Question: Dear Mr. Kim, I find myself having difficulty with following your instructions in the book Ultimate Flexibility. I don't know exactly what is perform in "Y stretch" and "Crossed Legged Side Bend" . I need more specific descriptions to do these stretch . Yours sincerely, H. T. Kwon (p.s. I am very impressed with the book, it's really great work )
Answer from Sang H. Kim:
Hopefully the following will help clarify the exercises for you:
For the Cross Legged Side Bend, begin from a relaxed stance. Cross your right leg in front of your left and place your right foot next to your left so that your feet are together and your legs are crossed at the ankles (your small toes are close to each other). Keeping your legs straight, bend at the waist and try to touch the floor next to your left foot. If you can touch the floor, try to place your palms flat. Focus on relaxing your hamstrings and hip.
The Y stretch is quite advanced. Begin by lying on your stomach. Place your palms on the floor like you're going to do a push-up and straighten your arms, raising your upper body fully off the floor. From here, try to maintain your upper body position while slowly swinging your right leg over your left, creating a Y shape (your upper body is the stem of the Y and your legs are the top of the Y). If you are having difficulty with achieving this position, I would recommend working on some of the less challenging hip exercises then returning to this one in 3-6 months.
Best of luck with your training,
Sang H. Kim
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sang H. Kim is an internationally respected author of 13 martial arts books, including his new book Vital Point Strikes and the best sellers Ultimate Flexibility, Ultimate Fitness through Martial Arts, Combat Strategy and Teaching: the Way of the Master, and star of over 100 martial arts instructional DVDs and video downloads programs including Self-defense Encyclopedia, Knife-defense, Power Breathing, Junsado Training Series, and Complete Taekwondo Series.
He won the 1976 Korean National Championship and was named Instructor of the Year by the Korean government in 1983. As a special agent during his military service, he developed tactical combat methods for hand-to-hand and hand-to-weapon combat for covert operatives.
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