Martial Arts Stretches Will Boost Your Martial Arts

In the beginning, hundreds and hundreds of years ago, martial arts were meant for war. The fighting styles could go all the way back to 2,500 B.C. Today, there are well over a hundred styles. Multiple forms are combined sometimes, like Jeet Kune Do and Tang Soo Do. However, it's generally divided into several categories, including but not limited to:

  • Ground Arts - such as grappling, wrestling

  • Lifestyle Arts - such as ninjutsu, samurai

  • Striking - such as kickboxing, Tae Kwon Do

  • Weapons Styles - such as kendo, kobudo

Martial Arts: Flexibility and Stretching

There are many martial arts that have both the body's joints and muscles at play. When it all boils down to it, however, they're all interchangeable somehow. Core muscles and lower body muscles alike are necessary for both attack and defense mode. Upper body strength is downright crucial here, so that extremities and torso alike can have the proper force and move with full flexibility.

Several major muscles are involved in performing moves when it comes to martial arts:

  • Arm, bicep and tricep muscles

  • Core muscles (hip flexors, internal and external obliques, rectus abdominism spinal erectors)

  • Hand, wrist and forearm muscles

  • Leg and hip muscles (abductor group, gastrocnemius and soleus, gluteus muscles and the lower leg, hamstrings, quadriceps)

  • Neck muscles

  • Shoulder girdle and upper torso muscles (deltoids, latissimus dorsi, pectorals)

Typical Martial Arts Injuries

People that do contact sports are essentially at risk for injury. That's because of everything they're exposed to. Aside from that, overuse injuries that come from repetitive movement which many of the martial arts need. 

Some of the most typical injuries are Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) sprain, dislocations, groin strain, knee sprains, Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) sprain, muscle bruises and contusions, rotator cuff tear or strain, sprained ankles, sprained wrists, and subluxations.

Strategies To Prevent Injuries

Conditioning will go a long way for avoiding injuries. It's also helpful to take on prevention strategies such as:

  • After training/after competition stretching

  • Cardiovascular training

  • Drills for agility, balance and proprioception 

  • Having a proper cool-down period

  • Practicing in controlled environments

  • Strengthening muscles which support ankle joints and knee joints

  • Stretching in order to improve flexibility for less training stress

  • Using appropriate padding and protective gear

  • Warming up before training and competition constantly

Martial arts stretches are incredibly underrated for both injury rehabilitation and prevention alike. Many people seem to think stretching won't do much, but it can make a huge difference. People who practice martial arts actually have an edge when they go into stretching. That's because their range of motion is extensive while the very nature of the martial arts are nothing short of explosive.

In fact, it's so important that the legendary Bruce Lee had a very detailed, strict stretching routine. He knew the sheer importance of flexibility.

Conclusion

Martial arts practitioners will benefit greatly from stretching for both injury prevention and rehabilitation. It may not seem like it, but the body's core muscles need all the flexibility they can get. Stretching plays a huge role in conditioning.

Looking for stretch classes in Sydney that can help your martial arts physique? Contact Stretch Studio today! We’ve got unique services for mobility and stretching as the first one-on-one assisted stretching concept in Australia.

Ben Williams