EASY FRONT SPLIT PROGRAM Part 1

Jon Engum performing the splits while pressing a kettlebell.

The front splits are important to the longevity of your movement. Besides the cool factor, the front splits are an important addition to your current ease of movement program.

The front splits focus directly on the hamstrings and the hip flexors at the same time making it a big bang for your buck movement.  Just ask almost any doctor and they will tell you one contributing factor in lower back, noncontact injuries, is tight or weak hamstrings and hip flexors.

Focused training on the front splits and the supplemental exercises will go a long way to help “bulletproof“ your back.

Follow this program patiently to the letter and I’m sure you will be very happy with results.

Flexibility Training Takes Patience

When you participate in one of our Flexible Steel certifications we give you some amazing instant gains, but for long term sustainable results training must be in the moderate intensity range and consistent.  A moderate program with 100% compliance will yield far better results than an advanced intensive program that is not followed precisely.

That said, we will break this program into 2 – 6 week phases, a preparatory phase and a focused front split phase.

Phase I: Preparatory Phase

During the initial phase we will hit the major players with a moderate training program designed to prepare you for more intense focused front split work to follow in phase II.

The Power Tools

Flexible Steel offers many different Power tools to soup up the results of your standard stretching movements. During this program we are going to take advantage of a combination of just two different power tools: Mini contractions and relaxed stretching, a.k.a., waiting out the tension.

A mini contraction is exactly what it sounds like. Put your muscles into a stretch position to the point where you just start to feel a stretch. Then, lightly contract the stretching muscles just enough to move yourself slightly out of position.  Relax and repeat the cycle for 10 repetitions. This is not a heavy duty isometric contraction, rather just a twitching of the targeted muscle groups. Each mini contraction will consist of a rhythmical cycle held for about one second and then relax for 1 second. Muscle power on, muscle power off.

After 10 mini contractions, relax and move a little deeper into the stretched position. Hold the static relaxed position for 15 seconds. Don’t guess, you need to actually count to 15.

A combination of 10 mini contractions and a 15 second relaxed hold constitutes one rep. You will repeat this for three reps and this will constitute one set. Remember this ratio: (10 mini contractions and a 15 second relaxed hold.) X3.

The Moves

Phase 1 will include exercises to target the following:

Calves

Hamstrings

Quadriceps

Hip flexors

1. Calf Stretch

The Calf Stretch is best performed with your shoes on so not to stress your foot too much.

  • Find a step, block, stair or similar object.
  • Stand with the ball of one foot on the edge of the stair and the rest of your foot hanging off in the air.  Yes, that does rhyme.
  • Lower your heel until you feel stretch in your calf.
  • Now contract your calf muscles to raise yourself up a couple inches. This is one mini contraction.
  • Repeat for 10 times.
  • Let your heels sink deeper into the stretch and hold that position for the count of 15. Repeat the combination of mini contractions and relax stretching for two more cycles.
  • Switch feet into the other side.

2. Hamstring Stretch

  • Place the heel of your foot on a table, bar, or post that is slightly higher than your waist level.
  • Either pad your heel or wear shoes so you’re not distracted by pain in the back of your heel.
  • The toes and knee of your airborne legs should be pointed directly to the sky.
  • Keep your knee straight.
  • The knee of the standing leg should also be straight. Your knee and toes should track.
  • Keeping a big chest, place your fingers in the crest of your hip. Using your fingers as a guide fold forward at the hip.
  • It is important to note the only movement is coming from your hip. Do not round your back.
  • Once you feel stretching in the hamstrings, begin to perform your mini contractions buy driving your heel into the table causing you to rise slightly out of the stretched position.
  • Relaxing move deeper into the stretch. This is one mini contraction.
  • Repeat 10 more times.
  • After the 10th contraction move deeper into stretch position and statically hold for 15 seconds.
  • Repeat for three rounds.

3. Quadriceps Stretch

  • Bend your knee so your foot goes behind you and your instep is placed on the bench, bar or other similar support about waist high.
  • Keep your knees close together.
  • Squeezed the glute on the airborne side.
  • Tighten up your quads to slightly pull yourself out of the stretch and then relax and move further into stretch. This is one mini contraction.
  • Repeat 10 more times.
  • After the 10th contraction move deeper into stretch position and statically hold for 15 seconds.
  • Repeat for three rounds.

4. Hip flexor Stretch

  • Get into a half kneeling position.
  • The knee of your right leg and instep of your right foot are facing down, in a straight line and on their own railroad track.
  • Your left foot is on the left railroad track.
  • Your hips should be squared off and level.
  • Do a hip tilt.  Imagine your beltline is the rim of a coffee cup, tilt your hips in such a way that the coffee would pour out the back of your “cup.”
  • Take both hands and put them on your hips and move your hips forward to increase the feel of the stretch.
  • If the knee of your front leg starts to travel past your foot, simply slide your front foot forward a bit to adjust this.
  • Once you feel stretching in the hip flexors , begin to perform your mini contractions buy driving your down knee forward  into the ground which will cause you to move out of the stretch a bit then relax and move deeper into the move.
  • This is one mini contraction.
  • Repeat 10 more times.
  • After the 10th contraction move deeper into stretch position and statically hold for 15 seconds.
  • Repeat for three rounds.

The Program

These exercises will be performed as a short circuit. Some days you only have to do one circuit while other days you will perform the circuit two to three times. Do one round of each exercise and this will constitutes one circuit.

The six week program will shake out like this. You will train four days a week. You may insert this stretching program after your regular strength training/sport practice or, as a standalone program. If you use it as a standalone program, make sure to do your mobility drills prior to doing the intense stretching.

Further Explanation

1. Number of days should be self explanatory.

2. Intensity stands for how hard your mini contractions are.

3. L equals light contraction. In other words just barely contract your muscles.

4. M equals medium contraction. So contract the muscles harder than you would during late days but not as hard as you possibly can.

5. H equals hard contraction. Contract stretching muscles is hard as possible.

 6. Circuit means how many rounds you will do of the program.

7. X means no stretching on this day.

Weeks 1-2

Day1234567
IntensityLLXLLXX
Circuits11X11XX

Weeks 3-4

Day1234567
IntensityMHXLMXX
Circuits23X12XX

Weeks 5-6

Day1234567
IntensityMHXLMXX
Circuits33X33XX

LAS 4 SEMANAS AL PROGRAMA DE FLEXIBLE STEEL

¿Qué crees que haría un mejor rango de movimiento en tu desempeño deportivo? Imagina no tener que pelear con tu propio cuerpo. Imagina tener movimientos fluidos y sin obstáculos a tu entera disposición.

¿Qué tan buena sería tu vida si pudieras recuperar toda la brillante movilidad de tu juventud? Quiero que comprendas que no estoy hablando del tipo de flexibilidad débil que tiene un sujeto a expensas de su fuerza y potencia, no señor, estoy hablando de un tipo de flexibilidad fuerte y potente que te ayudará a mejorar tu vida y tu desempeño deportivo. ¿Interesado?

Sigue este simple programa de 4 semanas y te garantizo que obtendrás resultados sorprendentes y además, estarás en el camino indicado para convertirte en “Flexible Steel”. Dame 4 semanas (son 16 sesiones en total) y le daré un buen respiro a tu desgastado cuerpo.

PRIMERO: UN CAMBIO EN EL PARADIGMA

El difunto Jack Lalane podría ser fácilmente considerado como el padrino del fitness como lo conocemos. Jack estaba muy adelantado a su tiempo, el no entrenaba clientes, el ENSEÑABA ESTUDIANTES. El no hacia ejercicio, el PRACTICABA, sus sesiones de entrenamiento eran llamadas LECCIONES no ejercicio.
Podemos aprender bastante por el simple cambio en sus expresiones, que de hecho, no son para nada aleatorias al contrario, fueron seleccionadas cuidadosamente para enfatizar un punto muy importante.
No hay que perseguir repeticiones y series sin ningún sentido, tampoco levantar peso por levantar sin un objetivo, en vez de eso ve con una mentalidad de ser mejor en lo que haces ya sea en el gimnasio, en la pista, en el campo, la idea siempre es ser mejor.
Intenta aprender una lección, intenta mejorar tu forma en la técnica, intenta aprender algo nuevo. Lo que sucede cuando cambiamos nuestra manera de pensar es simple: Obtenemos nuevos PR.
Si tenemos nuestra mente y cuerpo unidos, mantenemos las lesiones alejadas. Cuesta repetir: Ve a una práctica o a una lección, no a hacer ejercicio pero es la forma correcta. Aprender mantiene a uno joven.

 LA LECCIÓN: LOS CUATRO NUDOS.

Mi amigo y colega el Dr. Mark Cheng llama a las caderas y los hombros, “los cuatro nudos”.  Lo anterior es muy conocido dentro de la medicina oriental, sin embargo, aquí en occidente no lo es tanto. Los 4 nudos tienen muchos significados importantes, permíteme explicarte:
Los hombros y las caderas unen los brazos y las piernas a tu cuerpo, esto es obvio, pero, vamos a tomar la analogía del nudo más allá: Si tu tenis o tu zapato tiene unos nudos flojos, ¿Qué sucede? Se salen, hay que comprender que un nudo no puede estar muy flojo. ¿Y qué pasa, si está muy apretado? No lo puedes deshacer y por ende no puedes remover tu zapato.
Bajo esta misma analogía debemos comprender que para tener un nudo funcional, debemos tener el balance perfecto entre fuerza y flexibilidad. Tu cuerpo debe ser: Acero Flexible (Flexible Steel), el acero flexible se dobla, pero no se rompe.

CADERAS Y HOMBROS

Durante las próximas 4 semanas nuestra lección será: Ganar más flexibilidad y movilidad en las caderas, espina torácica y hombros.
¿Porque? Por qué obtendremos una pequeña explosión en nuestro desempeño si logramos tener incluso la menor de las mejoras en esas áreas.
Se ha dicho que “Un atleta debe mover las caderas primero” Gray Cook, el fundador de Functional Movement System (FMS) llama a las caderas “Un mal vecino”, significa que si no tienes caderas fuertes y con buena movilidad, tus rodillas y espalda baja deben compensar. ¿Alguien con dolor de rodillas o de espalda baja?

El plan de 4 semanas que te voy a compartir está diseñado para ser realizado por la mañana antes de tu entrenamiento habitual. Puedes realizar cualquier otro ejercicio o actividad que este en tu agenda, y por favor no lo consideres un “calentamiento” o un “entrenamiento” mejor piensa en el como una lección o práctica de movimiento.

Los Movimientos

A continuación te muestro los ejercicios seleccionados de mi libro “Flexible Steel” aprenderás la técnica de ejecución de estos movimientos.

