So in August I started doing Tae Kwon Do again - I did it for 5 years when I was younger, and quit before getting a black belt. Its something that has always bothered me, because martial arts plays a big role in my family (my dad did martial arts, my uncles did martial arts, I did Tae Kwon Do with my cousin, etc) ... and I've never really given up on anything before.
For years I'd been telling myself to start again, and this summer I finally did. Despite the fact that I felt like a newb wearing a white belt again, everything came back to me pretty quickly (technique, forms, etc).
However, my primary problem: flexibility. I'm not as flexible as I was when I was 11-12, etc. Since August, I've been stretching almost every day. I've seen my flexibility get a little better, but I'm seriously sore EVERY DAY. I'm wondering, is it even possible at my age (22) to significantly increase my flexibility, or am I destined to stay the same?
I see some of the higher belts (red, brown, black) in my class, who are in their 30s/40s and can't even kick above their waist-line. Luckily, I'm not that bad... but I think to really get where I want to go I'm going to need to become a lot more flexible. Is this possible? How can I do it other than stretch and hope for the best?
I'm black belt, far as I know there is no brown belt.. -.- If anyone can't kick above belt-level or they're too lazy too, they're a disgrace. Do the splits as best you can, touch your toes crap like that, it's harder to regain flexibility than to maintain it. I am getting better though! Considering I am a nerd with Starcraft.
it's really tough to regain your flexibility once you lose it... but it's definitely possible. the belt colors really depend on the school. mine had brown belt, others don't. i kind of regret quitting... i had my 2nd degree black belt for 2 years and i quit about 2 months before my 3rd degree test T_T
On October 02 2010 08:18 RyuChus wrote: I'm black belt, far as I know there is no brown belt.. -.- If anyone can't kick above belt-level or they're too lazy too, they're a disgrace. Do the splits as best you can, touch your toes crap like that, it's harder to regain flexibility than to maintain it. I am getting better though! Considering I am a nerd with Starcraft.
A persons genetics can affect their flexibility; there are some people who simply will not be able to kick much higher than belt level no matter how much they stretch.
On October 02 2010 08:22 mucker wrote: Yoga is the way to go if you've got the time.
Why is yoga better? What are the pros/cons of each?
I don't quite get your questions..... Are you asking how is taking yoga classes better than just doing some stretches on your own if you're trying to get more flexible?
Just keep at it, and its fairly likely you'll see a difference after a while. Also, yoga is great, but its hard as hell. Don't listen to all those commercials about yoga, doing a serious yoga workout is probably one of the most physical intensive things I've ever done, and I've been doing taekwondo for a while.
But its definitely worth it if you can settle into a routine with either yoga or taekwondo. Both is even better, but don't kill yourself (don't let that be a justification for taking a break though, that will also kill you).
On October 02 2010 08:22 mucker wrote: Yoga is the way to go if you've got the time.
Why is yoga better? What are the pros/cons of each?
I don't quite get your questions..... Are you asking how is taking yoga classes better than just doing some stretches on your own if you're trying to get more flexible?
I thought you were saying yoga is better than his decision to do tae kwon do.... if not can you explain what you meant and why?
On October 02 2010 08:22 mucker wrote: Yoga is the way to go if you've got the time.
Why is yoga better? What are the pros/cons of each?
I don't quite get your questions..... Are you asking how is taking yoga classes better than just doing some stretches on your own if you're trying to get more flexible?
I thought you were saying yoga is better than his decision to do tae kwon do.... if not can you explain what you meant and why?
I understood the op as asking how best to get/maintain the flexibility he needs to achieve his long term tae kwon do goals. I am advocating yoga as the way to hit the flexibility goal, not supplant the tae kwon do goal.
I used to do it at a hardcore school, took about eight years to get my probationary black belt . You Can increase your flexbility to a reasonable degree, but it's not easy. Constant stretching and yoga will help, but frankly super insane flexibility is not a key requisite of TKD. Muscle strength and stamina in really weird groups is the stuff I found most helpful, and that involves doing things like doing a snap kick and holding it at maximum height extended for a few seconds, stable, before bringing it back in with control. same for sidekicks and eventually back kicks, vertical kicks etc. that may not increase your height or range, but it means that your kicks will be super steady and precise, not to mention difficult to parry.
