red_dog104

My god, I never realised how flexible I could be with some bugger holding my ankle and pushing my leg vertical in our 'warm up' and also how much agony i'd be in the next day!! Jesus, I can hardly walk, it hurts to laugh and it's difficult to take deep breaths!! Mind you, really enjoyed it and I have a week to recover before the next session!

Anyone else do Kung Fu (can't remember which type i'm doing, its either Hung Gar or Lau Gar) and any tips on getting more flexible?!

Bajie

What was the deciding factor in you choosing Kung Fu then. Never really got mentioned in your previous posts.
Re:Flexibility ... get to the class asap and do a personal warmup.
Do plenty of "homework" to improve your flexibility.

Note to self : Take your own advice Bajie

red_dog104

Looked at local classes. Couldn't decide what I wanted to do, went to watch a few (which are limited where I am) and decided that kick boxing is crap, Karate just isn't for me and Kung Fu had all the things pretty much I wanted (and I got on well with the instructor) so had a go and loved it! Also, my partner and son have decided to start next week, so it'll be something we can do together (and my partner and son can do some 'male bonding'!!!)

Felt really embarrassed as couldn't manage any sit ups or press ups! Proper unfit girlie!!

ChrisB

The info down at my gym (IIRC) says hold a stretch for 3 to 5 seconds for warm up / cool down (you do do both don't you? or 5 to 7 seconds if you want to improve flexability. Don't bounce though - ease in, hold and ease out.

Calling Ozzy

TopBanana

Starting jiu jitsu soon, have all that to look forward to

CarpetCleaner

**** Kung Fu

just get a Colt 45 and you are sorted....some ****** comes waving his arms and legs at me?

bang bang

red_dog104

Thank you Carpet! You tit!!!!!

Squizz

Spent a while doing Lau-Gar Kung-Fu.

Years later, did Jiu Jitsu.

The Jitsu pissed all over the Kung-Fu. Much more relevant in the real world and a damn fine mix of offensive/defensive techniques.

SiPie

Red Dog...

Did LauGar for 4ish years and loved it...

Gave it up due to the usual crap politics that inevitably occurs and still train on me tod to keep my hand in...

Lack of ground work worried me a bit though and the Sifu felt that Lau Gar's stances were so strong that you wouldn't go to ground .... I don't think so somehow

Once the bruising goes down on your forearms from 10,000 attempts at number 1 block (if it is Lau Gar u r doing) and your bum muscles return after hours in horse-riding stance then you'll love it...

Enjoi

oj

Used to do Judo, Karate & Jitsu when I younger (just before the Bruce Lee films came out..!!) shows how old I am, did this till in my mid twenties, then went onto play American Football, suffered a bad shoulder and then took up weight training, which lead me into body building.. Now my son, only seven, started this year doing Wing Chun which he is enjoying..

Enjoy the pain.. and you will have some to remember for a while..

dnb

I used to do Lau Gar as well (for about 2 years). Then I went to Uni where it wasn't a popular style, followed by house ownership, work & Scooby ownership. Never have time now I'm originally from East Anglia, and haven't found much Lau Gar down south.

I suppose I should start again, as I'm beginning to put on weight and become less flexible. As you say, it's amazing how flexible you can be when you get some "help" Why don't legs have end stops fitted???

CarpetCleaner

red dog

ScoobyWon't

Red_dog, get yourself into the Hoofers gym in Vic centre Wednesday afternoon - they have an "Ab Attack" session. You'll soon be doing sit-ups with ease.

Just not looking forward to the Beep Test I have to do tomorrow evening...

red_dog104

Wednesday afternoon........ Can't, i work full time!! (well, i'm in the office full time anyway!!) What a shame that I won't be able to put myself through more excruciating pain!!!! LOL!!!

ScoobyWon't

Ya wimp!

I've already put in 2.5 hours today in the gym!

red_dog104

I find the gym really boring! and yes, I am a wimp LOL!

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

as long as its osmething you enjoy stretching and fitness come with time did thai boxing and karate for 12 years great fun especially the beating people up part

LG John

You need to be stretching nearly every day at home to get flexible IMHO. Also consider cod liver oil suppliments to help your joints. When I started Kuk Sool in Feb if I locked out my legs and tried to touch my toes (yes, yes, I know - a bad stretch) I would fall short by about 4 inches. I can now (after some warm up) get my palms flat on the deck which is an increase of - I'd guess - 6 inches

beemerboy

my mate cut himself up badly doing oregami...

BB

mbc

im defo gonna go buy some cod liver oil if it will give me an extra 6 inches

TopBanana

To all the guys who've done jitsu.. someone here is into karate and reckons jitsu is for batty boys. I need some hard facts to shut him up - any takers?

LG John

If it gave me an extra six inches down their I'd eat the whole friggin cod

Rob D

In my opinion a lot has to do with who's actually taking/teaching the class.
My first introdution to martial arts was Karate (shokaten i think) which I thought was ok but very limited, however seeing a boy of 6 (black belt) heading the class was somewhat strange although he wasn't teaching. He managed to get a black belt after 2 years!
After a few months a complete muppet took over and from there on in the class took a nose dive. He had "rock and roll" tatooed on his knuckles!
I then took up kickboxing at college which I enjoyed, the teacher was very good although it was very physical the main point was the fitness, imagine interlocking legs in a sit-up position with a opponent and hold at 45 degrees for 45 minutes, now that was tough!
Last of all I took up Aikido which I thought was the best by a mile, the teachers were very professional there was no "look at me I'm a black belt" attitude. The gradings are and have to be very precise, 3 guys failed their black belts on the first attempt however 2 of them then passed on the next attempt, this after 8 years of studying Aikido.