Some are born with it.
Others spend their whole lives chasing it.
I belong to the second group.
How about you?
It’s such a problem, it’s why I decided to pursue boxing over kickboxing or Muay thai. Because high kicks feel like they’re going to tear my hips apart.
But about a month ago, I decided to fix my flexibility problems…
I went to the gym to work the heavy bag. This was one of the first times after I started back after hurting my hand. [Remember the bag of peas on my hand?]
There’s only 1 heavy bag in this gym and there was a guy working it before I got there. I figured with my celebrity status, once he saw me he’d drop everything and let me work the bag to my heart’s desire.
For some weird reason that didn’t work. So I decided the direct approach.
“Mind if I work in during your rest breaks to loosen up?”
“Go ahead” he said, cool-ly.
Probably didn’t want to seem too overly excited to meet me. I understand.
While he was clearly not in fight shape, with his “case of beer a week belly”, he could still kick high and hard.
A hell of a lot higher and harder than me.
That’s when it hit me that I’d better address my flexibility issues once and for all, before I get old and weary and need help putting my socks on.
So for the past month or so, I’ve been doing what I do best – diving head first into the research, into books and into whatever resources I could get my hands on. I talked to friends and colleagues in the industry and got their thoughts and insights.
After hours of poring over the data and pages of notes, I feel like I’ve come up with a big reason why many people have trouble improving their flexibility, despite their best efforts.
If you’ve ever had a flexibility issue that wouldn’t go away with simple stretching, this info will open your eyes.
But I need something first. I have one question for you to answer:
Q: What techniques, skills, exercises or situations do you wish you had more flexibility for?
This is a two-way street and for this topic, I really do need your input and feedback.
I was thinking about doing that thing where I make you leave 50 or 5,000 Comments or I don’t make my next post, but yeah, I think that’s kinda gay. Not really my style.
All I know is that the last time survey I posted on injuries, your votes showed that shoulder injuries are the most common, and I put together that little INDESTRUCTIBLE Shoulder Program for ya.
So I’ll leave it up to you or not to post your answer to the Q above.
But if I don’t get any good feedback, there’s no point in me spending the time to write up an article on the TRUTH about flexibility.
Plus, in the article, I might even embed some pics like this:
So for anyone who really wants to know the TRUTH about flexibility, leave your answer to the question, “What techniques, skills, exercises or situations do you wish you had more flexibility for?” in the Comments below.
UPDATE
If hip flexibility is an issue, you should check this article out:
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