ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!

[ANTHONY]

Hello, my name is Jason Griffin and I practice Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. I am very interested in flexibility. I practiced TKD for a few years about 13-14 years ago and since, have been serving my country. I have a few concerns. I am 28, can run 3 miles in about 22-23 minutes and am 6 feet 2 inches tall. I weigh about 225 (still losing weight) and have not done anything stupid to mess up my muscular abilities so far. I am very familiar with Tom Kurz and read his book when I was practicing TKD back in the day. I currently re-purchased the video secrets of stretching and have watched it closely and on numerous occasions.

Now the delimma. I HAVE THE WORST FLEXIBILITY IN THE WORLD, HANDS DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I sit with my feet together, I cannot sit all the way up to make a 90 degree angle. I do not have enough flexibility to do the side split test without major tension. What is the deal with this, I totally believe I should leave this to the physically capable. I am not totally unfit, can run a few miles (as perscribed in the video) and consider myself a moderate athlete. I was into weight lifting for a few years, so I know my muscles are strong enough!!!!! I have stopped lifting and traded that for cardiovascular workouts.

On the average morning, I will run (no less then 3 miles), do lunges and squats with body weight and do leg adductor exercises until I get to 100, sometimes more. My run time is definitley improving, with everything else and I cannot get past a 90 degree angle in any stretch. Before my workout, I will do dynamic stretches, conduct my workout then do relaxed stretches. I am not making any progress. WHY!!!!!!! Anyonelse have this problem. I am not strong enough to do isometrics, but I am very close.

Suggestions!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Thomas Kurz]

On the average morning, I will run (no less then 3 miles), do lunges and squats with body weight and do leg adductor exercises until I get to 100, sometimes more. My run time is definitley improving, with everything else and I cannot get past a 90 degree angle in any stretch. Before my workout, I will do dynamic stretches, conduct my workout then do relaxed stretches. I am not making any progress. WHY!!!!!!! Anyonelse have this problem. I am not strong enough to do isometrics, but I am very close.

Suggestions!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you do your squats correctly, i.e., as shown in video clips at http://www.stadion.com/injuries_kneecap.html ? If yes, use weights. If not, learn the correct form and then use weights.

[ANTHONY]

So in place of the lunges I perform, replace them with squats until I get good enought to add resistance. Am I correct?

[tyciol]

Stuff like BJJ requires a lot of isometric tension to stop your opponent from flopping you about, some stiffness is to be expected. Are you thinking of taking up TKD again?