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Flexibility Exercises For Karate - Achieving Excellence

Author: Ruth Cracknell
Date Posted: May 24, 2009

An integral part of Karate training is Calisthenics. It is essential that the student conduct a 15-minute warm-up or flexibility exercises to strengthen and loosen his muscles. You should loosen the body, indulge in neck twisting, arm stretching, back stretching, leg swinging, leg stretching, leg spreading, trunk twisting, etc. All of these things will make you more flexible and more easily able to perform the thrusts and moves that are demanded in karate.

To develop and strengthen the muscles which are so important in executing Karate techniques and motions, it is wise to practice these advanced calisthenics. Push-ups will help strengthen the legs and arms. You should be able to do 15 or 25 pushups a day.

For leg-lifting, place hands against a wall, lean your body forward and quickly lift the knee as high as you can. After steady practice you will be able to lift it right to your upper chest!

Rabbit hopping is also suggested, especially with your hands clasped behind your back.

Other Forms of Calisthenics

As many of you know, rope skipping is not just for little girls. Professional boxers in every weight division-from the lightweight division right up to the heavyweight division-practice rope skipping before each training session as part of their flexibility exercises. Try one jump and when you have gained confidence and perfection, attempt two jumps per revolution.

Punching the bag is an excellent way to sharpen your reflexes, get more steam into your overhead punches. Keep slugging away according to the correct principles of Karate. Practice the one-knuckle, middle knuckle, knife hand, back of hand, clenched fist strokes. Dance around the bag. Strike from awkward positions.

Push-Ups are one of the basic muscle strengthening exercises practiced by the United States Marines, by tough Commando troops, by F.B.I, men and police trainees everywhere. Push-Ups, too, should be practiced by the Karate Man in Training every day! It's the ideal exercise for the chest, arms, stomach, back, ankles, wrists!

Another good limbering-up exercise is called Rabbit-Hopping. And, as the name implies, you hop around the room like a rabbit. It sounds easy but once you try it, you'll wonder how rabbits do it so gracefully! But don't despair! Keep trying it and you'll master it as well as Bugs Bunny. This exercise strengthens muscles used in jumping and kicking. Hop a few feet each day; then increase the distance until you can rabbit-hop about 75 feet!

Another good limbering-up exercise consists of throwing your right straight out-as if you were punching a bag. This helps give you proper leverage. Try it a few times when warming up.

Try marching around the room like a wooden soldier. This helps improve your knee thrusts.

If you've ever visited New York City, you've undoubtedly seen and admired the precision dancing and leg kicking of the world-famous Rockettes on the stage of the Radio City Music Hall. You should try kicking your leg up too. This is an excellent exercise for strengthening leg muscles.

Practise these flexibility exercises often and your karate will improve.

About The Author

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Article Source: JKD Street Combat - online collection of Exercise articles.

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