At ARUKBC we are lucky to have coaches who not only understand the importance of a proper warm up and stretching exercises, but also understand how to do each stretch properly and are able to explain each stretch to the rest of us. Massimo has already written two articles on the benefits of a proper warm up and on stretching.

From what I can remember of my school days stretching was always one of those things that everyone only pretended to do.  I can’t help but feel that my teachers should also be included in that. I have recollections of mostly just standing there not feeling much and wondering what it was exactly that I was meant to be doing. Football has never been too much different, jog a little bit as a warm up, stand about and chat probably stretching jaw muscles more than the legs, and then run around for 90 minutes before heading straight to the pub. Kickboxing lessons have been enlightening to say the least.  A full 30 minutes are put into warming up and stretching at the start of every lesson. We’re all strongly encouraged to stretch at the end of the lesson too.  Having finally been taught to stretch properly I can not only understand the benefits, but I can now see and feel the physical benefits for myself.  So why stretch?

Safety – the warm up and stretching leaves you fully prepared for the hour of punching and kicking that lies ahead. I have to attribute my lack of injuries over the last six months, both in kickboxing and on the football pitch, to the warm up and stretching techniques that I have learnt through kickboxing.

Flexibility – the ability to kick above waist height is a necessity in kickboxing, being able to perform kicks at head height is an advantage. It’s not going to happen overnight, although you will notice some benefits almost immediately, but over time you’ll find your kicks going higher and higher.