A couple of things to suggest, particularly for those issues. Try slow kicking, probably better supported by a chair or the wall to hold on to. The benefit of working this is that it builds up the supporting muscles in the hips, hamstrings and lower back. Proper warming up prior to stretching is essential, otherwise you risk injury. Also, training kicks while laying down can be useful, because it eliminates the balance problems. Sokuto while laying on your side; mawashigeri out to the side when on all fours.
Hello Tim, thanks for another very interesting read. I was triggered by your remarks regarding hip suppleness and warm-up exercises. I am experiencing some gradually increasing hip stiffness (not strange when approaching 50) and was wondering whether you can provide some (warm-up) exercises you find useful especially for this challenge. Many thanks in advance!
Hi Mark, there are many different approaches, it depends how the stiffness manifests itself. My best advice is what I call 'stretching by stealth' i.e. in a way that your body hardly knows it's being stretched. I have an inclination to sit on the floor at home while watching TV and just steadily move towards the extended postures. The butterfly stretch is a good one, the one where the soles of your feet are together, BUT, do it with your back against the wall or sofa, because if you don't, the very muscles you are stretching are being deployed to keep you upright, so it's counter productive. Many people neglect the hip flexors; extended lunges (within your comfort range) are good for that. The widest you will be expected to turn your hips out will be Mahanmi no Nekoashi Dachi, so work around that stance, but make sure your hips (tailbone) are not tipped backwards. But I think little and often is good, oh, and avoid sitting too long in a chair - really bad for you, 25 mins, then get up and have a move around, if you can.
Many thanks Tim, will definitely try these. It mainly manifests itself with kicking, especially sokuto and the ura mawashi's.
A couple of things to suggest, particularly for those issues. Try slow kicking, probably better supported by a chair or the wall to hold on to. The benefit of working this is that it builds up the supporting muscles in the hips, hamstrings and lower back. Proper warming up prior to stretching is essential, otherwise you risk injury. Also, training kicks while laying down can be useful, because it eliminates the balance problems. Sokuto while laying on your side; mawashigeri out to the side when on all fours.
Hello Tim, thanks for another very interesting read. I was triggered by your remarks regarding hip suppleness and warm-up exercises. I am experiencing some gradually increasing hip stiffness (not strange when approaching 50) and was wondering whether you can provide some (warm-up) exercises you find useful especially for this challenge. Many thanks in advance!
Hi Mark, there are many different approaches, it depends how the stiffness manifests itself. My best advice is what I call 'stretching by stealth' i.e. in a way that your body hardly knows it's being stretched. I have an inclination to sit on the floor at home while watching TV and just steadily move towards the extended postures. The butterfly stretch is a good one, the one where the soles of your feet are together, BUT, do it with your back against the wall or sofa, because if you don't, the very muscles you are stretching are being deployed to keep you upright, so it's counter productive. Many people neglect the hip flexors; extended lunges (within your comfort range) are good for that. The widest you will be expected to turn your hips out will be Mahanmi no Nekoashi Dachi, so work around that stance, but make sure your hips (tailbone) are not tipped backwards. But I think little and often is good, oh, and avoid sitting too long in a chair - really bad for you, 25 mins, then get up and have a move around, if you can.