Sentadilla Goblet con Kettlebell

Dan John, extraordinario coach y autor de fuerza desarrolló la sentadilla goblet con kettlebell. Hemos encontrado que con uno o dos meses de practicar esta singular forma de hacer sentadilla tiene un efecto dramático en abrir las caderas y la espina torácica. Mejorará tu desempeño para hacer cualquier tipo de sentadillas – No importa si son front squats, back squats o cualquier variación que sea de tu preferencia.

Toma un Kettlebell por la oreja, con las manos lo más próximas al cuerpo, como si estuvieras tomando el volante de un auto. Pavel llama este agarre “por los cuernos”. Realiza la sentadilla enviando tus caderas hacia atrás y abajo entre tus talones.

Jon Engum Squat

Jon Engum Squat 2

Lo siguiente se explica solo, pero aun así te lo voy a decir.

  • Asegúrate de que tus rodillas estén alineadas con las puntas de tus pies y se mantengan en la misma dirección de éstas durante todo el movimiento de principio a fin.
  • Mantén tus talones en el piso y las espinillas en vertical.
  • Mantén tu espalda recta, no permitas que tu coxis se desplace durante el movimiento en el fondo de la sentadilla.
  • Mantén el pecho abierto “orgulloso”, especialmente en la posición del fondo.
  • En la posición del fondo, coloca tus codos rectos alineados con el piso por dentro de las rodillas sin perder la alineación de la espalda.
  • Utiliza tus codos para abrir tus rodillas y caderas.
  • Tus pies se deben mantener bien en contacto con el piso.
  • Asegúrate que tus caderas, rodillas y caderas asciendan al mismo tiempo.
  • No inicies el movimiento con la cadera.

Utiliza la sentadilla Goblet como un ejercicio de movilidad así como de estabilidad, quédate unos segundos en la posición del fondo, muévete lado a lado y realiza pequeñas figuras en 8, esto ayudará a abrir tus caderas.
Intenta alargar la espina y hacer espacio dentro de tu cuerpo.

El estiramiento “buenos días” con Kettlebell.

Uno de los estiramientos más sencillos y efectivos que conozco para los isquiotibiales es el “Buenos días” y sus variantes, aquí te muestro una variante bastante efectiva del clásico “Buenos días”.

Jon Engum Good Morning

Jon Engum Good Morning 2

Indicaciones: Párate derecho, con los pies a lo ancho de tus hombros.

  • Sujeta un Kettlebell detrás de ti, aproximadamente a la altura de tu coxis.
  • Abre el pecho “muy orgulloso” y permítete estar con las rodillas “suaves” no bloqueadas.
  • Muévete con tus caderas, piensa en empujar el Kettlebell hacia atrás con tu cadera mientras mantienes la espalda recta y el pecho abierto.
  • No te preocupes por que tanto puedes inclinarte hacia al frente, esto no es un toque de punta de pies, mejor concéntrate por que tanto puedes enviar el Kettlebell hacia atrás con tus caderas, esto es una bisagra.
  • Si realizas este movimiento como se te indica vas a sentir un estiramiento muy intenso en los isquiotibiales, justo por debajo de tus glúteos.

El estiramiento desplante.

Jon Engum Preforming a Lunge

Como hacer el desplante:

  1. Colócate en posición de desplante apoyándote en tu rodilla derecha, el empeine de tu pie derecho también debe estar tocando el suelo.
  1. Asegúrate de alinear tu rodilla y tu pie en la misma línea, tu pie frontal debe de seguir su propia línea vertical y tu rodilla izquierda debe estar en el aire.
  1. Asegúrate de que tu espinilla izquierda, en este caso, este vertical y que tu rodilla esté por arriba de tu pie.
  1. No permitas que tu rodilla izquierda se desplace más allá de la punta de tus pies.
  1. Manten tus caderas alineadas, imagínate que tienes luces en las crestas de tus caderas, entonces asegúrate que ambas luces alumbran hacia enfrente.
  1. Ahora, coloca tus manos por detrás de tu espalda baja y empuja tus caderas hacia enfrente. Deberás sentir un estiramiento en el muslo y la cadera, aproximadamente a la altura de donde quedan las bolsas del pantalón.
  2. Empuja hacia al frente y atrás utilizando un ritmo en el movimiento, 1 segundo al frente y 1 segundo atrás.

Quick Tips:

  • Contrae el glúteo del lado que está estirando para: a) Proteger tu zona lumbar. B) relajar el flexor de cadera a través de la inhibición recíproca.
  • Si es que tu rodilla llega a rebasar la línea de tus pies, simplemente re posiciona más adelante para un desplante mas profundo.
  • Exhala cuando estés realizando el estiramiento, esto ayudará a relajar los músculos.
  • Inclina tus caderas hacia enfrente y arriba antes de que empieces el estiramiento, esto para que los músculos entren a un estado cómodo de pre-estiramiento. Esto mejorará tu esfuerzo.

El Arm Bar

El efecto del arm bar en los hombros, espina torácica y toda la postura es evidente tan pronto realizas el movimiento. Puedes sentir inmediatamente una dramática mejora en la postura de todo tu cuerpo. Examinemos la técnica adecuada del clásico arm bar. El arm bar inicia de la misma forma que su primo más cercano:    “El Turkish Get Up”. Escribo esto asumiendo que ya sabes cómo realizar un Get Up. Si no sabes cómo hacer un Get Up, deja de leer y ve a buscar un instructor ahora mismo que te enseñe el Get Up.

  1. Recuéstate en el piso con un Kettlebell liviano de tu lado derecho.
  1. Sujeta el Kettlebell con agarre de pistola: Mano derecha por dentro de la oreja y la mano izquierda sujetando por afuera, junta tu codo a tus costillas
  1. Vas a rodar hacia tus espaldas y al mismo tiempo vas ir levantando el Kettlebell. Una vez sobre tus espaldas, usando ambos brazos vas a colocar el Kettlebell justo en la posición de “disparo”, tal y como lo haces para el Get Up.
  1. Las cosas empiezan a ser diferentes al Get Up a partir de ahora.
  1. Tu brazo izquierdo va recostado por arriba de tu cabeza (horizontalmente en relación al piso), mientras que el brazo que sujeta el Kettlebell va perpendicular al piso (verticalmente en relación al piso).

Para citar a Pavel Tstatsouline, “Usando tu brazo y pierna izquierda como eje de rotación y dejando el brazo derecho con el Kettlebell recto y vertical, trae a tu rodilla derecha hacia el pecho y rueda hacia tu lado izquierdo. Estira bien tu pierna derecha y recuéstate en el suelo. Tu pierna debe estar alineada al ancho de tus hombros, tu rodilla estirada y tu pie haciendo punta.

En este punto del movimiento, debes concentrarte en 4 aspectos importantes:

Points to focus on while preforming an arm bar

  • Enfoque #1: El Kettlebell y el brazo que trabaja se debe de mantener vertical (Mantén el brazo vertical en todos los planos sin que voltees a ver el Kettlebell). Descansa tu cabeza en tu brazo izquierdo.
  • Enfoque #2: Rítmicamente comienza a empujar tus caderas hacia el piso, en este ejemplo piensa en llevar la cadera derecha al piso. Te ayudará a contraer el glúteo derecho, inhalar y exhalar suspirando hacia la extensión. La sincronización de la respiración y el movimiento debe ser: una repetición cada 2 segundos.
  • Enfoque #3: Piensa en hacer tu clavícula y tu área pectoral más larga y amplia.
  • Enfoque #4: Lleva tu brazo izquierdo (el que está en contacto con el piso) cada vez más lejos de ti. Piensa en que estas arrastrándote para salir de una trinchera
  • Cuando ya lo hayas realizado lo suficiente, leeeeentamente revierte el proceso de manera controlada.

El Pullover con Kettlebell

El Pullover con Kettlebell es un ejercicio que a menudo se pasa por alto, sin embargo, ayuda increíblemente a mejorar la postura. Este sencillo drill, tendrá un efecto dramático en tu habilidad de conseguir ese elegante bloqueo por arriba de tu cabeza a la hora de realizar presses, jerks, snatches, etc. Esto sin dejar de lado el impacto positivo sobre tu postura en general. Así es como lo vas a realizar:

Conduction a pull over step 1

Conducting a pull over part 2

  1. Recuéstate sobre tus espaldas.
  1. Sujeta un Kettlebell liviano con ambas manos; forma un gancho con tus pulgares y tu palma y vas a colocar la oreja ahí, de manera que el cuerpo del Kettlebell se recargue en la cara interna de los antebrazos.
  1. Empuja el Kettlebell frente a tu pecho – Como si fuera un bench press.
  1. Activa tus dorsales y bloquea tus codos. Debes de mantener la activación de los dorsales y el bloqueo de los codos durante todo el movimiento.
  1. Lentamente inicia el descenso del Kettlebell hacia atrás, de forma que quede por arriba del nivel de tu cabeza y sobre el piso.
  1. Toma aire, contrae y revierte el movimiento hasta que el Kettlebell esté alineado con el pecho, repetir entre 5 y 10 veces.

Nota: Si no puedes ejecutar todo el movimiento hasta el piso sin que pierdas la activación de los hombros o sin flexionar los codos, entonces llega solo hasta donde puedas mantener la postura correcta. Lo que vas a hacer es realizar movimientos de contracción y relajación, dejando que el peso del Kettlebell te lleve poco a poco hacia abajo con cada exhalación. Se continuo, ya que puedes llegar cada vez más abajo en cada set y con tiempo podrás dominar el pullover adecuadamente.

La Tactical Frog

La tactical frog es una bala mágica para ganar un control increíble sobre tus caderas y mejorar significativamente tu desempeño al momento de ejecutar sentadillas. Tiene un gran impacto positivo en casi cualquier movimiento atlético.

Video Tactical Frog

Pavel Macek Flexible Steel Instructor Specialist Demos the Moves

El programa para desatar los cuatro nudos.

Voy a empezar este programa de manera muy sencilla porque prefiero tener algo simple pero con un porcentaje de cumplimiento del 100% que algo complejo y con 50% de adherencia.

4 sesiones por semana, por las siguientes 4 semanas, realízalas en los días que mejor se te acomoden, pero ¡realízalas! Y no tengas dudas, al final de las cuatro semanas ganarás un impulso extra y podrás hacer el programa completo.

