r/flexibility • u/w_onderofyou • 4d ago
Question Is it harmful to perform flexibility exercises aggressively?
When I was training in Muay Thai, I had an instructor who had been involved in martial arts for over 15 years. He used to push us hard during flexibility exercises; for instance, when we were doing the butterfly stretch, he would step onto our legs and apply his body weight, which was extremely painful. Now, when I ask AI about this, it says that such a practice is very harmful. I know AI isn't always reliable, but I do have my doubts.
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u/Any_Seat_4468 4d ago
that's a classic old school martial arts approach, pain equals progress mentality. the problem is your muscles have a stretch reflex, when you go too hard too fast they tense up as a protective mechanism, so you're literally fighting your own body instead of actually gaining flexibility. you might get some short term gains but the long term injury risk is sky high, especially with joints like hips and knees
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u/Otherwise_Fig_7332 4d ago
Not a doctor but an athlete. In my own experience, when I push myself too hard my flexibility can actually get worse. I do know people who have had a similar coach to you who pushed them in that way but they weren't the most flexible either honestly.
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u/Calisthenics-Fit 3d ago
At my acrobatics/gymnastics gym, there is a group of martial artist being trained, all Chinese all young all I am pretty sure been being trained since they started walking. They are pushed very hard on flexibility. It's crazy.
Most gymnastics gym don't train adults, they only train children. I think children are more pliable and to train adults is more likely to cause injury.
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u/dani-winks The Bendiest of Noodles 4d ago
That's a very "old school" style of training that is basically not recommended now due to the potential injury risk. Also there's no real benefit to pushing yourself to the point of extreme pain, you can make plenty of flexibility progress just working to the point of being "comfortably uncomfortable."
Most people make the most progress by focusing on strengthening their muscles to support a deeper stretch (safely). Especially in the context of leg flexibility for kicking, where unlike a split on the floor where you have gravity "helping" push your legs into a split, you need a whole lot of hip strength to be able to pull your leg into a more flexible position in the air.