The Best Four Stretches For Martial Artists

Martial arts involve the muscles and joints of the body in different forms and be keeping the muscles strong and flexible through stretching will help practitioners perform at their finest levels while protecting the joints and muscles. Don’t assume that something as simple as taking the time to stretch is not important. Martial Arts has intense ranges of motion that are required for kicking. Stretching can prevent injuries and improve your flexibility. At AKI, we make sure we start certain classes with a good stretch, and theres certain stretches that are required for particular movements and techniques.

The best four stretches to start with are:

Center Stretch:

• Place your feet apart and at a 45-degree angle

• Deeply bend your knees and use your forearms to support yourself by putting them on top of your knees

• Maintain alignment of your spine and use your arms to push your knees back. This will help stretch your inner thighs and allowing your hips to sink more

• Hold for 10 seconds (challenge yourself by moving side to side)

Standing Hamstring Stretch:

• Stand in front of a raised object (about hip length) and place your foot on it

• Bend your opposite knee and press down gently on your thigh

• Extend and lower your hips back and make sure you keep your heel grounded

Assisted Reverse Chest Stretch:

• Stand upright with your back towards a bench or a table

• Place your hands on the edge

• Bend your hands slowly and lower your whole body (bending the knees)

Wall Inner Thigh Stretch:

• Face a wall and spread your legs as wide as you can

• Slide closer to the wall while spreading your legs wider

• The greater your level of flexibility, the closer your chest will be to the wall

Let us know if any of these stretches work well for you!

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At the American Karate Institute, we teach a way of life. Our Miami martial arts school and MMA Classes has developed a well thought out curriculum that teaches more than just the art of self-defense. We delve deep into our students’ technique, skill set, intelligence, intuition and overall physical fitness. Contact us today if you’re interested in mixed martial arts and self-defense classes and schedule your free-trial class!