Flexibility

[GIJOE]

Hey Everyone!

I hope all of you are enjoying the holiday season. I have some questions for all of you. I want to improve the flexibility in my hips. Due to years of heavy squatting, I don't have very much hip flexibility. I want to keep squatting however, because I like being very strong in the hips and legs. This however, just makes my hips tighter and my hook kicks suffer badly. The questions (finally ) are these: Is there anyway to increase my hip flexibility while continuing to squat heavy? Also, what exercises do you all recommend for increased range of motion in the hips? And finally, am I asking the impossible of my old body (age 38) in terms of flexibility anyway?

I have been doing the standard stretches for legs and hips and my hip sockets are sore for days afterwards--they are sore and hurting now. Kicks to an opponents waist-line are only possible after lots of warming up and hook kicks (cold) to the knee, especially from the left side require lots of rearward lean.

I would appreciate any and all comments on this dilemma.

Thanks,

GIOE

[thekuntawman]

see this topic,
http://www.cyberkwoon.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000305.html

my advice for you is to do many leg swings, and practice those "crescent kick" both inside and outside. when you stretch any stretch, do not round up your back, but keep it straight while you bend. also, do a lot of stretchings backwards. many of the problems people have with flexibility in the hip is the front part. backwards stretching will help.

there is a yoga position, i dont know the name of it, but i will describe it. you face a wall, with both hands there on it. trying to keep both of your hands there and your back never bends forwards, have somebody raise your leg back with the toe going up to the sky, your knee tries to reached backperpendicular to your standing leg. your stretching thigh and the standing thigh should make a upside down "L" shape. let me know if that is to confusing.

[Chad W. Getz]

GIJoe, I can't e-mail you, and I'd hate to name a friend without first asking him on the public forum, so e-mail me, and I'll point you to a friend of mine that lifts very heavy and is also a martial artist/fighter.

chad@fullcontacthi.com ...