Beyond that, try centering exercises from pilates, for strengthening the abdominal and pelvic muscles, very important again for powerful and precise kicks. things like lying on your back, holding your legs out straight and raising them an inch above the ground, then holding for twenty-to thirty seconds without letting them drop or bend. then raise them to 45 and hold for another twenty, then back to an inch and another five or ten.
Remember that substance is better than flair. A waist high kick that connects is better than a head high one that fluffs.
On October 02 2010 13:49 krndandaman wrote: imo, doing it when you're young is a total waste of time... glad that you're starting it up again when you're older.
i have so many friends who did tkd when they were like 8-12, got their black belt and quit. they dont remember shit right now. parents just wanted them to get a blackbelt to add it to their resume in the future under awards.
I agree, I know a lot of people who were like "ya I got a black belt," but really anyone who does any martial art for 3-4 years will get a black belt. You pay so much money for the classes, they really don't care about pushing people through the system because they're making money in the process. But obviously they care about the students who take the martial art seriously.
I mean, when I was younger I was competing in tournaments and such - I want to get back to that level. My goal is to compete in 1-2 tournaments next summer but I've got a long way to go.
I understand it isn't the 'flair' or height of my kicks, but the technique... however I think my flexibility affects my ability to kick with really good technique. Also, I definitely should NOT be hurting every time I kick (which is the position I'm in now). I even hurt when I stretch. Maybe this is a good thing?
On October 02 2010 13:49 krndandaman wrote: imo, doing it when you're young is a total waste of time... glad that you're starting it up again when you're older.
i have so many friends who did tkd when they were like 8-12, got their black belt and quit. they dont remember shit right now. parents just wanted them to get a blackbelt to add it to their resume in the future under awards.
I agree, I know a lot of people who were like "ya I got a black belt," but really anyone who does any martial art for 3-4 years will get a black belt. You pay so much money for the classes, they really don't care about pushing people through the system because they're making money in the process. But obviously they care about the students who take the martial art seriously.
I mean, when I was younger I was competing in tournaments and such - I want to get back to that level. My goal is to compete in 1-2 tournaments next summer but I've got a long way to go.
I understand it isn't the 'flair' or height of my kicks, but the technique... however I think my flexibility affects my ability to kick with really good technique. Also, I definitely should NOT be hurting every time I kick (which is the position I'm in now). I even hurt when I stretch. Maybe this is a good thing?
of course it hurts when you stretch and of course it hurts a bit when you kick really high.
It's good, just make sure you don't break stuff, how is the freakin tendon gonna get longer if it doesn't hurt lolol
Forget about the techniques lol, just do shits that looks legit/solid and awesome. You think the creators of TKD know wtf is a technique? Nah, they just did shits that afelt good and looked good, and it is good. Try to go for that feeling rather than following some silly templates.
I mean suuuure you need techniques but imho it's much more fun to have beauty in your own ways. Try to kick high first and don't worry about technique, when you get the hight, you can THEN refine it. Don't be one of those retards who position feet perfectly, yell loudly, but only kick to their belt level. Those people makes me cringe and it makes me mad the teachers think they're better because they "yell loudly with intensity" but they punch like a pillow
On October 02 2010 13:49 krndandaman wrote: imo, doing it when you're young is a total waste of time... glad that you're starting it up again when you're older.
i have so many friends who did tkd when they were like 8-12, got their black belt and quit. they dont remember shit right now. parents just wanted them to get a blackbelt to add it to their resume in the future under awards.
I agree, I know a lot of people who were like "ya I got a black belt," but really anyone who does any martial art for 3-4 years will get a black belt. You pay so much money for the classes, they really don't care about pushing people through the system because they're making money in the process. But obviously they care about the students who take the martial art seriously.
I mean, when I was younger I was competing in tournaments and such - I want to get back to that level. My goal is to compete in 1-2 tournaments next summer but I've got a long way to go.
