Cycling and flexibility

Hacketry

I've recently started back at Tae Kwon Do after a break of a few years and I'm finding that my flexibility is totally crap. I seem to be barely able to spread my legs, never mind do the splits. This has affected my game and I'm finding manu simple kicks very difficult.

Since taking a few years away from martial arts I've been doing a lot of cycling for exercise. Have my legs become so used to stretching for the pedals that they won't stretch out horizontally anymore for kicks?

Can anyone recommend any good exercises ror improving my flexibility?
Cheers.

kravist

Hacketry wrote: »

I've recently started back at Tae Kwon Do after a break of a few years and I'm finding that my flexibility is totally crap. I seem to be barely able to spread my legs, never mind do the splits. This has affected my game and I'm finding manu simple kicks very difficult.

Since taking a few years away from martial arts I've been doing a lot of cycling for exercise. Have my legs become so used to stretching for the pedals that they won't stretch out horizontally anymore for kicks?

Can anyone recommend any good exercises ror improving my flexibility?
Cheers.

The problem with cycling in terms of flexibility, is that you're in a seated position constantly, and it plays hell especially with your hip flexors. Although as the name suggests, these muscles flex the hip, the side kick deviates from that movement taking the leg through a completly different range of movement.

The usual stretching should help.. and possibly some massage work ...especially on the Tensor fascia latae and adductors to allow the leg/hip extend laterally. (Abduction)

siochain

nearly sure it shortens the ham's too

celt2005

Have you stopped cycling ?? , check out Thomas Kurz in GOOGLE.