I feel that I am quite flexible, the style of kungfu I study concentrates 70% on hand, elbow, finger etc attacks and the rest on attacks using kicks mostly low to medium (some high - roundhouse etc).

I just wanted to know, form people that perhaps study a different martial art (Tae Kwondo preferably), what leg stretches and excercises you would advise on in order to better my side thursts and round houses and make my legs more flexible?

When I first started out I used to very slow static stretches and to be honest I didnt find I was getting the best results. Its not until I learnt about dynamic stretching that I saw a big increase in my flexibility! By dynamic I mean actually doing the moves, the turning kicks, hook kicks etc....

There are a few traditional Karate and Taekwondo users on here..

Thoughts?

Hello, my box and static stretch is hopeless but somehow I manage to do those high section roundhouse/turning kicks and spinning hooking kicks!

I agree that it is the dynamic stretching that really increased by flexibility.

Also, getting the technique right as well dramatically improved my kicking reach, such as standing foot and hip position. Also, the momentum helps.

Of course, make sure you are well warmed up first before you try any of this!

Has anyone tried the three bar leg stretchers? i was wondering if they are worth giving a go.

Ive tried the sit down stretch machine that has a wheel in the middle and you keep turning it until it gets to 180 degrees! Is that the same thing? Or is the bar stretch more of a static stretcher?

That stretching machine with the wheel that Pete mentioned, apart from looking like a sinister medieval torture device, always looks a bit dangerous to me.

What are the risks of totally overdoing it on the device or even getting stuck??

Lesley Jackson wrote:
That stretching machine with the wheel that Pete mentioned, apart from looking like a sinister medieval torture device, always looks a bit dangerous to me.

What are the risks of totally overdoing it on the device or even getting stuck??

I have one of those contraptions and they seem to work...a bit. I all honesty I asked the questions as I am aware alot you are TKD people, which obvioulsy concentrates more on the legs, than we do.

i have to agree with pete and lesley on this one, i feel i have reached a fairly high flexibility but i haven't had any specific stretching programs,
just practice those high kicks a lot and always stretch off at the end of a session and everything becomes easier.
with flexibility its all down to regular stretching over a long period of time; there are no quick solutions (but that can be said for everything in martial arts)

and also i have found with me i might go for months without any aparant improvement and then all of a sudden in a matter of weeks become a whole lot more flexible, anyone else found this?

I think the best way to get leg flexability is to combine static stretching with dynamic stretching. We do a lot of kicking i my style of kung fu both high and low. I personnaly think if you warm up with static stretching i.e. splits (both ways) squat stretches to work hips (very important) and touching the floor just a few simple straight forward stretches. A good one is to stand against a wall and get someone to push your leg up and stretch for you. Then from there once warm doing dynamic stretches like air kicking trying to take it as high as you sensibly can. You should gradually notice your flexability get better, it is quite important to raise the muscles in your legs though because they have to be long in order to take the stretch is they are not strong they wont let you flex. I think it isportant to maintain a healthy balance of strength and flexibility.

I can recomend the Thomas Kurz material;
http://www.stadion.com/

and Pavel Tsatsouline
http://www.zippyvideos.com/181022193786925/pavel_tsatsouline_forced_relaxation_part12/
http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Stretching-Russian-Flexibility-Breakthroughs/dp/0938045180