I understand it isn't the 'flair' or height of my kicks, but the technique... however I think my flexibility affects my ability to kick with really good technique. Also, I definitely should NOT be hurting every time I kick (which is the position I'm in now). I even hurt when I stretch. Maybe this is a good thing?
of course it hurts when you stretch and of course it hurts a bit when you kick really high.
It's good, just make sure you don't break stuff, how is the freakin tendon gonna get longer if it doesn't hurt lolol
Forget about the techniques lol, just do shits that looks legit/solid and awesome. You think the creators of TKD know wtf is a technique? Nah, they just did shits that afelt good and looked good, and it is good. Try to go for that feeling rather than following some silly templates.
stretching should never hurt. if it hurts you're doing it incorrectly and setting yourself up for injuries.
=== Proper Stretching Technique
* Perform balanced stretching. This means you should always stretch the muscles on both sides of your body evenly. Don’t stretch one side more than the other side. * Avoid over-stretching. Never stretch to the point of pain or discomfort. You will feel slight tension or a pull on the muscle at the peak of the stretch. * Go slow! Always stretch slowly and evenly. Hold the stretch for about fifteen seconds and release slowly as well. * Never bounce or jerk while stretching. This can cause injury as a muscle is pushed beyond it’s ability. All stretches should be smooth, and slow. * Don't forget to breathe. Flexibility exercises should be relaxing. Deep easy, even breathing is key to relaxation. Never hold your breath while you stretch.
I've been teaching Taekwondo for ~8 years and training for 12 (when I first met you this was my job). I can assure you 100% that becoming flexible and doing the splits, even for people with tight muscles, is completely possible. Tangible results will take awhile to do, however, and it's very much dependent on your pace and how often you stretch. Working out and warming up your muscles before stretching is very important to prevent injury, and will help you to stretch further. Like the guy who posted before me, proper breathing is important. Take a deep breath in and exhale while going down. Also holding the stretch and not bouncing is very important.
As far as the state of Taekwondo in the Americas, it is an unfortunate fact that people are pushed through the system and aren't promoted based on skill alone. However, that shouldn't deter YOU from pushing yourself to your limits. Martial Arts, like most skill based undertakings, is very much based on your individual level of commitment and drive moreso than someone else telling you how good you are based on a belt around your waste. I used to always tell my students that the black belt meant nearly nothing. It's just a piece of cloth that you can buy at the store for less than $5. What makes someone deserving of that rank is who they are and the trials that they've gone through (or lack thereof) to get there, and not the color of the belt around your waist.
On October 03 2010 01:45 omfghi2u2 wrote: Taekwondo in America is such a joke. You only get promoted in belts not by skill but by money.
Besides, if someone tries to bring a knife down on your ahead, what are you gonna do? High block?
We got taught knife self defense in my club. O.o But yeah, I do agree that belts were pretty much handed out left and right. Kinda unfortunate, but there's not really anything you can do about it.
Like I said, again, technique doesn't matter so much either, strength and stamina are the critical 'stats' as it were. all the technique in the world isn't going to help you if you can't pin your leg up and time the kick right, nor is height going to be any good if the guy can block it with his face and not feel any the worse for it.
Believe me, if you spend a month strengthening your core muscles and then pump out some chest high sidekicks, you'll feel pretty darn sexy when the kicking bag swings back so hard it makes a dent in the roof... (I feel obligated to add that I've only managed to pull this off with a 20kg bag, not one of those crazy hyperstuffed weighty ones)
A lot of the TKD training I've seen emphasizes speed and flexibility too much, the place I went to was a bit more hardcore, we never trained with pads or padding and sparring was generally full contact H/F after blue belt. You eventually could just wear one of the turning kicks to the side and just relocate a bit. When I left town, I went to another school, and the sparring was just terrible, I could let them kick me all day, because all they knew how to do were turning kicks and hooking kicks. their direct kicks were so weak you could catch them and hold their leg if you were fast enough.
