Flexibility

[Charles Long]

I want to achieve a good level of flexibility. I'm making progress using Pavel's "Relax Into Stretch." I currently don't have any of the materials sold here but want to know if any would help in achieveing flexibility. Would Z-Health or Warrior Wellness or any of the others help with my goal? I do plan on purchasing some anyway this summer when my sales pick up and I have some extra money (I work on commission). Which materials would help me with my goal?

Charles Long

[Doug Szolek]

Flexibility to what end?

In general BodyFlow and Warrior Wellness will get you well on your way to functional flexibility, (that is flexibility that can be accessed when things go wrong). They are all I do for this particular attribute and am well on my way to being a circus contortionist at a body weight of about 235lbs.

My theory is that it doesn't matter how big or strong you are if you don't move well. Body Flow (Book and Video), Warrior Wellness, Freedom by Degree, Maximology, Be Breathed and others will all put you on your way to functional flexibility in uniquely efficient ways. Click on the link in my signature for more info on any of these.

[Charles Long]

Flexibility to what end?

The main reason is that I'm simply tired of being out of shape. I turned 43 in Feb. and I'm finally doing something about my physical condition. I don't have any clubbells yet but have been working out with kettlebells 6 days a week. I'm gaining strength and losing fat and by the beginning of summer my fat should be gone. Flexibilty is part of being in good physical condition plus I think it would be fun to be able to amaze my friends and relatives by being able to do splits. I couldn't even touch my toes in high school. Now I can get 5 fingers on the floor and am working towards palms flat.

I'm also trying to learn Systema as taught by Vladimir Vasiliev. He is incrediblly fluid and flexible. I could get reasonbly good without the flexiblity but will get better with it.

The bottom line is I made a committment to myself to get in shape and want flexiblity as part of it and I'm going to get it.

Thanks for your response and I will take a look at the materials and order some real soon, maybe even tonight.

Charles Long

[Scott Sonnon]

Charles,

Real-world flexibility comes from dynamic mobility. For real life, as well as for combat-style martial arts, such as Russian Martial Art, flexibility is over-rated. Mobility, coordination and agility are prime requisites, however. In RMAs, the term "Plasticity" is used to distinguish from flexibility.

Start with the Beginning Level Warrior Wellness program 20 minutes every morning. After 3 months of diligent practice, many people move on to the Intermediate Level; and after 6 months more, many people progress to the Advanced Level.

When time, finances and confidence permit, add Body-Flow or Zdorovye in the evening 3-4 times per week for approximately 30-35 minutes.

[Charles Long]

Thanks, Coach Sonnon. I still want the flexibility just to prove to myself that I can do it but you got me thinking that I should put that as a secondary goal and go for the mobility, coordination, and agility first. This is the kind of advice I was hoping for and I will purchase Warrior Wellness right away and get started. This is a great forum with very knowledgeable and helpful people.

Charles Long

[rbibbs]

Charles... terrific you're jumping in... know you'll have a good time. I've seen guys 'jump in' from 12yo to 65yo, and each decade has its hallmarks. 'Proving' seems to be the hallmark of the 40s. Might I suggest you look forward, get a head-start, and think of 'amazing yourself', cuz that's what's going to happen. :D

[jonas2]

Hey Charles, always good to see a fellow systema guy around. I have been using Warrior Wellness for a few months now and it feels really good. Alot of the circular motions you will find tie directly into systema like movement, its just a good complement to systema training. Also it has helped me a lot in resolving some other body tension issues that I have had in my hip and knee. Good luck

Jonas

[Charles Long]

Charles... terrific you're jumping in... know you'll have a good time. I've seen guys 'jump in' from 12yo to 65yo, and each decade has its hallmarks. 'Proving' seems to be the hallmark of the 40s. Might I suggest you look forward, get a head-start, and think of 'amazing yourself', cuz that's what's going to happen. :D

Thanks for the encouragement. I know I've bitten off a big piece but I'm determined to chew it and swallow it.

Charles Long

[Charles Long]

Hey Charles, always good to see a fellow systema guy around. I have been using Warrior Wellness™ for a few months now and it feels really good. Alot of the circular motions you will find tie directly into systema like movement, its just a good complement to systema training. Also it has helped me a lot in resolving some other body tension issues that I have had in my hip and knee. Good luck

Jonas

Thanks for the info. Now I have even more reason to get started with it.

Charles Long

[Charles Long]

I got my Warrior Wellness tapes and started yesterday. I've been doing Pavel's Super Joints but there were some of the movements in the begining tape that I just can't do. The second exercise to the end where we balance and hold the leg out for the count of ten is difficult for me. The other is the Egyptian type thing with the neck. I can't get my neck to go sideways like that to either side. It seems impossible but I will work on it and hopefully get there.

Charles Long

[rbibbs]

Good going Charles! What's the hard part about the single-leg stance? For me, it's the amount of work the supporting ankle has to do to keep me upright.

The 'Egyptian' will come to you. I think everyone tends to store rigidity in their neck, to use it like a pole their heads rotate on top of. Kind of a natural consequence of holding our heads so that the orthogonal (right-angled) world always looks level to us. We're also accustomed to thinking of motion simply in terms of the effort required to produce it, when an equal amount of relaxation must occur. "Trying harder" is probably futile... habitual rigidity fights back. Relaxation of rididity will permit the 'Egyptian' motion to happen. As you're going through this part, develop the intent to move, then the relaxation to move, and the motion will follow.

[Charles Long]

Good going Charles! What's the hard part about the single-leg stance? For me, it's the amount of work the supporting ankle has to do to keep me upright.

For me, it's the balance. I have a hard time moving from one to the next without having to put my foot on the ground.

I was in the bathroom this afternoon and looked in the mirror and just tried the Egyptian thing without thinking about it and got a little motion going. However, a minute later while thinking I may have got it, I couldn't even begin just like before. I'm now convinced I'll get it eventually having seen some motion but I'm a long way from what Coach Sonnon did on the tape.

Charles Long

[rbibbs]

You're doing fine Charles. Kinesthetic balance outside the plane of walking is a neurological skill that atrophies from disuse but is readily recovered. Still keeps my ankles busy doing it.

And you already found the trick to the 'Egyptian'... (it's like remembering obscure characters from original Star Trek) the less hard you're trying, the more likely it is to come to you.