Printable program: http://flexiblesteel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Untying-the-Four-Knots-Program.pdf

Chinese Translation http://flexiblesteel.com/chinesetranslation/

Czech Translation http://www.kb5.cz/2016/12/4-tydny-k-flexible-steel-program-video-soutez/

Italian Translation http://flexiblesteel.com/blog/2016/12/29/programma-di-quattro-settimane-per-diventare-flexible-steel/

Polish Translation  http://flexiblesteel.com/blog/2017/01/01/polish-translation-of-4-weeks-to-flexible-steel-program/

Cossack Squat – Strength, Mobility and Flexibility all in one – PART 3

Angel Stretch with Kettle Bells

Flexible Steel Friends – I would like to introduce the 3rd in a 3 part series on the Cossack Squat. This is more than a few quick tips, rather it is an intensive and impressive premier on this very beneficial move designed to make you both Strong and Flexible at the same time. The author is Piort Kowalik, Flexible Steel Instructor Specialist (FSIS) from Poland. Follow Piort’s advice and you too will become like Flexible Steel!If you missed Part 1 and part 2  go here first http://flexiblesteel.com/blog/2017/07/13/cossack-squat-part-1/

Don’t train (load) an incorrect movement pattern

Before you decide to add the Cossack Squat to your training repertoire, make sure it’s good enough to grab a kettlebell and start the reinforcement process. Because movement is a little like working with clay, if you put unfinished, misshapen pot in the oven, you can be certain that only a harder version of this unfinished pot will come out. Such pot won’t be displayed anywhere, and will be of no use, and you will no longer be able to reshape it. You can only add it to the museum of bad pots.

If you try working a bad movement with weights it will not only be unsafe, but it will also be difficult to correct the bad movement strongly embedded in the nervous system. Give yourself time, take my advice and spend additional month working on the correct Cossack squat. You can use the framework I had tested on myself. Here it is:

Flexible Steel 4 weeks to Cossack Squat

Because I am not sure which of the problems in the Cossack squat that I’ve mentioned plagues you, I propose this solution. We have 6 items regarding mistakes and problems. Each contains 2-4 exercises, which should help. For each item choose only 2 exercises – Exercise A and Exercise B. 6 problems times 2 exercises each gives you 12 exercises and these exercises will accompany us for the next 4 weeks of work on a relatively correct Cossack Squat.

I’ve chosen mine, now you have to choose yours. You can choose the same, but remember that my problems may be different from yours, because every one of us has different experiences and different sport background, different rate of regeneration, etc. I give you mine so that you will see how it looks in practice.

The hip moves outside the heel on the bent leg side

Ex. A – STRADDLE

Ex. B – GROUND COSSACK

The heel of the bent leg does not touch the floor and you can’t press down on it.

Ex. A – ANKLE CIRCLES

Ex. B – NARROW SQUATS

Torso is not vertical.

Ex. A – KB GOBLET SQUAT

Ex. B – WALL COSSACK

The knee of the bent leg caves in.

Ex. A – BACK COSSACK

Ex. B – SPLIT SWITCH

5.(MA Cossack) The outer edge of the foot of the straight leg is not touching the ground.

Ex. A – SIDE CALF STRETCH

Ex. B – KUNG FU STANCE

  1. The height of the position is wrong – hips are higher than the knee on the bent leg side.

Ex. A – PINK PANTHER THE KNEE

Ex. B – LOADED COSSACK

Now that we have chosen our 12 exercises for the next 4 weeks, the next step is to arrange them in the template below. This template is a simple protocol I created for myself, which I use to train three times a week. The H, M and L letters stand for the difficulty level and are accordingly High, Medium and Low. The high difficulty version is 5 sets for 5-10 reps of a given exercise in total or per side, Medium is 3 sets for 5-7 reps and Low is 2 sets for 3-5 reps. Numbers from 1 to 6 mark the mistakes and problems we listed before. All this may seem a bit unclear at first, but once you put everything in order you’ll see it makes sense. So here’s the template. Here you should put the exercises that you’ve chosen.

Sample Template Cossak

Remember that week 1 and 2 differ from week 3 and 4 when it comes to the order of the exercises – A – B for 1 and 2; B – A for 3 and 4. To show how this may look I’ve put my exercises into week 1 with the values corresponding to high, medium and low versions. This what is looks like now:

Cossack Squat templete 2

Remember to match the number of reps to the difficulty level. The range between 5 to 10 gives you a lot of space to maneuver, so that depending on the exercise or your current condition you can choose a lower or greater number. Just choose what feels easy and what feels hard for you. Don’t rush it, and don’t beat yourself up, give yourself enough time to rest and treat each exercise as practice not training for exhaustion. Also try not to exceed the pain barrier, but rather gently approach it by working very close to your discomfort zone. Remember – it should be challenging, but not a struggle. Follow this simple program for 4 weeks to the letter and you will not be disappointed! I’m rooting for you. I hope that when I come back with a proposal on how to build strength using the Cossack squat you’ll be ready for it! And remember… Be Both Strong And Flexible – Become Flexible Steel.

PIOTR KOWALIK

The founder and manager of the Sports Centre and School of Martial Arts “IRBIS” in Krakow. The coach and trainer of gold medalists in the Polish Wushu Championships.

The instructor of StrongFirst SFG1 and Flexible Steel Instructor Specialist, who can share his expertise with passion during training sessions in the Kettlebell Centre Krakow and during all the other trainings in Krakow and all around Poland.

Apart from teaching how to build strength and flexibility based on such tools as kettlebells, he teaches Chinese Martial Arts – Kung Fu that he has been practicing since a child.

He started the training of Chinese martial arts in 1991. For years he has been one of the most title-winning Kung Fu (Wushu) competitors in Poland. He teaches both traditional and sports varieties. He holds the title of the World Champion won at the World Championships in 2004 in Chile and in 2006 in China.

He was awarded with the Prize of the Minister of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Poland for winning gold and silver medals at the World Traditional Wushu Competitions in China in 2010. He was awarded with a prestigious title of the “Best Competitor of 2006” by the American Federation of Chinese Kuoshu in Baltimore, USA.

 

Check out our new DVD Flexible Steel Fundamentals. Get your copy here today and say goodbye to stiff creaky joints and an inflexible body.

FlexSteel-on-Location Photo

Cossack Squat – Strength, Mobility and Flexibility all in one – PART 2

Flexible Steel Friends – I would like to introduce the 2nd in a 3 part series on the Cossack Squat. This is more than a few quick tips, rather it is an intensive and impressive premier on this very beneficial move designed to make you both Strong and Flexible at the same time. The author is Piort Kowalik, Flexible Steel Instructor Specialist (FSIS) from Poland. Follow Piort’s advice and you too will become like Flexible Steel!If you missed Part 1 go here first http://flexiblesteel.com/blog/2017/07/13/cossack-squat-part-1/

Jon Engum

COSSACK SQUAT –

PART 2 More Troubleshooting Tips

Common Problems and Solutions:

Torso is not vertical.

As long as we train the Cossack squat without any weights, there’s no problem with having a rounded back. In martial arts training I teach the position to beginners where they have their hands resting comfortably on the floor. We need this because in order for the  leg sweep to the back we need the MA Cossack squat position. During this attack hands touch the floor. However, martial arts follow their own specific rules and it does not mean that martial artists should not learn other versions.

Each position or movement pattern should be taught correctly first, and then loaded as part of the training. But if we want to load the Cossack squat we need to be sure that our back is safe. That is why the correct version, just like the normal squat, requires vertical or near vertical back so that the center of gravity is more less in the middle of the foot. Before you load the Cossack squat you need to be capable of reaching and maintaining vertical torso without any additional weight. Learn this position and train it correctly from the beginning.

If any problems occur, try this:

KETTLEBELL GOBLET SQUAT

The bell held during the squat will give you the correct feeling of maintaining Kettle bell goblet squatvertical body. Retracted and packed shoulders and an open proud chest in the squat will transfer directly onto the Cossack squat. Learn how to keep stable core and back in this exercise before you move on to the Cossack squat. Every Flexible Steel instructor will teach you how to perform this awesome squat variant correctly. You can find this exercise in the “Untying the Four Knots” program by Jon Engum – for the instructions on how to do the Goblet Squat go to http://flexiblesteel.com/blog/2016/12/27/four-week-program-to-flexible-steel/

PARTNER COSSACK or hold on tight

You can find a very detailed description of this version in the Certified Flexible Steel Instructor’s manual. Find an instructor or join us. To put things simply – grab a partner and sit comfortably in the correct position to teach the nervous system the correct position and to “stretch” everything our body is lacking and to keep the vertical alignment.

Trust your partner. They’re there to allow you to “lean back” to achieve the vertical position. Remember that buttocks should be close to the heel/floor. Performing a partner cossack I’ve seen many people who, even when they were being held by their hand, pushed their butt back trying to get the hip hinge pattern. But what you’re looking for is the squat pattern. Lack of trust also means locked body, which resists its owner. Such body will not yield satisfying results. You should relax and trust your partner. This drill really works, for poor ankle mobility as well – just relax and let your own weight work the joint.

A couple of hints: The arm on the bent knee side should be free. Use it to push your knee out and open the hips. Instead of a partner you can use TRX or even the door (grab the handle) – BE CREATIVE.

COSSACK GOBLET HOLD – mix kettlebell squat with the Cossack when you don’t have a partner around.

Grab the bell like in the Goblet Squat, but instead go down to the Cossack squat position. When you feel you’re falling back push the weight away from your body. BE CAREFUL – holding the weight tightly to your chest can easily make you lean forward and you want to avoid that. Elbows supported on your ribcage will help you hold the bell without the arms getting to tired. Think about keeping your back straight, staying vertical, holding a proud chest and pushing your knees out – it has to be perfect!

WALL COSSACK – facing the wall

Our body is looking for a way out and it usually finds one. The problem is that our body prioritizes ways to save energy over ways to spend it. It’s lazy, and you’re trying to kill it. Play a trick on your body and place it as close as possible to a wall. Now go down to a Cossack squat. There’s no room to lean forward and an empty space behind you. You have to hold on. This position reveals all weak spots in mobility. The brain will simply end the downward motion once our limitations come in to play. At least now you can see all those weak spots – Work on your mobility especially since now you know what the problem is.

The knee of the bent leg caves in.

This mistake will haunt people who also have problems squatting. Of course the problem may also result from incorrect squat pattern and in this case contacting a FS instructor wouldn’t hurt. However, in most cases problems with squats and Cossack squats are a result of short range of motion in the hips. It may result in the knees caving in, which makes working on squats and Cossack squat more difficult and dangerous. Loading such pattern is not advised. Before we add weight we need to improve the movement. I propose

PRYING GOBLET SQUAT

The way to improve vertical position described above should become one of your favorite exercises, but if you put your elbows on the inside of your knees and let the bell spread its weight equally between your legs prying the knees out, you get a great way to work on opening your hips. In the lowest point of the squat add slow but strong rotations with your entire body to the right and the left also make figure 8s with your knees.