Of course, I dunno what you're aiming for, self defence or competition, I come from a very strong tradition of the former, and the latter doesn't really require your shots to have the power to break a femur or ribcage open.
I imagine, however, that the same principles apply. If you can increase your muscular stamina in those critical areas, you'll definitely be less sore after a workout, more able to hold a stretch and more able to pull a high kick off and less vulnerable to counters because you'll be way more stable. So give it a shot.
I've been teaching Taekwondo for ~8 years and training for 12 (when I first met you this was my job). I can assure you 100% that becoming flexible and doing the splits, even for people with tight muscles, is completely possible. Tangible results will take awhile to do, however, and it's very much dependent on your pace and how often you stretch. Working out and warming up your muscles before stretching is very important to prevent injury, and will help you to stretch further. Like the guy who posted before me, proper breathing is important. Take a deep breath in and exhale while going down. Also holding the stretch and not bouncing is very important.
As far as the state of Taekwondo in the Americas, it is an unfortunate fact that people are pushed through the system and aren't promoted based on skill alone. However, that shouldn't deter YOU from pushing yourself to your limits. Martial Arts, like most skill based undertakings, is very much based on your individual level of commitment and drive moreso than someone else telling you how good you are based on a belt around your waste. I used to always tell my students that the black belt meant nearly nothing. It's just a piece of cloth that you can buy at the store for less than $5. What makes someone deserving of that rank is who they are and the trials that they've gone through (or lack thereof) to get there, and not the color of the belt around your waist.
I remember Adam =D ya I decided this summer to start again. Going for purple belt next month (skipping orange ftw)
On October 02 2010 13:49 krndandaman wrote: imo, doing it when you're young is a total waste of time... glad that you're starting it up again when you're older.
i have so many friends who did tkd when they were like 8-12, got their black belt and quit. they dont remember shit right now. parents just wanted them to get a blackbelt to add it to their resume in the future under awards.
I agree, I know a lot of people who were like "ya I got a black belt," but really anyone who does any martial art for 3-4 years will get a black belt. You pay so much money for the classes, they really don't care about pushing people through the system because they're making money in the process. But obviously they care about the students who take the martial art seriously.
I mean, when I was younger I was competing in tournaments and such - I want to get back to that level. My goal is to compete in 1-2 tournaments next summer but I've got a long way to go.
I understand it isn't the 'flair' or height of my kicks, but the technique... however I think my flexibility affects my ability to kick with really good technique. Also, I definitely should NOT be hurting every time I kick (which is the position I'm in now). I even hurt when I stretch. Maybe this is a good thing?
of course it hurts when you stretch and of course it hurts a bit when you kick really high.
It's good, just make sure you don't break stuff, how is the freakin tendon gonna get longer if it doesn't hurt lolol
Forget about the techniques lol, just do shits that looks legit/solid and awesome. You think the creators of TKD know wtf is a technique? Nah, they just did shits that afelt good and looked good, and it is good. Try to go for that feeling rather than following some silly templates.
stretching should never hurt. if it hurts you're doing it incorrectly and setting yourself up for injuries.
=== Proper Stretching Technique
* Perform balanced stretching. This means you should always stretch the muscles on both sides of your body evenly. Don’t stretch one side more than the other side. * Avoid over-stretching. Never stretch to the point of pain or discomfort. You will feel slight tension or a pull on the muscle at the peak of the stretch. * Go slow! Always stretch slowly and evenly. Hold the stretch for about fifteen seconds and release slowly as well. ******* * Never bounce or jerk while stretching. This can cause injury as a muscle is pushed beyond it’s ability. All stretches should be smooth, and slow. * Don't forget to breathe. Flexibility exercises should be relaxing. Deep easy, even breathing is key to relaxation. Never hold your breath while you stretch.
Shouldn't the * part hurt? Why can you only hold it for 15 seconds if it doesn't hurt?
