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Author Topic: bioobirds active training log  (Read 2079 times)

Offline bioobird

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bioobirds active training log
« on: January 16, 2009, 11:23:12 AM »
For as long as i can remember ive been extremely active, always climbing jumping ect. like probably most of the people on this forum. with a heavy BMX backround i never moved my arms above my head, and my feet stayed on the pedals. so after almost 10 years of bmxing every single day, i had some bulky legs, but they still cant bend for shit.


my official discovery of parkour was about 4 years ago, and i made the transition into a freerunner about 2 years ago... for the past 7 months i have been working at a post production house in manhattan, and getting to and from the train  station + getting lunch+ running errands adds up to about  60+ miles a week (by longboard)  MINIMUM (about 15 miles a day) in the rain in the snow, in the 5 degree weather (LITERALLY) i didn't miss a single day

and just for the record, i have a car, i could have easily cut out half of that longboarding, but wheres the fun in that?

but ANYWAYS.

all this exercise is well and good, but if i am really going to better myself as a traceur i need to make a log completely devoted to stretching.

my current job is ending, and i should have alot of free time over the next month until i go back to the city,

so i'm taking complete advantage of this, and im going to make as much gains as possible.



stretching is the hardest thing in the world for me to do. id sooner longboard across long island then stretch for 10 mins.
so PLEASE

remind me how important it is, remind me how benificial it will be to my skillset, + overall health.
ive failed dozens of times at keeping up a schedule.
i hope i stay as motivated as i am right now.

THURSDAY JAN 15TH
30 mins of kicks,
held a toe touch for a good 5 mins,
maxed out my middle split twice
each time took about 20 mins to relax my legs/hips

i'm going to take measurements from heel to heel (with straight legs)
as well as from inseam to floor tonight, that should give me a basic understanding of where i started.
(any other ideas for measuring basic flexibility is well appritiated)



« Last Edit: February 11, 2009, 06:55:59 PM by bioobird »
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Offline DickTraceur

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Re: bioobirds stretch log.
« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2009, 04:04:23 PM »
Lifting some freeweights would help your flexibility out... Just sayin'  ;)

I really enjoy stretching because I used to do it all the time for taekwon do. I used to hate it but after a couple of disciplined weeks your muscles will feel a lot better round the clock. Stick to it!

Are you just going to be doing static stretches here and there or fit them into your training, too? I find it really helps to get it "over with" by stretching after my lifting sessions. It helps me cool down, rest, and relax my muscles.
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Offline Drew Cooper

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Re: bioobirds stretch log.
« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2009, 07:13:04 PM »
a sit and reach is another good flexibility test, just sit on the ground with yor legs together in front of you, put your feet up against a box or other flat srface and reach beyond your toes. measure the farthest out you can reac without "throwing your body forward

good luck on this, every time i formally start stretching i make it about 3 weeks and then just kind of fade out, haha
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Offline David Boyle

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Re: bioobirds stretch log.
« Reply #3 on: January 18, 2009, 06:12:11 AM »
Super Joints and Relax into Stretch are great books to look into for stretching and joint mobility.
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Offline DickTraceur

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Re: bioobirds stretch log.
« Reply #4 on: January 21, 2009, 01:50:17 AM »
YO! STRETCH!
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Offline bioobird

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Re: bioobirds stretch log.
« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2009, 11:10:23 AM »
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 21ST

okay yea, had kind of a late start to this but i finally managed to get some measurements.


today at 141 i started my flexibilty training, i did some squats and kicks to warm up, grabbed some shorts, and socks, and went into my tile kitchen. I layed out a tape measurer on the ground with the end at my dishwasher.

1st attempt (middle split) feet got 60 inches apart.
-kicks kicks kicks kicks kicks...

2nd attempt, (front split, left foot back) 64 inches (toes to heel)
-kicks kicks kicks kicks kicks...

3rd attempt, (Front split, right foot back) 70 inches apart
-kicks kicks kicks kicks kicks...

fridge assisted toe touch. 2 mins

4th attempt, (middle split) 72 inches (6ft)

(also keep in mind im tall, so these angles im making with my legs are FAR from impressive...)

anyways good start today i feel as if i really built a routine. the whole session took about 20 mins... tomorrow il add some onto that. 

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Offline bioobird

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Re: bioobirds stretch log.
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2009, 03:27:45 PM »
THURSDAY JANUARY 22ND

today i stretched at about the same time,
kicks.. jogging around my kitchen.. kicks..
middle split (62 inches)

pistols, kicks,
front split, (left foot back, 67 inches)

kicks, toe touch

front split, (left foot forward 74 inches)

middle split (64 inches)
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Offline bioobird

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Re: bioobirds stretch log.
« Reply #7 on: January 27, 2009, 05:27:50 PM »
crazy gym sesh. was sore for 3 days. still sore today stretched anyway.