TACTICAL FROG – basic version

I know of no better way to open the hips in the deep squat and the Cossack. It’s one of the most important elements of the “Untying the Four Knots” program by Jon Engum – go to http://flexiblesteel.com/blog/2016/12/27/four-week-program-to-flexible-steel/

BACK COSSACK STRETCH SERIES

A great exercise which has recently been introduced to the Level I Flexible Steel Certification which will help your straddle, mobilize and open your hips and since it looks like a Cossack squat with your back on the ground it is a fantastic way to improve it. Even though you’re lying down, it’s far from relaxing. More flexible people will probably try to load the leg, but even the basic version is quite challenging. Do 5 rounds where 1 round is 10-20 forceful reps where you enter/exit the deep ROM with a one second hold at the lowest point and 10-20 seconds of waiting and pushing into the deepest range of motion. A bonus variation is a full circle with the straight leg – down over the ground then up to the vertical position and again to the side just over the ground deep into the maximal ROM. Remember that at no point the leg should drop below the belt level (except for the circles) and if it does simply pull it up above the belt level. Good news and bad news – don’t forget the other leg, unless you want to walk crooked. 🙂

SPLIT SWITCH

Great movement drill that will get you closed to do the full split. However, without the knowledge of certified FS instructors you are more likely to risk an injury that is why I implore you to find an instructor near you. You can also read the short description of the Three S rule that Jon described on his blog here: http://flexiblesteel.com/blog/2017/03/14/grow-the-points-of-your-triangle and avoid any injuries while pursuing the split. But to get a beautiful Cossack squat a much higher version will be just fine. It’s about mobilizing the hips – lift yourself up on your arms placed on e.g. chairs. Imagine that your hips are like headlights in a car that are illuminating the road ahead. Assume high front split position and shine the headlight on the leg in front (rotate the body and the back leg). Now without moving your legs rotate completely to the back leg shining the headlight straight to the foot. Each time support yourself on your arms for safety. This exercise resembles another one dubbed “the Egyptian.” However the Egyptian is an exercise for shoulder mobility not the hips, right? Yep, that is why this is called the Split Switch.

DOWEL PARTY or playing with a stick

When I was doing this exercise for the first time it instantly reminded me of a party game you play with your friends at house parties. You definitely know which, the one where you have to walk below a bar or a stick placed at a certain height. Facing it upfront you have to walk below arching like Neo in the Matrix. Each successful pass means the bar is going lower and lower. Of course the version in the game is great and can help us to master the gymnastic bridge or its progression, but the Flexible Steel exercise, which you can see in the video below, will help you in the Cossack squat thus improving your squat and few elements of your get up.

Our task here is not about arching back – stand sideways to the stick that is located at your shoulder height to your right. Then slide your right leg to the side under the stick, put your feet with your toes pointed outward and push your knees out, so they point to the same direction as your toes. Use your strength to keep pushing your knees out. Now without moving your fingers back or forth lower yourself and slowly shift your weight to the right below the stick. Go up once you’re on the other side. Easy right? Repeat couple of times, to make sure you’re doing it right. Another step behind you. New one just ahead. And then another one. I prefer to start from an easy height and in 3-4 rounds lower the stick to the middle of my arm, then my elbow until I reach my hip. Of course the lower it is the harder it gets. In the lowest variant you’re performing a beautiful Cossack with your feet glued to the ground transferring your bodyweight so low that without proper “greasing” of the hips on the previous levels it’s easy to fail. At this level it’s simple, but far from easy.

(MA Cossack) The outer edge of the foot of the straight leg is not touching the ground.

 Remember when I talked about the Cossack in martial arts – both feet planted on the floor. You should be able to do that! But there’s one catch. The outer edge of the foot of the straight leg is not touching the ground. Some will say that’s unimportant because you should maintain neutral ankle position, but it’s not an excuse for me. If you don’t have sufficiently stretched outside part of your calf, you’ll look for any theory to justify your lack of flexibility. It’s like the idea that mastery in martial arts does not require any leg flexibility – hands hit the head and legs kick below the stomach. This is kind of a stretch for me. If you want to be better in whatever you do, work on your weak points until they become your strengths.

KUNG FU STANCE

My students, whom I teach Choy Lee Fut Kung Fu, can do a pretty decent Cossack squat in a very short time from their first training. But we never stay there for more than just a few reps during warm up while doing basic mobility and flexibility block of our training. So where did this result came from. Positions used in Kung Fu. We have the two most basic positions – Sei Ping Ma (Horse Stance) and Den Jing Ma (Bow Stance). Both require strong and stable legs as well as hips that can open fully.

Kung fu stance bowingKung fu horse stance

On these pictures we can see how they look. Please disregard the hand position, we’re not praying here. Bow stance is a rotation of the entire torso either left or right while extending the back leg and pushing the heel on that leg back. The foot is glued to the floor and this actually translates wonderfully onto the MA Cossack squat. Perform several transfers from the Horse stance to the Bow stance in both directions. Make sure that your thighs are lateral to the floor and that while rotating to another position you’re pressing the outside edge of the foot into the ground like you should in the MA Cossack squat. You can also stand by the wall and push yourself away from it as you press on your heel into the ground in time elongating the position and thus changing the angle and making it more difficult. You have to experiment and see what works best. Approach this exercise with caution and you’ll see interesting results in a very short time.

SIDE CALF STRETCH

I really like this simple exercise. Sit on the floor with your arms behind you. Slightly lift your right leg and grab it with your left hand. with your left hand. Remember one thing – you want to grab the foot holding it from the planter side to the outside of the foot. The hand is holding the foot closer to the toes rather than the heel. Now slowly start extending your leg by delicately rotating the edge of the foot in dorsiflexion forward. Stay in this position for a few moments.

BENT LEG ELEVATED or MA Cossack with bent leg elevatedThis task is similar to the HEEL UP exercise described above. The difference is that the entire foot is elevated and you should press it down into the floor like in the MA Cossack. Give your body time to find the right position, work on the MA Cossack with slight elevation allowing you to do it as correctly as possible. With time lower the elevation. This method also allows you to easily track your progress.

The height of the position is wrong – hips are higher than the knee on the bent leg side.

If you remember Cossack squat is a squat where one leg is extended to the side and the toes are pointed up. If this is the case the standard for me is for the hip to be at or below parallel. Until we are able to go lower there’s no point in talking about correct or full Cossack squat. Work on a deep squat and the deep Cossack squat will just be a matter of time. I recommend you do the following:

PINK PANTHER THE KNEE or how to get your knee higher

During the instructor certification Jon Engum teaches this technique in the context of high kick for fighters. I started to apply this technique to achieve better, deeper and more relaxed squats. It can work wonders. I’ll quote the Flexible Steel Instructor’s manual.

“Stand with your back against a wall for balance. Lift your knee as high as you can and have your partner hold it there (.) Now your partner will place his right hand on top of your right knee and give you some downward resistance. As you try to lift your knee, without warning your partner removes the resistance and follows your knee up with the supporting left arm. Repeat until you can no longer make upward progress.”

This drill is not easy and requires skilled training or help from an FS instructor. I definitely recommend participating in the course.

Pink Panther knee drill

LOADED COSSACK – load the Cossack with a kettlebell

My hierarchy of methods for building flexibility looks as follows: relaxed stretching, power stretching (isometric tension-relaxation), loaded stretching. There’s no point in loading the split or the Cossack squat if there’s still a lot of elements requiring improvement, and definitely not if it’s not deep and far from perfect form. A person with such problems should work more on basic flexibility before moving to this version. But if you’re just an inch away from perfect and just holding the position won’t do much for you – grab a kettlebell. Why a kettlebell? Because it offers a couple interesting choices for holding it. You can grab it like in a goblet squat; you can hold one or two in the rack position like in the KB front squat. Flexible Steel is a system created by Master Instructor of StrongFirst strength training system – and it includes kettlebells, barbells and bodyweight training. So now you know why you should grab a kettlebell?

To be continued:  Check back next week for Part 3 of this 3 part series! How to program the Cossack.

PIOTR KOWALIK

The founder and manager of the Sports Centre and School of Martial Arts “IRBIS” in Krakow. The coach and trainer of gold medallists in the Polish Wushu Championships.

The instructor of StrongFirst SFG1 and Flexible Steel Instructor Specialist, who can share his expertise with passion during training sessions in the Kettlebell Centre Krakow and during all the other trainings in Krakow and all around Poland.

Apart from teaching how to build strength and flexibility based on such tools as kettlebells, he teaches Chinese Martial Arts – Kung Fu that he has been practising since a child.

He started the training of Chinese martial arts in 1991. For years he has been one of the most title-winning Kung Fu (Wushu) competitors in Poland. He teaches both traditional and sports varieties. He holds the title of the World Champion won at the World Championships in 2004 in Chile and in 2006 in China.

He was awarded with the Prize of the Minister of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Poland for winning gold and silver medals at the World Traditional Wushu Competitions in China in 2010. He was awarded with a prestigious title of the “Best Competitor of 2006” by the American Federation of Chinese Kuoshu in Baltimore, USA.

Cossack Squat – Strength, Mobility and Flexibility all in one – PART 1

Flexible Steel Friends – I would like to introduce the 1st in a 3 part series on the Cossack Squat. This is more than a few quick tips, rather it is an intensive and impressive premier on this very beneficial move designed to make you both Strong and Flexible at the same time. The author is Piort Kowalik, Flexible Steel Instructor Specialist (FSIS) from Poland. Follow Piort’s advice and you too will become like Flexible Steel! Jon Engum

COSSACK SQUAT – strength, mobility and flexibility all in one – PART 1

You should be fit, you should be strong, you should also be flexible and you should not have any problems achieving full or even greater than full range of motion in every joint of your body. Can you? Great. But can you maintain full control?  Can you maintain perfect harmony?

Angel Stretch with Kettle BellsNot everyone who is strong is also well coordinated and flexible. Just as not everyone who is flexible is well coordinated and strong. And definitely not everyone who is well coordinated will also be strong and flexible.

Each of these traits can work without the others, but their impact on one another cannot be overstated. Just look how strength increases with a fully controlled movement thanks to perfect coordination. Now see how a full range of motion will remove any obstacles from this well coordinated strength. This is the goal of one following the idea of Flexible Steel.

Let’s take a closer look at these traits. Flexibility without control and strength is simply unsafe, and coordination without strength and range of motion does not have space to maneuver.

You know you’re strong. Your movement is well coordinated and you can manage it however you want at a high level. Your flexibility is also a thing of envy. Now check if you can make use of all these things at once. This isn’t as easy as it may seem. There are people who are strong, but put them in an “awkward position” and they won’t be able to switch their strength on and use it. When performing complex movements, where each limb is doing a different thing or holds different position at the same time and where we are unable to control it by watching it, is another level for working on strength, flexibility and mobility. Work on this and be Flexible Steel.

