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Maintain flexibility in your old age

PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2020 11:59 am
by johnwang
I have always believed that to maintain flexibility in old age is difficult (if not impossible). After I have seen this clip, I just realize that I was wrong. I believe Pan did this when he was in his 70.

Your thought?


Re: Maintain flexibility in your old age

PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2020 1:05 pm
by everything
I've never had good flexibility at all at any age!

What is the key at any age? Looking for any advice.

My neighbor (ex pro athlete) said his main method is to stretch any time he watches television so even that downtime is put to some good use.

Re: Maintain flexibility in your old age

PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2020 1:18 pm
by robert
It says the video is private - I can't view it.

Re: Maintain flexibility in your old age

PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2020 3:03 pm
by johnwang
robert wrote:It says the video is private - I can't view it.

Should be public now.

everything wrote:What is the key at any age? Looking for any advice.

Stretch everyday.

Re: Maintain flexibility in your old age

PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2020 3:34 pm
by robert
johnwang wrote:Should be public now.

Yes.

everything wrote:What is the key at any age? Looking for any advice.

johnwang wrote:Stretch everyday.

I agree. I do taiji or jibengong nearly everyday. I've never been very flexible, but since I started CMAs around '92 I keep getting more flexible.

Re: Maintain flexibility in your old age

PostPosted: Fri May 22, 2020 6:14 am
by everything
damn, I think I need to triple my efforts. I already stretch every day, but clearly it's not enough to make some good improvements. maybe I have to do one of those youtube videos over 100 days or something.

Re: Maintain flexibility in your old age

PostPosted: Fri May 22, 2020 2:44 pm
by johnwang
It depends on your age. When you

- were young, you are in the development stage. Everyday you can see improvement in your training.
- get older, you are in maintenance stage. Everyday you should be happy that if you don't go backward.

Can you still improve during your old age? I don't know. Have never heard anybody who could do that. I believe Pan was still in his maintenance stage (养功) and not in his development stage in that clip.

Pan could do that when he was young. He can still do that when he is older. If Pan could not do that when he was young, I don't think he can do that when he is older.

Re: Maintain flexibility in your old age

PostPosted: Fri May 22, 2020 7:22 pm
by Taste of Death
http://guangpingyang.blogspot.com/2009/02/chin-to-toe.html?m=1
Practice anything everyday and you will see improvement.

Re: Maintain flexibility in your old age

PostPosted: Sat May 23, 2020 9:53 am
by robert
johnwang wrote:It depends on your age. When you

- were young, you are in the development stage. Everyday you can see improvement in your training.
- get older, you are in maintenance stage. Everyday you should be happy that if you don't go backward.

Can you still improve during your old age? I don't know. Have never heard anybody who could do that. I believe Pan was still in his maintenance stage (养功) and not in his development stage in that clip.

I guess that depends on where older kicks in ;)
I didn't start training martial arts until I was in my late thirties. When I first started I couldn't do Asian squats, but was able to after six months or a year. Now I'm in my mid sixties and my flexibility is still improving - currently for the lower Chen style postures I can keep my back upright and squat down so the weighted leg is around 120 degrees relative to the tibia. I'm confident I'll make that 100 degrees in another year or two. I don't think I'll get to full side splits, but that doesn't mean I'll stop trying for awhile. It actually seems to be getting easier.

Re: Maintain flexibility in your old age

PostPosted: Wed May 27, 2020 12:16 am
by warriorprincess
Is there a point to be really flexible? Surely having a good range of movement in all joints and strength to carry you throughout your day, whatever you decide to do with it is a more valid goal?

Re: Maintain flexibility in your old age

PostPosted: Wed May 27, 2020 10:30 am
by robert
The more flexible you are the easier it is to move. The less flexible you are the more you are fighting your own body. I'm not sure where it comes from, but I heard there was a saying in taiji that it is better to stretch 1/2 inch than gain 2 inches in circumference.

Re: Maintain flexibility in your old age

PostPosted: Fri May 29, 2020 9:18 am
by yeniseri
warriorprincess wrote:Is there a point to be really flexible? Surely having a good range of movement in all joints and strength to carry you throughout your day, whatever you decide to do with it is a more valid goal?


Musculoskeletal range of movement (neck, knees, shoulders, wrist and waist) should always be mainteained to the best degree possible so in a sense (as they say), 'Use it or lsoe it".
As you know, when we get older, sarcopenia sets in, i.e. a gradual loss of muscle strength and it is even worse today with the lack of physical activity that we do when compared to 4 decader ago.
Too often we blame age but it i is actually ourselves with self limiting behaviours that allows for sarcopenia to become as we think!

Re: Maintain flexibility in your old age

PostPosted: Sun May 31, 2020 2:31 am
by bailewen
Image

At fifty, I can't do this any more, but this pic was when I was about 40.

Re: Maintain flexibility in your old age

PostPosted: Sun May 31, 2020 8:08 am
by everything
bailewen, your picture seems to be blocked here.

Re: Maintain flexibility in your old age

PostPosted: Sun May 31, 2020 8:30 am
by bailewen