Stretching for Tai
Chi Chuan and Wu Shu
The Importance of Stretching
It is essential to
stretch before any Tai Chi or Wushu workout in order
to prevent injury and prepare you for the best possible practice. Flexibility
is helpful to your performance because it allows you to concentrate on
breathing, position, pace, etc. rath 353m1212d er than the limits placed on your motion
due to poorly stretched muscles. Also, remember that general flexibility
improves best with daily stretching exercises such as those outlined below.
Stretching too hard will make your muscles sore and tight, so be patient and
allow your flexibility to develop over time.
Basic Floor Stretching Excersises
To begin, sit on
the floor with legs straight in front. Then open the legs as wide as is comfortable.
Hold each of the positions described below steadily (no bouncing) for 10
counts.
- Lean over
the right leg, keeping the back straight, chest facing towards the floor.
Hold onto the right foot if possible. Repeat, leaning over the left leg.
- Next, do a
side stretch: Lean to the side over the right leg, so your right side is
facing the floor. The left arm should reach over the head toward the right
foot. The right arm can lay against the floor, pointing to the left.
Repeat over the left leg.
- Lean forward,
keeping the back straight. You may reach the arms forward or reach them
sideways to hold onto the feet if possible.
- Bring the
legs together in front. Lean forward over the legs, keeping the back
straight. Pull the balls of the feet back, if possible.
- Pull the
legs in for a butterfly stretch. The feet are in the center,
bottoms together, and the knees to the sides. Hold the feet together with
the hands and push down on the knees with the elbows. Lean forward,
keeping the back straight.
- Next,
leave the left leg laying on the floor as in the
butterfly stretch, and cross the right leg over it so that the right foot
is on the floor and the right knee is pointing up. Turn the torso to the
right and stretch by pulling the right leg close to your body. Repeat on
the opposite side.
- Next do a
runners stretch, with the left leg bent behind and the right leg straight
in front. Lean over the front leg with the back straight. Repeat with the
left leg in front.
- For more
advanced students: from the runner's stretch, slide into the splits by
straightening the back leg. Do for both sides.