Okay so I'm living in Korea right now and taekwondo up here is hardcore as fuck. Like seriously you think you can take a roundhouse or a turning kick from one of these guys but no you block it and it pretty much breaks your arm and they feel no pain but instead follow it up with an axe kick to your head or neck depending on how fast you dodge. They are so retardedly flexible and blazingly fast that they can pretty much dodge anything you do and hit you from anywhere in the ring super hard because they train for 2 hours a day 5-6 days a week from when they were like 7. That little kid with the black belt? Yeah he'll do a flying side-to-back kick and nail you in the fucking face with enough power to lay you straight out. What the fuck do you do against a kid that can put his foot in your face before your leg is halfway up? And they're totally not afraid to eat a wussy-ass roundhouse kick from you because they spar with these 17 year-olds in their prime who are faster, stronger and more flexible than you with a ruthless desire to kick you in the face really fucking hard.
I'm exaggerating a little bit. But seriously I've never been kicked so hard in the face through a block in my entire life. I had headgear on and my head was spinning for about 10 seconds with the bright white light and the dark circle in the center and that huge ringing noise that blocks out everything. I've done taekwondo for like 14 years now and I did 5 of that in Japan, where the martial arts is pretty hardcore, but Korea is on a completely different level when it comes to their national sport.
On October 02 2010 13:49 krndandaman wrote: imo, doing it when you're young is a total waste of time... glad that you're starting it up again when you're older.
i have so many friends who did tkd when they were like 8-12, got their black belt and quit. they dont remember shit right now. parents just wanted them to get a blackbelt to add it to their resume in the future under awards.
I agree, I know a lot of people who were like "ya I got a black belt," but really anyone who does any martial art for 3-4 years will get a black belt. You pay so much money for the classes, they really don't care about pushing people through the system because they're making money in the process. But obviously they care about the students who take the martial art seriously.
I mean, when I was younger I was competing in tournaments and such - I want to get back to that level. My goal is to compete in 1-2 tournaments next summer but I've got a long way to go.
I understand it isn't the 'flair' or height of my kicks, but the technique... however I think my flexibility affects my ability to kick with really good technique. Also, I definitely should NOT be hurting every time I kick (which is the position I'm in now). I even hurt when I stretch. Maybe this is a good thing?
of course it hurts when you stretch and of course it hurts a bit when you kick really high.
It's good, just make sure you don't break stuff, how is the freakin tendon gonna get longer if it doesn't hurt lolol
Forget about the techniques lol, just do shits that looks legit/solid and awesome. You think the creators of TKD know wtf is a technique? Nah, they just did shits that afelt good and looked good, and it is good. Try to go for that feeling rather than following some silly templates.
stretching should never hurt. if it hurts you're doing it incorrectly and setting yourself up for injuries.
=== Proper Stretching Technique
* Perform balanced stretching. This means you should always stretch the muscles on both sides of your body evenly. Don’t stretch one side more than the other side. * Avoid over-stretching. Never stretch to the point of pain or discomfort. You will feel slight tension or a pull on the muscle at the peak of the stretch. * Go slow! Always stretch slowly and evenly. Hold the stretch for about fifteen seconds and release slowly as well. ******* * Never bounce or jerk while stretching. This can cause injury as a muscle is pushed beyond it’s ability. All stretches should be smooth, and slow. * Don't forget to breathe. Flexibility exercises should be relaxing. Deep easy, even breathing is key to relaxation. Never hold your breath while you stretch.
Shouldn't the * part hurt? Why can you only hold it for 15 seconds if it doesn't hurt?
no stretching should never hurt. you don't hold it longer because theres no point in holding it longer
mm one of my major regrets from growing up was not taking taekwondo more seriously I wish i'd stretched and practiced more, I had a great time doing it
EPT
. You Can increase your flexbility to a reasonable degree, but it's not easy. Constant stretching and yoga will help, but frankly super insane flexibility is not a key requisite of TKD. Muscle strength and stamina in really weird groups is the stuff I found most helpful, and that involves doing things like doing a snap kick and holding it at maximum height extended for a few seconds, stable, before bringing it back in with control. same for sidekicks and eventually back kicks, vertical kicks etc. that may not increase your height or range, but it means that your kicks will be super steady and precise, not to mention difficult to parry. 
