Do you stretch or perform an art?

Question

I was wondering because I need some advise on front splits, balance, hip conditioning, and side splits. I practice my kung fu and excessively practice high kicks with my abdominals tightened. Even doing closer movements. I have a basic grasp on yoga poses but what other, more tedious, artist movements can I look into?

I'm asking so I don't have to Google =P

DanAG · Accepted Answer

For front splits: Partner up with someone. Have them slowly apply pressure while you relax the muscles. By relaxing and letting them do it, you'll get a lot more extension over time. They shouldn't "bounce" it. Just slow, light, steady pressure over a minute or longer. It's hard to describe with words. They should hold the leg not being stretched. It's probably not a good idea to have their full weight on the off-leg. Just crossing their ankle over your lower lege should work, but you can experiment. When they apply pressure, they need to pay attention to which part of the leg is stretching - calf, thigh, etc. They can apply the pressure directly to the foot to stretch the calf. Or apply pressure to the calf to stretch the back of the thigh. The trick is to RELAX while they do it. And breath.

For side splits, you can partner and both of you stretch at the same time. Feet to feet, grab each others' hands and pull - again slow and steady, being more careful than the front splits. You can also do some solo work by putting you feet against a wall, then grab something with your hands and pull yourself forward. However that's a poor substitute for a partner.

You can also partner for side splits by sitting with your legs spread in front, and have the partner push your back from behind. You'll feel that more in the groin, but that needs to be stretched also to get good side splits. They should push mid-back, not upper. Keep your back relatively straight without too much curve.

Be careful of both the groin and lower back. Listen to your body and don't push it too hard. An injury of either of those can be a very long time healing.

Bubble-pop · Accepted Answer

I have done swimming ( so the breast stroke is my best one) which makes your legs kinda do the splits in the water, it doesn't hurt as your muscles get warmer every time you redo the move. I have also done Taekwondo and horseback riding. I am recently been doing kickboxing for the past 2 years. There is a exercise where you have a person holding and stretching your leg as far as comfortable and hold then turn to side splits and hold, this is a very good exercise as you don't have to worry about your leg not staying in position. It is very easy and if you do this a couple times a week you splits should improve gradually. But because your a man and not a woman you don't have natural ability to be as flexible as a woman, so im not sure how much you would improve, but it is a definite that you will improve by doing that certain exercise. As for hip conditioning do warm ups and warm downs after and before you have done stretches to help your splits, having a warm bath help your muscles to loosen and not be sore after the exercises. Hope I helped :)

jeweliet · Accepted Answer

Pilates, but I do Yoga as well and I still say Yoga is more artistic and tedious

theshewolf · Answer

im a pole dancer and to be honest i do splits everyday and stretch everyday and make sure you do it on both sides to prevent muscle injury, look up pole dancing stretches

Lyndsielee666 · Answer

I've done gymnastics on horseback since I was 9 and I don't remember how I got my splits.. my coach used to lay on my legs till I finally got it. Haha

LucyColes · Answer

I don't know how, but I've always been able to do the splits, even when jumping in midair

Do you stretch or perform an art?

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