Goals:

We want to aim high and reach far. When we undertake an activity we naturally want to get good at it. I mean, that’s what it’s all about. When beginning a new thing no one wants to be average at it and achieve nothing. And that’s great, however, there is one small problem at this stage – the fact is that many beginners (regardless of the discipline) as soon as they learn basic principles already aim for the highest peak. Many are not interested in the road that leads to it, and that road or path can be interesting – even though sometimes it may be uneventful it is still necessary to travel on it. On our road to the highest peak we often find many beautiful “viewpoints” which should also interest us.

One of the methods, which have helped me achieve my own difficult training goals, is the little step rule. Every distant dream can (and should) be made closer by setting a number of smaller goals that we will meet “on the way.” These goals can and often will have their own sets of smaller goals.

Here’s how I do it:

You take something you want to achieve, a very distant goal. You come up with 3 steps, which you have to achieve to get there.  Arrange them from the easiest to the hardest. Then you come up with 3 steps necessary to achieve each of those steps and you arrange them like before.

For example let’s assume your goal is the split. Sure, you can just start doing splits, even if there’s two feet between you and the ground, but it’ll look a little bit different according to the method that I use.  Because the split is not simply about flexibility but also hip mobility – my first step is an exercise, which mobilizes, lower half of the body – the squat. But I don’t want my split to be a position that I can’t get out off. I want to be able to almost jump to straight legs from it. I think I’d need a little bit of strength for that. What will strengthen my lower body and stomach?

The squat!

So I’ve chosen correctly – Step 1 is Squat training.

Since my last step is the split, what then will I need on the way? My choice for the Step 2 is the exercise by the name of Cossack Squat. Why? Because it is a squat with one leg straightened out to the side – getting us that much closer to the split. And since that is my ultimate goal and I already have the squat and the Cossack squat added to my road – two exercises where the first includes a lot of mobility and the other mobility and some flexibility, then the next logical step would be to add some flexibility. What exercises would add more of that? I’ll think about it when I’m dividing this step into 3 smaller ones. For now this plan will suffice.

Goal – The Split

Step 1 – Squat training

Step 2 – Cossack Squat training

Step 3 – Training for increased flexibility for the split

In this article I would like to write in more detail about the Cossack squat. If you’re at the level where your squat could still be improved or you’ve just started learning it, I suggest you find yourself a Flexible Steel Instructor, who will know what strategy to use in order to teach you this basic movement pattern (possibly anew), and then how to load it, in this correct pattern, using kettlebells or barbells. To set 3 (or possibly more) steps might too difficult for you that is why you should refer to a qualified instructor.

Learning the Cossack squat is similar and you should see this article as an encouragement, find a Flexible Steel instructor in your area  and work together to build a strong foundation for splits. This foundation should be the Cossack Squat.

How to perform a correct Cossack Squat. Piotr performing a Cossack squat

The Cossack squat is but a deep squat with one leg to the side. Because this position is asymmetrical you should practice it on both sides. The torso should be vertical with a proud open chest and packed and retracted shoulders. The top of the head should reach as high as possible towards the ceiling constantly “growing.” The knee of the bent leg is in a position similar to a normal squat – opening to the side, toes and knee face the same direction (don’t let the knee cave in!). The other leg is straight, knee locked, and the ankle is in dorsiflexion so that the toes are pointed upwards. In this position, the weight should be distributed on both heels.

Kung fu monk positionMy martial arts background lets me add one more position, which can serve as a step on the road to the split. It’s the Cossack Squat with two feet flat on the floor. Contrary to the toes up version the Martial Arts Cossack squat requires the whole foot to be flat with the outer edge of the foot pressing on the floor.

Cossack squat is not an easy position, although some will find it not to be too difficult. It demands stable and braced torso, full range of motion in the hips, knees and ankles, as well as enough flexibility in the adductor magnus muscles. During group Flexible Steel classes in my school, it is clear that people training martial arts on daily basis had little difficulty to get into this position. Most of them assumed correct position straight after hearing the instruction. The Martial Arts students had some difficulty with correct squats, but after a while it improved significantly. The students who just studied kettlebells  had problems to get into the Cossack Squat and maintaining correct movement patterns. Our kicking fighters have no problems with leg flexibility, but the kettlebell students required more attention.

Despite of your sport background and whether the Cossack position is hard for you or not, always make sure you’re not making any of the following mistakes:

  1. The hip moves outside the heel on the bent leg side
  2. The heel of the bent leg does not touch the floor and you can’t press down on it.
  3. Torso is not vertical.
  4. The knee of the bent leg caves in.
  5. (MA Cossack) The outer edge of the foot of the straight leg is not touching the ground.
  6. The height of the position is wrong – hips are higher than the knee on the bent leg side.

On the road to get a good Cossack squat you may find few challenges and based on them create new “steps” achieving which will not only help you find correct position, but will also allow you to build strength in this position, not to mention that it will get you shockingly close to achieving the split. Build strength based on training using your own bodyweight. This will allow you to load the position with a kettlebell and enter a new level of building total body strength by doing squats, switches and presses. But… first things first.

Troubleshooting the Cossack Squat.

1.The hip moves outside the heel on the bent leg side

This happens often when the range of our straddle is small. Poor flexibility of the adductors will limit our progress. Let’s deal with it first.

STRADDLE

The straddle includes many moves each of them works our muscles a bit differently stretching them for a wider straddle. Reach forward or to both your feet, remembering the Three S principle (you’ll learn more about it on Flexible Steel Instructor Certification Level 1 and 2 or by working with a certified FS instructor).

Remember whenever your legs seem to get used to a stretch  try doing it a bit further and wider. The wider you go the easier it will become to reach forward and to the sides. Always try to maintain a neutral spine.

The video below presents a method to gradually reach forward, which I often use in my classes (P.S. For beginners it will be enough to just sit in the straddle position and try to relax.)

SIDE SPLIT

A logical consequence of a straddle taken far enough is its vertical variant where gravity aids us in the stretch. By the split we don’t necessarily mean its final version where we’re sitting flat on the ground. Especially since our main problem is poor adductor flexibility.

However this position of the body will bring us additional benefits. When we limit our range of motion by tensing the muscles to prevent sliding apart into the split, we learn how to control entering and exiting this range of motion. Use different versions of hand support, holding on to an object in front of you, hanging by something fixed above your head or by just holding the position while tightly flexing the muscles.

Always exercise common sense and never act thoughtlessly, because any potential injury can delay any progress for weeks or even months. Work smart and preferably with the assistance of a Flexible Steel instructor.

GROUND COSSACK or a Tactical Frog with your leg straight

Tactical Frog is a great exercise which can work wonders. You can learn about it’s potential during the Flexible Steel Certification. This exercise “attacks” our weak points and depending on what we need the frog gets the job done. It looks inconspicuous and at a first glance even funny, but spend a couple of minutes in this position and you’ll stop laughing, and after several more sets like that you’ll be shocked just how much the frog improved your squat, your straddle and your Cossack squat.

In the frog position just straighten out one leg to the side and all of a sudden you are in the Cossack squat position, but in a slightly different relation to the floor. By moving back and forth you enter the ROM that builds the flexibility of the entire back of our legs. When the toes are pointed to the front you will feel a deep stretch on the inside of your thighs, and when you point the toes up at the same time touching your buttocks to the floor and lifting the torso to a vertical position you will feel that pleasant sensation of your muscles being stretched on the bottom part of your thigh. Don’t be afraid to reach your torso towards the straight leg in this position, if you want.

PARTNER HIP BLOCK or blocking the hip from going to the side

This corrective exercise is perfect for people who have no clue what I mean when I say that the hip should not go to the side in the Cossack position. I’ve noticed in my students that many beginners compensate lack of flexibility in the adductors by this maneuver. Explaining wasn’t enough. Even though I did my best to come up with the most imaginative descriptions my adepts simply did not catch my vibe. Moreover, they were convinced that their position was correct. Only when I blocked their hip from going to the side (by simply blocking it with my leg) it hit them – the range of motion down ended at the knee, and the strong pull of non-flexible legs made it impossible to go deeper/wider.

This drill is useful when you need to re-teach the movement pattern. You can do it with another partner who holds your hand preventing you from falling back.

  1. The heel of the bent leg does not touch the floor and you can’t press down on it.

If your range of motion in the ankle is clearly limited it will significantly affect your squat and its different versions like the pistol or the Cossack squat. In this situation the body has two ways out: either fall over on the back or find some other way to maintain vertical torso. The two most common compensation are toe abduction to the outside with simultaneous loading of the inside of the foot leading to flattening of the medial arch of the foot. Such compensation is hazardous and leads to problems with your knee and hip. Another compensation is more popular with the Cossack squat – heel leaving the floor resulting in decreased dorsiflexion of the ankle.

If you don’t want to have any movement restrictions in your ankle just move it in many different ways as often as possible. Working your ankle doesn’t require a gym. You can make circles with your foot in your full ROM throughout the entire day. Myself, I often stand on a stair so that the heel drops below the step and just hold it. It might be worth checking whether we’re not being held back by our calves, plantar muscles or shin muscles, if we massage them the right way it will improve our movement.

We have many great mobility drills in stock for that. Not all of them are equally effective for all people, that is why you always have to check, test, practice and test again. For example, you can do the following exercises:

 STRANGE WALKING – mobility drill for the ankle presented by Master SFG Fabio Zonin during a remarkable StrongFirst Bodyweight seminar.

This drill always gets few laughs, because it looks really strange and some might not take it seriously. However the results can bring a different smile together with surprise.

TEST YOUR COSSACK

THEN:

Walk the distance of 60-90 feet this way:

Cossack foot postionA) on your toes; B) on your heels;      C) on the outside edges of your feet; D) on the inside edges of your feet;   E) with your toes completely abducted to the outside; F) with your toes completely adducted to the inside;

Retest.

While walking this way try to keep your knees locked, also try to forcefully press down on each of the feet positions while walking. And? Did it work?

ANKLE CIRCLES

It’s an exercise from FMS/GFM arsenal and is one of my personal favorites for ankle mobility. Just grab the top of your foot with your hand and hold the heel of the other foot so it doesn’t leave the floor. Push your knee forcefully towards the second toe. When you reach the end push further, but this time slightly to the outside towards the little toe and come back with a circular motion to the starting point. A dozen circles or so on both feet for couple sets and your ROM should be significantly increased.

Small hint: If I am holding my foot with my right arm from the top and pushing the heel down with left, my right hand is located on the inside of my right thigh. In this position I am not impeding my own movement and I am making sure that the knee does not cave in. Notice how your hips are positioned in relation to the entire foot. There’s no need to put them outside in a strange contortion.

NARROW SQUATS (SLOOOOOWLY)

This is an exercise that will not only test your ankle’s range of motion, but also load it and thus reinforce the new ROM. A very slow version will add the twist at the end of the punch and build strong core, hips, knees and ankles. You will find more details on this in Flexible Steel Instructor Mark Cheng’s articles and his training programs.

