It is a challenge to begin, and maintain, a morning stretching routine, but the benefits are well worth the efforts.
2. Begin with a Warm-Up
A dual warm-up procedure is an important part of a martial arts stretching workout. Begin with general calisthenics to increase blood flow and body temperature. Next, the specific warm-up has dynamic, more specific flexibility stretches that mimic your martial art. In order to loosen up and prevent injury, an appropriate warm-up is especially critical in the morning. Next, it's time for the primary stretching routine, focusing on the flexibility needs of your particular style.
3. 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.
4. Safety
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:
* Talk to a physician before you start a stretching or training routine of any kind. You'll not only be safer when you do it, you'll have the approval of your doctor, leaving you feeling more free to make progress.
* Don't ever do flexibility stretches that cause you any pain. If you feel a sharp pain as you exercise, stop immediately; the most you should be feeling is a warm or small burning feeling in your muscle. Even the smallest amount of pain can be evidence of micro reading of your muscles, making them scar and permanently making you that much less flexible, thereby hindering your progress. If you have any sort of pain as you start stretching, talk to your physician.
* Bouncing, rhythmic and bobbing motions should be avoided when performing your martial arts stretching. These methods are called ballistic stretching, they carry a high risk of injury and that risk is not worthy an potential benefits from using them.
You are encouraged to incorporate this martial arts stretching knowledge into your own stretching routine and thereby increase your body's functional flexibility.
Author Resource:
If you would like much more information on martial arts stretching methods, scientific routines and advanced flexibility stretches , visit www.MartialArtsStretching.com.
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