66inches for my middle

77.5 for my left foot back right foot forward

aaand 74.5 for the switch of that.

it feels good to make steady improvments! this better continue!!
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Offline BelatuCadros

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Re: bioobirds stretch log.
« Reply #8 on: January 27, 2009, 05:31:01 PM »
Is it possible to plateau in the mysterious world of stretching?
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Offline bioobird

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Re: bioobirds stretch log.
« Reply #9 on: January 27, 2009, 05:34:52 PM »
stretching is really mental... i feel as if i just look at the numbers. and get inch by inch il get to where i wanna be. and even if i do plateu. il be at a better place then where i was at when i started, but id like some mod advice if any are watching :)
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Offline bioobird

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Re: bioobirds stretch log.
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2009, 06:58:24 PM »
DAY 4

Front split: 79 inches.

reverse Front split : 76 inches

55 push ups with a min on the microwave timer.

(my new favorite thing to do when making food)

i took footage of my middle splt, i forgot what i got but ill upload pictures as soon as the footage is done converting. at least so you guys can see where im at
« Last Edit: January 28, 2009, 07:03:05 PM by bioobird »
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Offline Chris Salvato

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Re: bioobirds stretch log.
« Reply #11 on: January 28, 2009, 07:33:50 PM »
Quote from: bioobird on January 27, 2009, 05:34:52 PM
stretching is really mental... i feel as if i just look at the numbers. and get inch by inch il get to where i wanna be. and even if i do plateu. il be at a better place then where i was at when i started, but id like some mod advice if any are watching :)

Stretching is VERY mental, Vinny.  In fact, its mostly your brain and nerves that do the changing, not your muscles.

You really need to stay positive.  If it hurts, force a smile.  Sounds dumb, but it works.  Smiling inhibits a lot of negative things, like pain...and the gag reflex/vomit reflex (next time you feel like you are going to puke, force a smile and it should help...)

Focus on your breathing, no matter how hard it is, tell yourself - OUT LOUD- "We are going to stay here for 30 seconds...it is going to be great".  Focus on deep breathing.  Deep breathing puts a stop to sympathetic function (that is, the part of your body that gets you psyched up and excited) and amps up your parasympathetic function (that is, the part of your body that calms you down).  Being calm when you stretch is crucial so that your body knows there is nothing to fear and that the extreme ROM is OK.

Relax into your stretching.  Smile.  Force yourself to enjoy it.  If you don't want to be there, your body won't want to be there either.
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Offline Muse_of_Fire

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Re: bioobirds stretch log.
« Reply #12 on: January 28, 2009, 08:04:55 PM »
Also, try yoga. It helps with the relaxing and also gives some structure to your program. And is also a full-body system. The smiling thing is a good tip, Chris. As I have some CVS tendencies, I'll have to keep that in mind next time I'm feeling queasy, because vomiting gets pretty scary for me. :)

Back on topic: stretching is all well and good, 'bird. But what are your flexibility goals?
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Offline bioobird

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Re: bioobirds stretch log.
« Reply #13 on: January 28, 2009, 08:57:58 PM »
my goal is to increase my functional flexibility, my swing through flexibility is TERRIBLE, i mean i can do swing throughs but its ver obvious i'm working with a limited range of motion. and id like to at least be able to get my legs far apart enough to do a good round off... as my heel approaches the ceiling my legs start to bend to seperate further.

and in the hopes of making this as easy as possible im only posting my final measurements, the whole process took about 20 mins the first time, and as the days go on its taking me longer and longer to get to my goal, today it took me a whole episode of mythbusters to get 79 inches. (for example i warmed up with 40 squats with 80 pounds in my hands,) some pistols, and laps back and forth around my house. )

tomorrow i'm hoping to break 80.

i can already feel my tolerance to the stretch increasing, as my front foot glided past 72 inches i actually still felt loose in my thigh, unlike the first day where 72 had my legs so tight i thought my ass was going to fall off.
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Offline bioobird

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Re: bioobirds stretch log.
« Reply #14 on: January 29, 2009, 09:29:39 AM »
NO LAUGHING! :X  but these are my best attempts, the front split is 79 inches, and the side is about 70
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Offline bioobird

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Re: bioobirds stretch log.
« Reply #15 on: January 29, 2009, 04:27:55 PM »
day five
ouch ouch.. i think i was sore today or something, didnt feel very bendy,

i was barley able to match yesterdays marks


front split 79.5 inches

reverse front split 77 inches

side split 70 inches
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Offline Chris Salvato

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Re: bioobirds stretch log.
« Reply #16 on: January 29, 2009, 05:19:56 PM »
on front splits you MUST keep your back leg straight.  If not, you are wasting time.
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Offline Muse_of_Fire

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Re: bioobirds stretch log.
« Reply #17 on: January 29, 2009, 07:41:57 PM »
I think I need to get cracking on my splits article.

Keep up the good work!
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Offline bioobird

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Re: bioobirds stretch log.
« Reply #18 on: January 30, 2009, 12:15:26 AM »
Quote from: Chris Salvato on January 29, 2009, 05:19:56 PM
on front splits you MUST keep your back leg straight.  If not, you are wasting time.

ok okok. il keep that in mind.
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Offline bioobird

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Re: bioobirds stretch log.
« Reply #19 on: February 01, 2009, 09:34:36 PM »
sore as HELL from the gym yesterday. felt really tight but stretched anyways.

middle split 72 inches.

front split 77 inches.

i remember once hearing that you should isolate your front splits, and not stretch them both at the same time,

would it be wise to alternate every other day? or just do them both the same day
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