Remember to keep your ankles and knees together throughout the movement. Give yourself some time and do the exercise at a speed that will allow you to go to the very bottom after 30 seconds and take the same amount of time going up. Why do something fast, if you can’t do it slow?

HEEL UP – Cossack squat with elevated heel

Perhaps your ankle needs more time that is why you should be learning the Heel up photocorrect body position with perfectly straight and vertical back today. Put something under your heel, nothing big, just enough to make you stable so that you don’t feel like you’re going to fall back, at the same time low enough that you need to use force to pull your feet up.

Such work teaches you the position and allows the body and the nervous system to accept this set up as safe. And we know too well that when the nervous system is no longer getting the danger message, magic happens.

Using this method of correction we teach the student to maintain vertical torso, which is another item on our list – add this drill as another correction specifically for troubles to maintain vertical position in the Cossack squat.

To be continued:  Check back next week for Part 2 of this 3 part series!

 

PIOTR KOWALIK

The founder and manager of the Sports Centre and School of Martial Arts “IRBIS” in Krakow. The coach and trainer of gold medallists in the Polish Wushu Championships.

The instructor of StrongFirst SFG1 and Flexible Steel Instructor Specialist, who can share his expertise with passion during training sessions in the Kettlebell Centre Krakow and during all the other trainings in Krakow and all around Poland.

Apart from teaching how to build strength and flexibility based on such tools as kettlebells, he teaches Chinese Martial Arts – Kung Fu that he has been practising since a child.

He started the training of Chinese martial arts in 1991. For years he has been one of the most title-winning Kung Fu (Wushu) competitors in Poland. He teaches both traditional and sports varieties. He holds the title of the World Champion won at the World Championships in 2004 in Chile and in 2006 in China.

He was awarded with the Prize of the Minister of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Poland for winning gold and silver medals at the World Traditional Wushu Competitions in China in 2010. He was awarded with a prestigious title of the “Best Competitor of 2006” by the American Federation of Chinese Kuoshu in Baltimore, USA.

 

Better Splits #1: Training Surface

There are many ways to work on achieving a front, side, or martial arts split, and most of us know how to train for these – we get into a position near our current limits, we tense our muscles, and then we relax into the stretch increasing our range of motion a little with each contract-relax cycle.  The frog series in Flexible Steel is a great example – you essentially work on your split one leg at a time, and those gains will transfer to your two-legged split.

Steve performing the splits

I want to introduce you to a new concept, and then to a different idea of how to train your splits. Continue reading “Better Splits #1: Training Surface”

Grow the Points of Your Triangle

Jon Gowining his triangle
Growing Your Triangle

At Flexible Steel we are constantly looking for better ways to teach stretching and strength. We believe that you cannot rightfully have one without the other. During the certification we make a big point about using the 3S of movement. The Ss’ are applied to enhance stances, stretches, or movements, loaded or unloaded. It does not matter if your are doing a heavy deadlift or a simple unloaded toe touch….applying the 3S will make your performance better. Better should be read as safer and more effective.

The second S stands for make “space” inside your body. When we apply this to a split we get instant results. The cue I normally use is “grow the points of your triangle away from each other.” What does that mean?  If you look at the above photo…my front foot is one point of a triangle, my back foot is another and finally in this case, where I am pressing,  my hand with the bell is the top point of the triangle.

Note: if you are not pressing…the top of your head becomes the 3rd point.

To get instant gains try to push all three points away from each other at the same time. Use some muscle to get the job done. What you will find is you move deeper into stretch without much discomfort. Try it, you will like it.

Learn many more tips and tech at a Flexible Steel Cert near you. Check out our upcoming schedule and get to a cert today. Next one in the US is Texas.

http://flexiblesteel.com/events.html

At Flexible Steel we are constantly looking for better ways to teach stretching and strength. We believe that you cannot rightfully have one without the other. During the certification we make a big point about using the 3S of movement. The Ss’ are applied to enhance stances, stretches, or movements, loaded or unloaded. It does not matter if your are doing a heavy deadlift or a simple unloaded toe touch….applying the 3S will make your performance better. Better should be read as safer and more effective.

The second S stands for make “space” inside your body. When we apply this to a split we get instant results. The cue I normally use is “grow the points of your triangle away from each other.” What does that mean?  If you look at the above photo…my front foot is one point of a triangle, my back foot is another and finally in this case, where I am pressing,  my hand with the bell is the top point of the triangle.

Note: if you are not pressing…the top of your head becomes the 3rd point.

To get instant gains try to push all three points away from each other at the same time. Use some muscle to get the job done. What you will find is you move deeper into stretch without much discomfort. Try it, you will like it.

Learn many more tips and tech at a Flexible Steel Cert near you. Check out our upcoming schedule and get to a cert today. Next one in the US is Texas.

http://flexiblesteel.com/events.html

The Deep Six Drop Set

The Deep Six Drop Set:

If you do not know what the Deep Six is please go here first. Classic Deep Six.

Once you have spent some quality time with the classic Deep Six try this.

Grab a snatch test sized kettlebell – Most men that is a 24k and most women a 16k.

Jon Engum snatch test

With your right hand do 5 swings, 5 snatches, 5 clean and presses, 5 squats, after the 5th squat push press the bell into the overhead lockout position and do 1 reverse getup.

Next:

Perform a swing switch so the bell is in your left hand and repeat the 5s on that side. So far just like the classic but here is where we get truly evil.

After you finish the left reverse getup, swing switch so the bell is in your right hand again and do 4 reps of each movement.

Once you have completed 4s on both hands, swing switch and do 3 reps of each move .

Keep working your way down the ladder with 2s and finally 1s.

Try to complete without the bell ever touching the ground BUT

honor all the moves with stellar form…no ugly kettlebelling please.

 

Drop me a note and let me know what you think.

Jon Engum

POLISH TRANSLATION OF 4 WEEKS TO FLEXIBLE STEEL PROGRAM

Translation by Piotr Kowalik

 

Czterotygodniowy program aby zostać Flexible Steel

Master Jon Engum

 

Jak wiele by się zmieniło w twoim wyczynie sportowym gdybyś mógł zwiększyć swój użyteczny zakres ruchu? Wyobraź sobie, że nie musisz walczyć o niego z samym sobą. Wyobraź sobie, że wykonujesz płynne ruchy jak nigdy dotąd. O ile więcej przyjemności sprawiałoby życie jeśli tylko odzyskalibyśmy mobilność ze swoich najlepszych lat? Postaraj się zrozumieć, że nie mówię tutaj o bezsilnym rozciągnięciu kogoś, kto z łatwością zaplata w supeł swoje pozbawione mocy ciało. Oh, nie! Mowa tu o mocnej, użytecznej elastyczności tak bardzo pomocnej w codziennym życiu i aktywności sportowej.

 

Zainteresowany? Podążaj tym prostym 4 tygodniowym programem, a gwarantuję, że osiągniesz niesamowite rezultaty na drodze do zostania elastycznym i sprężystym czyli przykładem Flexible Steel. Potrzebuję 4 tygodni (to tylko 16 sesji treningowych) i tchnę nowe życie w twoje ciało o wysokim przebiegu.

 

Po pierwsze: PARADYGMAT ZMIANY

 

Amerykańska osobowość, wielki Jack LaLanne od zawsze postrzegany za ojca chrzestnego branży fitness, zawsze znacznie wyprzedzał swoje czasy. Nie trenował klientów, trenował uczniów. Nie wykonywał workoutów, zamiast tego praktykował trenowanie. Jego treningi były nazywane lekcjami. Ta drobna zmiana w postrzeganiu może nas nauczyć bardzo wiele.

 

Ten fakt specjalnie został przeze mnie wybrany, aby wskazać istotną rzecz. Zamiast bezmyślnie gonić serie i powtórzenia, ilość kilogramów przerzuconego ciężaru i możliwie najkrótszy czas wykonania zadania, idź do siłowni, na boisko, bieżnię lub gdzie tylko chcesz i spróbuj stać się lepszy w tym co robisz. Spróbuj się nauczyć i udoskonalić formę i technikę. Co się stanie jeśli zmienimy nasze myślenie i okaże się, że w naturalny sposób bijemy swoje rekordy życiowe, utrzymując umysł i ciało w gotowości, a kontuzje daleko poza nami? Osiągnięcie tego wymaga powtarzania, praktyki i uczenia się, a nie wcale wykonywania morderczych workoutów. Uczmy się jak odszukać młodość.

 

Lekcja: CZTERY WĘZŁY

 

Mój przyjaciel Dr. Mark Cheng nazywa biodra i barki czterema węzłami ciała. Ta wiedza, choć dobrze znana na wschodzie, ponieważ pochodząca ze Wschodniej Medycyny, wcale nie jest dobrze rozpowszechnione tu na Zachodzie. Cztery węzły mają wiele znaczeń. Pozwól, że wyjaśnię:

 

Barki i biodra są miejscami gdzie ramiona i nogi przyczepione są do korpusu, to oczywiste. Jednak jeśli chcemy analogii węzła użyć szerzej, to aby węzeł spełniał swoje zadanie nie może być zbyt luźny – tak jak za luźno zawiązane sznurowadła sprawią, że but będzie spadał – ani zbyt ciasny – w tej sytuacji nie jesteśmy w stanie go rozsupłać lub nawet zdjąć buta wcale. Żeby węzeł funkcjonował prawidłowo musi pozostawać we właściwej równowadze pomiędzy siłą i elastycznością, a Ty powinieneś być właśnie jak Elastyczna Stal (Flexible Steel), która się zgina ale to jej nie złamie.

 

Odblokuj: BIODRA I BARKI

 

Przez następne cztery tygodnie nasze lekcje będą nastawione na zwiększenie elastyczności i mobilności w biodrach, odcinku piersiowym kręgosłupa i barkach. Dlaczego? Ponieważ uzyskamy niesamowite korzyści jeśli uda nam się poczynić nawet niewielkie postępy w tych kluczowych rejonach.

Mówi się, że „Poruszanie się w sporcie powinno rozpoczynać się od ruchu bioder.” Gray Cook założyciel Functional Movement Systems (FMS) nazywa biodra ZŁYM sąsiadem. Oznacza to, że jeśli nie masz silnych i ruchomych bioder to kolana i odcinek lędźwiowy muszą nadrabiać. Znacie kogoś komu doskwierają bóle w kolanach i lędźwiach?

 

Zamieszczony tutaj 4-tygodniowy plan należy wykonywać rano przed głównym treningiem. Możesz nadal wykonywać jakiekolwiek inne ćwiczenia lub aktywności jakie przewidziałeś dla siebie , ale ten program niech je poprzedza. Nie postrzegaj natomiast go jak rozgrzewki lub workoutu ale raczej jako lekcję ruchu lub praktykę.

