I’m not sure if ill actually get some good links or a let me google that for you response but anyway, Ill be starting TKD for the first time in about a month and was wondering if there were any particular stretches I should do that would be helpful with kicks etc or even just generic stretches I should do. Thanks for any help
Pre-Level 1. Get a belt or if you don’t have one yet get a towel. Lay down and put the towel on your foot and pull towards your chest.
Level 1. Then do the same thing standing up with a hand against the wall. In the standing variation you should pull your foot (keeping leg straight) as high as you can. Actively try to rotate your foot inwards, this will become a sidekick position once you learn it.
Level 2. Take your hand against the wall. Right from the beginning you should do this. About 20 seconds of holding and then release from the wall and try to hold for another 10 seconds.
Level 3. This is a huge jump in difficulty but very important for strength, stretch, and balance… do the same exercise but this time release the towel and attempt to keep your leg from falling. Work up to a 1 minute hold.
Additional important stretch is half front splits, front split (side split), and straddles.
Half front splits is doing a front split with the back leg bent. Do not sit on the leg though your butt should still be in front of it giving a full stretch on both legs. This is very important for lifting your leg up prior to the extension.
Front split gives you ROM on front kicks and axe kicks.
Straddles gives you ROM on side kicks, back kicks, and roundhouse kicks.
More important exercises that you may or may not be able to do immediately are:
Lift your leg as high as you can and jump on the other foot for 30 seconds. Then switch. You should be lifting high enough that its not only working balance but also feels like your stretching the up leg. If you can watch a video how-to of roundhouse kick and your goal should be to lift your leg into a caulked roundhouse position. That is knee and foot should be level with each other with knee pointing straight forward and toes pointing left or right respectively. Then balance in this position as long as you can, use a wall at first if you need to.
Jump Rope focusing on getting onto one foot and bouncing 3-5 times then switching to the other foot. Keep alternating back and forth for increasing time.
A simple jumping complex that will also prove useful:
Jump tuck x 3
Jump straddle x 3
Jump pike x 3
Jump 360 x 3
Repeat 2 more times
“jump tuck” ?
If a tuck means the same thing here as in cheerleading (as in backflip) I think thats kind of irresponsible to be telling a beginner “just go do them”. Landing on your head/neck on hard surfaces is kind of uncomfortable.
No a jump tuck is not a backflip its tucking both your knees into your chest while in the air. Sorry if there was any confusion.
[quote]Petermus wrote:
I’m not sure if ill actually get some good links or a let me google that for you response but anyway, Ill be starting TKD for the first time in about a month and was wondering if there were any particular stretches I should do that would be helpful with kicks etc or even just generic stretches I should do. Thanks for any help [/quote]
I’m confused. Wasn’t you the one who started the “A tkd course at my college…” thread (something like that…)? You still haven’t started?
Ok, anyway, if you want to kick higher/faster/stronger, the sowjet training secret is… get ready… do kick some more. Really. Your stretching will improve by throwing tons of kicks. Even better yet, it’ll improve harmonically along with your technique, which will spare you some injuries.
If you really need more flexibility (which most tkd students don’t really need in the first place, hip mobility and proper technique are more important), read Tom Kurtz’ “Stretching scientifically”. This will skyrocket your flexibility.
Yes I was. I signed up for the class about 2 weeks before finals…then January vacation lasts a month.
There’s a heap of good info out there.
You need to start with dynamic stretches followed by either relaxed stretches or PNF stretches. To save my fingers from typing I’ll just link you to some great reading material.
Leg strength will play a big factor in how flexible your legs will be as well.
This site has been very good
and really swartzfather is right- get your reps in class in.