The importance of stretching...

[Adren Bradley]

In finally getting down my kicking routine and on kick #6, I injury myself due to not focusing enough on stretching!

The importance of stretching, as it sometimes takes a set back or injury, to realize how important this is, I pulled my groin muscle-stretching will be my new best friend.

New focus besides learning what to do; upper body and streching routine!

[Mike Oliver]

Stretching really doesn't do a lot to prevent athletic injuries to be honest. What you need instead are good warm-ups, body balance, and body awareness. The "stretch" we do before class isn't much of a stretch at all. It's just designed to get the muscles moving a little bit. The best time to stretch is actually after you are very warm. After some good sparring rounds is a great time. This will increase your flexibility, but doesn't do much to prevent injury. In fact, stretching deeply before your muscles are warm is a good way to pull something in itself.