 

ĆWICZENIA RUCHOWE

 

Opisy ćwiczeń pochodzą z w mojej książki Flexible Steel i tłumaczą jak je wykonać:

 

Kettlebell Goblet Squat (przysiad puchar z kettlebell)

 

Dan John, autor i nadzwyczajny trener treningu siłowego, rozwinął Kettlebell Goblet Squat. Zauważyliśmy, że miesiąc lub dwa praktyki tej formy przysiadu ma olbrzymi otwierający efekt dla bioder oraz odcinka piersiowego kręgosłupa. Ulepszy Twoje regularne przysiady – nie zależnie czy Twoim konikiem są front squats, back squats, czy jeszcze inny rodzaj przysiadów.

 

Złap odważnik kettlebell za rączkę tak jak byś łapał za kierownicę – jak to Pavel mawia „złap kettla za rogi.” Zejdź do dołu, siadając do dołu i do tyłu pomiędzy nogi.

Jon Engum Squat

Jon Engum Squat 2

 

Poniższe jest oczywiste, lecz powtórzę się jeszcze raz

 

  • Upewnij się, że kolana idą po tej samej linii co palce stóp, w każdym momencie przysiadu.
  • Pięty na podłodze, a golenie pionowo.
  • Plecy prosto, nie pozwól by kość ogonowa podwinęła się na dole przysiadu.
  • „Otwórz” klatkę piersiową, szczególnie na dole.
  • W dolnej pozycji trzymaj łokcie pomiędzy kolanami nie tracąc ułożenia pleców.
  • Łokciami rozpychaj kolana, by pomóc sobie otworzyć biodra.
  • Stopy muszą cały czas być płasko na ziemi.
  • Przy podnoszeniu się, uważaj by biodra i barki podnosiły się w równym tempie. Nie zaczynaj ruchu od bioder.
  • Nie zaczynaj ruchu od bioder.

 

Używaj Goblet Squat jako ćwiczenia mobilności tak samo jak i stabilności. Spędź chwilę w dolnej pozycji. Bujaj z boku na bok, wykonuj małe „ósemki”, faktycznie otwieraj biodra oraz wyciągaj kręgosłup w górę próbując zrobić miejsce wewnątrz ciała.

 

Kettlebell Good Morning Stretch (rozciąganie z kettlebell „dzień dobry”)

 

Jednym z najprostszych, a także najbardziej efektywnym dla mięśni grupy tylnej uda ćwiczeniem rozciągającym jakie znam jest rozciąganie „dzień dobry” i jego odmiany. Tutaj niesamowicie skuteczny wariant klasycznego „dzień dobry”.

Jon Engum Good Morning

Jon Engum Good Morning 2

Wskazówki: Stań zupełnie wyprostowany, stopy na szerokość bioder.

 

  • Trzymaj odważnik kettlebell za plecami tak, że spoczywa mniej więcej na wysokości kości ogonowej.
  • Wypnij klatkę piersiową do przodu, spraw, żeby była duża, a także zadbaj, żeby kolana nie były usztywnione. Nie ma konieczności ani wcale nie jest pożądane, żeby je blokować.
  • Ruchem wywodzącym się z bioder zacznij pchać pośladkami w tył na odważnik utrzymując proste plecy oraz „dużą” klatkę piersiową.
  • Nie martw się o to jak bardzo się zgiąłeś, to ćwiczenie to nie to samo co sięganie dłońmi do palców stóp. Zwróć uwagę jak daleko jesteś wstanie pchać odważnik w tył. To zawias biodrowy – hip hinge.
  • Dobrze wykonany ruch sprawi, że poczujesz bardzo intensywne rozciąganie mięśni tyłu ud zaraz poniżej pośladków.

 

Lunge Stretch (rozciąganie w wykroku)

 Jon Engum Preforming a Lunge

Jak wykonać wykrok:

 

  • Przejdź do pozycji wykroku klękając na prawym kolanie. Grzbiet prawej stopy na podłodze.
  • Ustaw kolano i stopę z tyłu w jednej linii. Stopa z przodu będzie ustawiona z boku, lewe kolano w powietrzu.
  • Upewnij się, że lewy piszczel jest pionowo, a kolano idzie po linii stopy.
  • Nie pozwól by kolano wyszło poza linię stopy.
  • Biodra mają być równo. Wyobraź sobie, że z przodu bioder masz reflektory, ustaw się tak żeby świeciły równo do przodu.
  • Połóż dłonie na plecach i wypchnij biodra do przodu. Powinieneś poczuć rozciąganie z przodu uda i biodra mniej więcej w miejscu gdzie znajduje się przednia kieszeń.
  • Pogłębiaj i rozluźniaj rozciąganie rytmicznie ruszając się do tyłu i do przodu. Poruszaj się w tempie 1 sekunda do przodu i 1 sekunda do tyłu.

 

Wskazówki:

 

  • Napnij pośladek po stronie, którą rozciągasz by a) chronić plecy b) rozluźnić zginacze bioder dzięki wzajemnemu hamowaniu.
  • Jeśli kolano zacznie wychodzić poza linię palców, po prostu przestaw stopę dalej.
  • Podczas pogłębiania rozciągania wydychaj powietrze, pozwoli ci to rozluźnić mięśnie.
  • Przechyl biodra do góry, zanim jeszcze zaczniesz się rozciągać, by wstępnie rozciągnąć mięśnie co pomoże w dalszych staraniach.

 

Arm Bar (dźwignia na ramię)

 

Kettlebell Arm Bar wpływ na barki, kręgosłup piersiowy oraz całkowitą posturę widać zaraz po wykonaniu. Natychmiast poczujesz ogromną poprawę – całe ciało się otworzy. Przyjrzyjmy się technice klasycznej wersji tego ćwiczenia. Arm Bar zaczyna się w tej samej pozycji co jego lepiej znany kuzyn – Tureckie Wstawanie (Turkish Get Up). Pisząc te słowa przyjmuję, że wiecie jak wykonać TGU, lecz jeśli nie to lepiej przestańcie czytać w tej chwili i znajdźcie dla siebie Instruktora i nauczcie się wykonywać TGU.

 

  1. Połóż się na podłodze z odważnikiem kettlebell po prawej stronie.
  2. Złap za odważnik obiema rękami, prawa od środka, lewa od zewnątrz, przyciągnij łokcie do żeber.
  3. Przekręć się na plecy przyciągając przy tym kettla. Obiema rękami podnieś go do góry tak jak w TGU.
  4. W tym miejscu kończą się podobieństwa z TGU.
  5. Połóż lewą rękę za głowę (poziomo) trzymając kettlebell lub “pracujące” ramię prostopadle do podłogi (pionowo).

Cytując Pavla Tsatsouline’a z podręcznika SFG “Wykorzystując lewą rękę i nogę jako oś obrotu utrzymując prawą rękę z odważnikiem wyprostowaną pionowo, przyciągnij prawe kolano do klatki piersiowej i przekręć się na lewą stronę. Wyprostuj prawą nogę i połóż ją na ziemi. Stopy powinny znajdować się na szerokości barków lub szerzej, kolana proste, palce stóp odwinięte.”

 

Na tym etapie ruchu należy skupić się na 4 rzeczach:

Points to focus on while preforming an arm bar

Numer 1

Kettlebell i pracująca ręka muszą pozostać w pionowej pozycji (utrzymanie ręki w takiej pozycji bez patrzenia na odważnik). Połóż głowę na lewej ręce.

Numer 2

Zacznij rytmicznie wypychać biodra, starając się dojść prawym biodrem (w tym przykładzie) do ziemi. Napięcie prawego mięśnia pośladkowego powinno pomóc. Oddychaj wydychając przy wyproście. Jedno powtórzenie co dwie sekundy.

Numer 3

Spróbuj uzyskać uczucie wydłużania w okolicy obojczyka i klatki piersiowej.

Numer 4

Przesuń powoli lewą rękę (rękę na ziemi) coraz dalej za siebie skupiając się na rozciągnięciu najszerszego mięśnia grzbietu.

Kiedy chcesz skończyć powoooli wycofaj się odwracając kolejność ruchów zachowując nad nimi pełną kontrolę

 

Kettlebell Pullover (przeciąganie kettlebell za siebie)

Kettlebell Pullover jest kolejnym pomijanym, lecz potężnym ćwiczeniem zmieniającym posturę. Niepozorne ćwiczenie będzie miało wielki wpływ na zdolność uzyskania pozycji zablokowanych rąk nad głową w wyciskaniu, podrzutach, rwaniu itd. Do tego, zmieni także całą posturę twojego ciała.

Wykonuje się to tak:

Conduction a pull over step 1

Conducting a pull over part 2

 

Połóż się na plecach.

  1. Złap lekki odważnik dwiema rękami; przełóż kciuki przez rączkę tak, by kettlebell opierał się na wnętrzu twoich przedramion.
  2. Podnieś go nad klatkę piersiową – trochę jak w wyciskaniu na ławeczce.
  3. Napnij najszersze mięśnie grzbietu i wyprostuj łokcie. Łokcie powinny być zablokowane, mięśnie grzbietu napięte przez cały czas.
  4. Odchyl opuść kettla po łuku tak by znalazł się na ziemi za twoją głową.
  5. Weź głęboki oddech i podnieś odważnik ponownie po łuku przyciągając go ponownie ponad klatkę piersiową. Wykonaj od 5 do 10 powtórzeń.

 

Uwaga: Jeśli nie jesteś w stanie zejść do samej ziemi bez wysuwania barków lub zginania łokci, dojdź do końca zakresu swojego ruchu i naprzemiennie napinaj i rozluźniaj mięśnie, pozwalając by ciężar pogłębiał rozciąganie z każdym rozciąganiem. Cierpliwości. Z każdą serią będziesz mógł zajść coraz dalej. Po pewnym czasie będziesz w stanie wykonać całe ćwiczenie poprawnie.

 

Tactical Frog (żaba)

Taktyczna Żaba jest magicznym sposobem na zdobycie niesamowitej kontroli nad swoimi biodrami oraz poprawienie ogólnego wykonywania wzorca przysiadu. Ma ogromny wpływ na niemal każdy ruch w sporcie.

 

Video – Tactical Frog

 

Video – Pavel Macek Flexible Steel Instructor Specialist Demos the Moves

 

PROGRAM LUZUJĄCY CZTERY WĘZŁY

 The Four Knots program

Zaczynam program od bardzo prostych rzeczy, ponieważ wolę zadać coś łatwego i wiedzieć, że wykonasz to w stu procentach, niż coś skomplikowanego, do czego trudno będzie się przyłożyć. Cztery sesje tygodniowo przez kolejne cztery tygodnie. Wykonaj je w którykolwiek dzień, ale ZRÓB TO! Trenuj, praktykuj i ciesz się rezultatami. Zostań Flexible Steel!

