Stretching is an important part of any athletes training regime. To
be an effective martial artist it is essential that you work on your
flexibility. There are several factors that influence your body’s
flexibility:
Internal influences
The type
of joint (some joints simply aren't meant to be flexible)
The internal resistance within a joint
Bony structures which limit movement
The elasticity of muscle tissue (muscle tissue that is scarred due
to a previous injury is not very elastic)
The elasticity of tendons and ligaments (ligaments do not stretch
much and tendons should not stretch at all)
The elasticity of skin (skin actually has some degree of elasticity,
but not much)
The ability of a muscle to relax and contract to achieve the greatest
range of movement
The temperature of the joint and associated tissues (joints and muscles
offer better flexibility at body temperatures that are 1 to 2 degrees
higher than normal)
External influences
The temperature
of the place where one is training (a warmer temperature is more conducive
to increased flexibility)
The time of day (most people are more flexible in the afternoon than
in the morning, peaking from about 2:30pm-4pm)
The stage in the recovery process of a joint (or muscle) after injury
(injured joints and muscles will usually offer a lesser degree of
flexibility than healthy ones)
Age (pre-adolescents are generally more flexible than adults)
Gender (females are generally more flexible than males)
One's ability to perform a particular exercise (practice makes perfect)
One's commitment
to achieving flexibility
