Advice on doing the splits.

estebancambias

Ok I started stetching around this time last year and by august(2006) my flexibility was such an improvment. I sort of let the stretching go by the wayside until this month. What I noticed was I can get down further than I ever could with the splits but I dont seem to be able to do the full split. Is there a maximum to each persons flexibility? Is there any excercises which makes doing the split a realistic target. Thanks By the way I really don't think my body build allows me to do the splits.

no leaf clover

have you ever done gymnastics?

estebancambias

No it's something I have considered but it seems a bit daunting to me. If I heard about an adult class I would but still being 17 I fear being a laughing stock if I join.

no leaf clover

if you dont mind me asking are you male or female? i'll have a check about adult classes, as i think there are, but we get beginners at all ages every now and then!

angelicsaz

adult gymnastics??? where and when.... i coach now.... desperatly would love to jus have a bit of fun......

no leaf clover

ill try and find out tomorrow, if i can't, im going away for two weeks, and will find out when i get back,

nlc

estebancambias

I'm male and thanks for the info.

nesf

estebancambias wrote:

Is there a maximum to each persons flexibility?

I remember when I did martial arts this question used to pop up a lot. It's very hard to distinguish between what's there from lifestyle from what's there from birth. Myself and another guy I knew suffered from finding side splits very difficult to do. Both of us could get down within a few inches of a front splits with enough warming up and stretching but we were both a good foot and a half off the ground on side splits, even with someone applying a bit of pressure on the back etc. It could have been lifestyle or naturally tight hips that was what held us back in that area.

As far as I can make out, genetics does play some role (in that some people just seem more flexible than others from very early on) but that lifestyle (working sitting down all day can really screw with your hips etc) also plays a very strong role, if not a more important one. Ignoring freaks of nature with extreme levels of flexibility, potentially most people could have an upper limit in roughly the same area but some of them would have to work harder to get there than others.

I'd be interested if anyone had some good links on the subject.

HammerHeadGym

As far as I know, everyone has the potential to do full splits, excluding any injuries or genetic abnormalities. So if you seventeen and are not aware of any medical condition then you can definitely do it. There's a couple of books on amazon that deal with it. Can't remember the name off hand but the cover is a guy doing the splits between two chairs with his girlfriend sitting on one of his legs. The real trick is consistency. Ten times a week would be the minimum.

no leaf clover

well if you are interested in doing gymnastics there is a mens club, some of them wil be going to worlds and all that, some of the 14 year olds would hammer the half of us, but if you wer genuinely interested, i know they have a guy who's fairy new but older than most of them, maybe best would be to give them a ring and explain your situation -want to join, beginner, age etc- you'll find them on www.irishgymnastics.ie

but as i said, il look into the adults classes in a different place, and let you know when i can. other than that....! start stretching! if you were able to do it in two months before ,off you go, get them down as far as you can, and use google for something like "special steps to splits" i've heard of something along those lines before.

PeakOutput

one of my mates is a dancer and she says that anyone can do(after practice) the one leg forward and noe leg behind splits but if you have never done the legs out to the side splits before your about 15/16 you wont be able to due to something about your hip bones not having the range of motion.........dont know how true it is thats just wat she said

yomchi

Unfortunatley not everyone can achieve the splits.

For all you stretching needs and a test to see if your hip joints and mucles are compatible -> http://www.stadion.com/catalog&test.html

go to -> www.stadion.com

angelicsaz

u talking about phoenix?

yomchi

PeakOutput wrote:

one of my mates is a dancer and she says that anyone can do(after practice) the one leg forward and noe leg behind splits but if you have never done the legs out to the side splits before your about 15/16 you wont be able to due to something about your hip bones not having the range of motion.........dont know how true it is thats just wat she said

Nah thats rubbish, I'm evidence of that

no leaf clover

angelicsaz wrote:

u talking about phoenix?

lol i was, but avoiding dropping names!!

angelicsaz

ha ha sorry!!!!!
give it all the publicity want.... lord i wish someone would do that for my club ha ha.
they are really good............... ahh memories!!!!!!!!

no leaf clover

well surely you should be throwin in ur ads and plugging it then no?? do you still coach? what level were you?

angelicsaz

still coachin away indeed. might be leaving my current club though due to hmm well i cant really say ha ha.

a i was nothing special but i worked hard and enjoyed it, then i got injured and had to call it a day..... so thats why im coaching soo young. im almost jealous of all the kids ha ha

no leaf clover

lol..they say those who can't do... teach! will you keep up the coaching?edit..: i think the politics involved and embedded in irish gymnastics doenst help the sport evolve at all!! (i am assuming the your reason for leaving is within the politics, or along those lines?)

nesf

Jon wrote:

Nah thats rubbish, I'm evidence of that

What do you think about the reports of people staying more flexible in later life after doing gymnastics/whatever early in life (ie before their teens)? I've only heard anecdotal evidence about it but some people I know, whose opinion I'd respect on this kind of stuff, give it a lot of credence.

angelicsaz

yeah its what i wanna do forever hopefully...college might help with that. plannin on goin to dynamo is moscow for a while aswell..... spent time there awhile back.
if i start on irish gymnastics i will never stop...... but i agree. POINTLESS......

yomchi

nesf wrote:

What do you think about the reports of people staying more flexible in later life after doing gymnastics/whatever early in life (ie before their teens)? I've only heard anecdotal evidence about it but some people I know, whose opinion I'd respect on this kind of stuff, give it a lot of credence.

I've done Taekwon-Do since I was a boy, While i've always being very flexible, I only reached box splits in my 20's when I set myself the goal of it.