The 4 Weeks to Flexible Steel Program

by Jon Engum

What would more usable range of motion do for your sports performance? Imagine not having to fight your own body. Imagine owning unhindered fluid movement that was at your beck and call.

How much more enjoyable would life be if you could recapture the vibrant mobility of your youth? Understand I am not talking about the weak flexibility of a guy who can tie himself into knots at the expense of his strength and power.Oh, no! I am talking about strong, powerful, usable flexibility that will aid you in your everyday life and sports performance. Interested?

Follow this simple 4 week program and I guarantee you will get amazing results and be well on your way to becoming like Flexible Steel. Give me four weeks (that’s sixteen sessions total) and I will breathe new life into your high mileage body.

First: A Paradigm Shift

The late, great Jack Lalane could easily be considered the godfather of fitness. Jack was way ahead of his time. He did not train clients, he taught students. He did not work out, he practiced. His training sessions were called lessons not workouts.  We can learn much from this seemingly random change in wording. It is in fact not random at all, but craftily chosen to make a very important point. Do not mindlessly chase sets and reps, poundage and times, rather go to the gym, field, track, whatever and try to get better at something. Try to learn a lesson try to improve your technique form. Try to learn something. What happens when we shift our thinking like this is we naturally hit PRs, we keep our mind and body engaged and we keep injuries at bay.  It bears repeating go to a practice or a lesson, not to a workout. Learning keeps one young.

The Lesson:  The Four Knots

My friend and colleague Dr. Mark Cheng calls the hips and shoulders the four knots of the body. While this may be common knowledge in Eastern medicine, it is not so common here in the West. The four knots have several meanings. Let me explain: The shoulders and the hips tie the arms and the legs to your body, this is obvious. But to take the knot analogy further, in order to function properly a knot cannot be too loose – it comes undone and your shoe comes off, or it’s too tight, in which case you cannot untie it and you cannot ever remove your shoe. In order to have a functioning knot you must have a perfect balance of strength and flexibility. You must be like Flexible Steel. Flexible Steel bends, but does not break.

HIPS AND SHOULDERS

For the next four weeks our lesson will be on gaining more flexibility and mobility in the hips, T-spine, and shoulders. Why? Because we will get a very big bang for our buck if we can make even small improvements in these key areas. It had been said “An athlete must move from their hips first.” Gray Cook the founder of the Functional Movement Systems (FMS) calls the hips a BAD neighbor. Meaning if you do not have strong mobile hips your knees or lower back must compensate. Anyone’s knees or lower back hurt?

The four week plan I am posting here is designed to be done in the morning before your normal training. You may still do whatever other exercise or activity is on your schedule, but do this first. Do not consider it a warm-up or a workout but rather a movement lesson or practice.

The Moves

The following descriptions are excerpts from my book Flexible Steel on how to execute these movements:

The Kettlebell Goblet Squat

Dan John, author and strength coach extraordinaire, developed the Kettlebell Goblet Squat. We have found that a month or two of practicing this form of squatting has a dramatic opening effect on the hips and T-spine. It will boost your regular squat performance – no matter if front squats, back squats, or whatever other variation of the squat is your huckleberry.

Grab a kettlebell by the handle, kind of like grabbing onto a steering wheel. Pavel calls this “taking the bell by the horns.” Squat down by sitting back and down between your heels.

Jon Engum Squat

Jon Engum Squat 2

The following goes without saying, but I will say it anyway

  • Make sure your knees line up and stay lined up with your toes. Your knees must point the exact same way your toes do through the whole squat.
  • Keep your heels on the ground and your shins vertical.
  • Keep your back straight; do not allow your tailbone to tuck under at the bottom of the squat.
  • Keep a “big” chest, especially at the bottom.
  • At the bottom, place your elbows to the insides of your knees without losing the alignment of your back.
  • Use your elbows to push the knees out to help open your hips.
  • Your feet must stay firmly fixed to the ground.
  • Make sure when you ascend that your hips and shoulders come up at the same time.
  • Do not lead or “hitch” with your hips.”

Use the goblet squat as an exercise in mobility as well as stability. Hang out in the bottom position for a while. Rock side to side, make some small figure eights, really open the hips, and elongate the spine and try to make space inside your body.

The Kettlebell Good Morning Stretch

One of the easiest and most effective stretches I know for the hamstrings is the Good Morning stretch and its several variations. Here is an extremely effective variant of the classic Good Morning.

Jon Engum Good Morning

Jon Engum Good Morning 2

Quick Tips: Stand completely upright, feet about shoulder width apart.

  • Hold a kettlebell behind your back so that it rests more or less on your tailbone.
  • Puff your chest out,big chest, and let your knees be “soft”. It is not necessary or desirable to have them locked.
  • Moving from your hips, try to push the kettlebell back with your tailbone while keeping your back straight and chest “big.”
  • Do not worry about how far you bend over; this is not a toe touch. Just be concerned about how far back you can move the kettlebell. It is a hip hinge.
  • If you perform this move to the letter, you will feel a very intense stretch in the hamstrings just below your cheeks, not the ones on your face either.

The Lunge Stretch

Jon Engum Preforming a Lunge

How to do the lunge:

  1. Get into a lunge position by kneeling down on your right knee. The instep of your right foot will also be on the ground.
  2. Make sure to align your knee and back foot so they fall on the same line. Your front foot will be on its own line and your left knee will be in the air.
  3. Make sure your left shin, in this case, is vertical and your knee is tracking your front foot.
  4. Do not let your knee get in front of your toes.
  5. Keep your hips square. If you can imagine that you have headlights on the crests of your hips, just make sure they both shine straight ahead.
  6. Now put your hands behind your back and push your hips forward. You should feel a stretch in the area of your front thigh and hip, kind of where your front pocket is.
  7. Push into and back out of the stretch using a rhythmical movement. The tempo should be 1 second forward and 1 second backward.

Quick Tips:

  • Contract the glute of the stretching side to a) protect your back and b) relax the hip flexors through reciprocal inhibition.
  • If and when your knee begins to creep in front of your toes, simply re-position your front foot into a deeper lunge.
  • Sigh when you are moving into the stretch and this will help relax the target muscles.
  • Tilt your hips up, posterior tilt, before you even begin to stretch, to put the target muscles into a nice pre-stretch. This will further your efforts.

The Arm Bar

The effect of the Arm Bar on the shoulders, T-spine and all around posture is apparent as soon as you perform the movement. You can instantly feel a dramatic improvement and an opening throughout your entire body. Let’s examine the classic Arm Bar technique. The Arm Bar starts out the same as its more familiar cousin the Turkish Get Up. I write this assuming you already know how to do a Get Up. If you do not know the Get Up then stop reading now and get thee to an Instructor and learn the Get Up.

  1. Lie on the floor with a light kettlebell on your right side.
  2. Grab the kettlebell with a pistol grip, right hand on the inside and left on the outside, pull your elbow to your ribs.
  3. Roll onto your back prying the kettlebell up as you go. Now using both arms press the bell into the firing range position just as you would for the Get Up.
  4. Things start to differ from the Get Up at this point.
  5. Your left arm goes over your head (horizontally) while you are keeping the kettlebell or “working” arm perpendicular to the ground (vertically.)

To quote Pavel Tsatsouline, “Using your left arm and leg as the axis of rotation and leaving the right arm with the kettlebell straight and vertical bring your right knee towards your chest and roll to your left. Straighten out your right leg and lay it on the ground. Your feet should be a shoulder’s width apart or wider, your knees straight, your toes pointed.”

At this point in the movement you will have four primary things to focus on:

Points to focus on while preforming an arm bar

  • Focus #1 -The kettlebell and working arm must maintain vertical (keep the kettlebell arm vertical in all planes without actually looking at the bell.) Rest your head on the left arm.
  • Focus #2 -Rhythmically begin pumping your hips, trying to get the right hip, in this example, to the ground. It will help to contract the right glute, and breathe, sighing into the extension. The timing should be one rep every two seconds.
  • Focus #3 -Try to make your right collar bone or chest area longer.
  • Focus #4 -Wiggle the left arm (the one on the ground) further and further behind you. Think of stretching the lat.

When you have had enough sloooowly reverse the above process under full control.

The Kettlebell Pullover

The kettlebell Pullover is another often overlooked but nonetheless a powerful posture changer. This innocent looking drill will have a dramatic effect on your ability to achieve that nice overhead lockout on your presses, jerks, snatches etc. As well as a profound impact on your overall posture. Here is how to do it:

Conduction a pull over step 1

Conducting a pull over part 2

  1. Lie down on your back.
  2. Grab a light kettlebell with both hands; hook your thumbs through the handle in such a way that allows the body of the bell to rest on the insides of your forearms.
  3. Press the bell straight up over your chest – kind of like a bench press.
  4. Engage your lats and lock your elbows. They must stay locked and your lats must stay on throughout the maneuver.
  5. Now slowly lower the kettlebell back and down in an arc so it winds up above your head on the ground.
  6. Take a breath contract and reverse the arc to “pullover” and end up above your chest. Repeat for between 5 and 10 reps.

Note: If you cannot make it all the way to the ground without your shoulders coming unpacked or without bending your elbows then go only as far as you can and do some contract/relax stretching letting the weight of the bell take you down several inches with each relaxation. Be conservative. You may go deeper on each consecution set. With time you will be able to handle the pullover proper.

The Tactical Frog

The Tactical Frog is a magic bullet for gain some incredible control over your hips and improving your overall squatting performance. It has a dramatic effect on almost any athletic movement.

Video Tactical Frog

 Pavel Macek Flexible Steel Instructor Specialist Demos the Moves

Untying the Four Knots Program

I will start this program off very easy because I would rather have something simple and 100-percent compliance than something complicated and half hearted adherence. Four sessions will be posted each week, for the next four weeks. Do them on whatever days suit you best, but do them. And have no fear, by the end of week four you will gain momentum and be doing the full program.

The Four Knots program

Printable program: http://flexiblesteel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Untying-the-Four-Knots-Program.pdf

Chinese Translation http://flexiblesteel.com/chinesetranslation/

Czech Translation http://www.kb5.cz/2016/12/4-tydny-k-flexible-steel-program-video-soutez/

Italian Translation http://flexiblesteel.com/blog/2016/12/29/programma-di-quattro-settimane-per-diventare-flexible-steel/

Polish Translation  http://flexiblesteel.com/blog/2017/01/01/polish-translation-of-4-weeks-to-flexible-steel-program/

Spanish Translation http://flexiblesteel.com/las-4-semanas-al-programa-de-flexible-steel/

What would more usable range of motion do for your sports performance? Imagine not having to fight your own body. Imagine owning unhindered fluid movement that was at your beck and call.