Poor flexibility

[Dannicus]

Hey guys.

I finally settled on a school to begin my adventure into formal jiu jitsu training. I am fired up to learn as much as I can, but I am very very concerned about my flexibility. I realize that as I try to get into better shape, (wish I could go back to the days before I gained 60 pounds. 280 pounds is the heaviest I've ever been) my flexibility will improve. But I wonder, should I put off starting classes til I drop more weight, and work on my flexibility? Your thoughts, tips, experiences would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Dan

[Ghosted3]

Na, go to class. You will learn exercises to help you stretch to become more flexible, as well as burn off the weight. I lost 20lbs in about a month and a half I think. Plus, take some extra time and do some stretches at home as well. On submissions101.com and (in the "other" section) there is a short vid on good stretches, and also the vid with Eddie Bravo has a couple of nice ones in his "flexibility" vid. Good luck, and enjoy the art!

[Ryan]

I agree, your not going to improve if you don't just get in there and do it. I will give you a similar story.

I have a friend who spent an entire year preparing for the military. He ran 6-8 miles a day and got his times down to way under military guidelines, he did weight training and got a very impressive physique and he even took target practice. Well, when he got home from boot camp he said he was so unprepared it wasn't funny. Yes, he could run an impressive time but he did that in running shoes.... not combat boots. He worked out but the military calisthenics worked muscles he never knew he had and things weight machines couldn't reach or work. He could fire a weapon but not with accuracy after running a mile.

My point is, is that you can prepare by stretching or losing weight but you won't get BJJ flexible by not doing BJJ.

[cyrus]

Just go to class bro.Once you start training consistantly the weight will come off.Ive dropped about 20 pounds in 7 months(half of that came in about a month and half before i got injured).another good piece of advice is avoid the urge to overtrain-BJJ is addictive-and overtraining can be bad news

[Ari Bolden]

As all the guys above me said " start training now." It does wonders! I had a student who lost 30 lbs in 6 months doing jj. Flexibility will come with training and stretching....good luck and welcome to the CLUB!

[Dannicus]

Thanks guys. I'm just curious. How many days a week do you guys who are not Ari, (cuz lets face it, he's at the gym all day every day it seems) do you guys train and how long are your classes?

[Ari Bolden]

(I have a fridge and futon bed at my gym too....my second home!)

[Ghosted3]

Unfortunately I can only train twice a week (bumping up to 3 times in Nov. for tourney training), due to having a 112 mile round trip. I also do all the exercises and stretches (plus a few stretches from Ari and Eddie) that I learned in class daily. Just from that (since Aug.) I have noticed a big difference already in how far down I can get my knees in the butterly position.

[JBotello]

Stretch at least 15 minutes a day. Holding each strectch for at least 30 seconds.....Stretch while sitting on the couch, playing Playstation .... whatever. I often find myslef sitting looking for a dvd with my knee pulled up into a half lotus. It just becomes programmed into you after a month or so... best of luck, and don't go too far too fast :)




Edited for spelling

[michaelwbray]

How important is it to warm up for these stretches before doing them? Is there a high risk of pulling a muscle for these exercises or is it pretty safe? I'd like to get into a routine of doing 20 mins of stretches every morning, and do most of the exercise and jiu jitsu at night.

[Fox1s2]

If you wanna see gains, you have to warm up and get your body warm and your muscles loose, not only will you be able to stretch farther, but it wont hurt as much. Stretching cold and forcing it, is the best way to injure yourself. Its not worth being in constant pain, rather than doing a 10 minute warm-up.

Also, GNC(my 2nd job)....just got in a new supplement of kinds, that is amazing at increasing flexibility, i got a chance to try it out, repairs cartilage and lubricates joints, along with constant stretching, helps immensely... called triflex, its pretty cheap, it has glucosamine,chondroiton and MSM, which all help with bringing your joints back to 100% faster.

So if you start feeling pain, or joint discomfort from this stretching, you might wanna check it out.

[michaelwbray]

Sounds good. Just started taking fish oil twice a day. It's the best thing I've ever done. Started to get arthritis in my fingers. Can barely feel the pain form it anymore. I really want to get my flexibility up.

[BigD]

i like about 10 minutes on an elliptical trainer then I stretch. The important thing, IMO, to improve the flexibility is to force the stretches a little. Obviously don't cripple yourself, but I have dramatically improved my flexibility by "pushing" myself when I stretch.

[JBotello]

^^^ Very true ... you must push yourself