Dancer wondering if martial artists have tips? Sorry mods if this is out of place:-)

Lou.m

Hi :p:p
Firstly thank you to anyone who reads this:-) And especially anyone who replies i hope this is ok mods:-)
I have a question :-)

I thought i would ask here:-)

I take a lot of dance classes and i thought since you guys work on flexibility and strength in the legs i would ask you a couple of questions if you dont mind:-)

Basically i was wondering if you could suggest any exercises for strengthening the hip flexors and deep stretching of the hamstrings and glutes??

I am doing what they called a straddled L sit hold in gymnastics (or trying to do it:-) for strengthening my hip flexors and some other exercises if anyone could suggest anything else:-)??

I can do front splits both ways fully down and i am almost down in side splits with turnout and tips for improving them:-)???

Also any strength exercises for ( i am very unstable!!) standing split (we ballet dancers do something similar to this)


Basically anything to develop core strength without reducing flexibility would be great. I have found pilates to help greatly i thought i would ask here:-):p:)

Sorry mods if this is out of place:-)

I just thought martial artists work on the same muscles maybe in a different way so i thought i could pick your brains:-) if there are any teachers trainers or students out there:-) I would appreciate it:-)

If anyone has any books to suggest or training or whatever i would be eager to listen:-)

Thanks so much i really appreciate it:-)

Louise:p

Killme00

Your best bet would be the fitness forum. I think there are some gymnasts that post there.

Pride Fighter

Elvis borrowed Kenpo Karate moves for his dance routines, I dont think this is out of place.

Lou.m

Thanks Pride fighter:-)

I think movement in general is something that they both have in common :-)

Hey if Elvis did it :p!!

ALso you know in a lot of chinese classical dance they have a lot of martial arts moves and chinese opera and folk dances also take a lot from chinese martial arts.

I always think wushu looks very beautiful and could be a dance when some really graceful martial artists do it:-)

I know that grace is not always the point for martial arts but i think for the forms it sometimes comes out:-)

pearsquasher

Yoga's your man but be weary of being over-flexible.. you don't want to go slack! Surely your dance teacher is the person to ask?

(Tango or Salsa is a good one for martial artists......small steps, shoulders, hips and spine are straight). Not a big fan of gymnastic martial arts myself - too many openings with all that air-time. It does look good though!

angeldance

Hi Lou.m

I'm a dancer (podium & pole- not stripping) and have been doing Kickboxing for years and just started mma. Martial arts can def help with strength and flexiblity. If your looking for cole strength would you not look into pole fitness classes, I have developed alot more core strength since beginning those.
Any martial arts classes I have been to, always work on flexiblity just after the warm up to loosen out the legs. For standing split we would do partner work where, you would stand with your back against the wall, and your partner would slowly lift you leg up to the level you could withstand. From doing this I can finally lift my leg to my head. Research a few clubs and see which would be best suited to what you want to work on xx

Naos

If you're looking to improve core and flexibiltity, maybe give Pilates a shot?

paddyc

right ladies if you need your legs strengthened up let me know...

I show ya some funky moves then ye can pay me in kind if you know what i mean


someone had to say it... it might as well be me

paddy

gillian147

Hi Louise

I was a dancer and gymnast, gave it up for years of hockey. I now train up to 8 times a week in crossfit and BJJ. I have completely lost my flexibility from weight training (and getting older). Ashtanga yoga definitely helped to get it back. If you want strength with flexibility (you are obviously very flexible at the minute) Ashtanga yoga is the way to go, it will improve your core strength as well. Stick your post up on the fitness forum, Im sure you will get lots of advice.

Good luck

belikewater

Lou.m wrote: »

Hi :p:p
Firstly thank you to anyone who reads this:-) And especially anyone who replies i hope this is ok mods:-)
I have a question :-)

I thought i would ask here:-)

I take a lot of dance classes and i thought since you guys work on flexibility and strength in the legs i would ask you a couple of questions if you dont mind:-)

Basically i was wondering if you could suggest any exercises for strengthening the hip flexors and deep stretching of the hamstrings and glutes??

I am doing what they called a straddled L sit hold in gymnastics (or trying to do it:-) for strengthening my hip flexors and some other exercises if anyone could suggest anything else:-)??

I can do front splits both ways fully down and i am almost down in side splits with turnout and tips for improving them:-)???

Also any strength exercises for ( i am very unstable!!) standing split (we ballet dancers do something similar to this)


Basically anything to develop core strength without reducing flexibility would be great. I have found pilates to help greatly i thought i would ask here:-):p:)

Sorry mods if this is out of place:-)

I just thought martial artists work on the same muscles maybe in a different way so i thought i could pick your brains:-) if there are any teachers trainers or students out there:-) I would appreciate it:-)

If anyone has any books to suggest or training or whatever i would be eager to listen:-)

Thanks so much i really appreciate it:-)

Louise:p

Hi louise your hip flexors o are one of the strongest muscles in your body ,have you tried "PNF" (propropeceptive neuro muscalar facilitation )stretching you will need a partner for this ,.
Take for example the hamstring stretch lying on your back one leg is bent ,foot flat on the floor along with your lower back ,the othe rleg is extended straight up in the air ,you get your partner to gently push your leg back (remember you have to be well warmed up ideally the bike or elliptical trainer is good for this as it directly targets the hip flexor,as the tension progresses in your hamstrings push your leg against your partner so force is coming from both directions ,your ankle should be on your partners shoulder as he is pushing your leg back ,REMEMBER STRETCH TO TENSION NOT PAIN ,from there place your foot on your partners shoulder and let him push your knee into your shoulder (your right knee into your your shoulder ) this will stretch your glutes hip flexors and top of your hamstrings ,then from there your partner will place their left hand on the side of your right knee right hand on your foot and slowly turn the inside of your right foot in toward your left shoulder remember be very careful and slow at applying ths stretch repeat on the other side holding each stretch for about 45 to 60 seconds .
i hope this is useful for you if you need any more tips let me know i have been a martial artist for 26 years and a fitnees proffessional for 17 years so i would be more than happy tp help out .
Conor

PhillyWrap

If you really want to learn the ins and outs of flexibility I can recommend Stretching Scientifically by Thomas Kurz. What he says:

For static flexibility do isometric (also known as PNF) stretching. To build up strength and flexibility for the side splits, go into a straddle stance, tense the adductors, relax, widen stance, tense again etc. You can see the author practicing here:
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=eGjEeChs4tk

For dynamic flexibility (i.e., lifting your leg while dancing) do sets of standing leg raises in all directions at least twice a day. This will build up strength and flexibility in your hip flexors quickly. Bear in mind that even if your hip flexors are strong enough, you wont be able to lift your legs high unless your back and abs are strong too, so work on these also.

This is a very quick summary, theres lots more info in the Kurz book and video.

Maldini2706

PhillyWrap wrote: »

If you really want to learn the ins and outs of flexibility I can recommend Stretching Scientifically by Thomas Kurz. What he says:

Agree with this, you can't go wrong with this. The illustrations aren't the best, but it has everything for every type of stretching you could want

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stretching-Scientifically-Guide-Flexibility-Training/dp/0940149451/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233633486&sr=8-3