Search - Ultimate Flexibility: Stretching for Martial Arts on DVD

Good basic stretching, very little is innovative

Lena, LMT | Nassau, NY | 06/17/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"To give you an idea of my ability, I have been doing yoga for over 5 years & a full knees & nose on the floor straight back butterfly stretch is 90% of the time too easy for me, most times can touch my nose to my knees in standing or seated fwd bend & on a good day can do a full Russian split but not a fwd split.
The menu options are intro, easy workout, moderate & intense. The bonus has 10 min on kicking, an old video of him for advanced exercises & 1 min trailers of 6 other martial arts dvds. The production values are good, his speaking sound & lighting are nice. The camera work was very good (I wish all workouts had this cameraman & director). The camera stayed back to see his whole body almost at all times. Only occasionally to see where to put emphasis, such as seeing that he is standing on tip toes, or how to move into that stretch, etc. does the camera zoom in for just long enough to see, then stays back. There is NO MUSIC except for the menu & at the end of each workout.
Sang H. Kim is alone on floor with natural beige tie-dye curtain behind him, black mat on the floor & 2 simple black/red/white Asian painting next to him on either side. He gives little instruction, though his English is clear & no problem understanding & tells you & shows you quick first, then has you do everything as he counts to 8 for each side. He moves in a good pace so you just keep up, not get bored, but w/o music & everything counted it still bored me a little.
Intro is 8 min about how stretching is good & about how the dvd works.
Easy Workout: 20 min, basic necks, shoulder, arm, wrist circles, hip circles, leg stretches, yoga sitting fwd stretch, wide leg stretch normal & stretching to each foot, butterfly, bridge, child's pose, spine rocking, etc. All the stretches are done laying down, seated, kneeling or on knees. The same stretches almost any workout dvd has, maybe 1 or 2 different & some basic yoga ones for the everyday person. I didn't feel much, a little stretched out, but this was below my ability. There was a couple stretches at angles most dvds don't do but so far wasn't impressed.
Moderate Workout: 20 min, neck stretches w/hand pushing, wrist twists & pulling with other hand & each individual finger. Nothing you can't figure out on your own. Basic stretches like above, some little deeper, not really different then most workout dvds, more butterfly, sitting forward bend, wide angle, half attempt at split, lunges, ends in shoulder stand. Only a few moves were different the most basic stretch or yoga dvds. Most of the stretches are done laying down, seated, kneeling, on knees except shoulder stand. Most people who exercise at least semi-regularly should be able to handle this with no problem. I felt more stretched out, but still didn't feel that much.
Intense Workout: 16 min. Ok, this one was harder after doing the other 2 with only short breaks in between. This one was done much faster, like cardio speed for a few stretches & it did feel real good. It then slow down to some of the regular stretches. This one had more lunges with torso twisting, modified side angle pose, sitting wide angle stretch to each side, deeper side lunges to the ground, camel, bridge but only feet & skull on ground, wheel, etc.
By this time, my legs got rubbery. This one was more my speed & about now 1/3 of the moves were different & felt good. After doing all 3, the next day I only felt a tiny bit sore & a little stretched out, about what was to be expected after any 56 min of normal mainstream stretching.
Bonus Kicking: 10 min, is 2 general stretches, practicing slowly w/a chair & regular speed front kicks, side, back, roundhouse, spinning kick. The roundhouse he only shows one leg. His kicking is still very flexible & with great control.
Bonus Advanced Kicking Exercises: 7 min of him in 1988 with blue mat & looks like a gym. Lunges, wide angle fwd bend, lateral touching of the legs in wide angle, splits & he even touches his head to toes in that position, split & rolling back/forth.

Not sure if it was him or maybe they had to film it many times & was at the end of the night, but his energy seemed a bit low, careful. On the easy, moderate, intense workouts, 80% time I had more flexibility then him. I was expecting more body awareness & more fluid feel to the workout & how the body is stretched/released considering he's a martial artist. Some of the stretches that weren't mainstream did flow & felt right, but there wasn't enough of them to make me really reach for this. Those were done like stepping forward & swing back the arms, or swing arms to the side to open up the torso in a fast motion.

Most of all the stretches you'd get from any regular gym class or beginner's yoga dvds & the couple ones I'd never seen before are probably done in any dojo. I'd suggest this dvd for anyone who's flexibility isn't on the same level as mine and/or doesn't like yoga and/or rather have a male martial artist lead rather then a woman or aerobics instructor.

There's a trailer at the distributer site turtlepress."

Great Routines

Matt B | Ohio | 07/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I recently viewed this DVD in order to learn some good stretching techniques for martial arts and I was not dissapointed. All three of the routines are excellent and stretch the entire body. No matter what the athletic endeavor, I think this DVD provides the perfect stretching routine."

Good stretching video

Jim Grice | New Orleans | 11/22/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While this video is titled "Stretching for Martial Arts" it is so fundamental in approach that it will be equally useful to anyone. It is not an overly strenuous or violent type of stretching. Each user is advised to proceed at their own pace and given a method for doing so.

After using this video daily for about a month I have found it to be extremely effective. Mr Kim is very organized and through in his method, systematically going from joint to joint providing graded exercises for
each. He provides three levels of workouts, each increasing in intensity. The first level can be used by anyone without prior experience or training.
Anyone consistently using this video will benefit almost immediately.
Each session in about 20 minutes and provides a good workout as Mr. Kim goes rather quickly. I recommend this video to anyone begining a stretching program.
"

Stay limber!

C. Fritzsch | Oak Ridge, NJ | 08/07/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Since beginning my martial arts journey a few months ago, I wanted to find some ways to increase my flexibility outside the dojo. I found a great video called Ultimate Flexibility by Sang H. Kim. Sang provides 3 different workouts that are less than 30 minutes each, so it's easy for anyone to fit into their busy schedule. Simple exercises to keep you flexible from head to toe! There's also a great bonus section on stretches to improve your kicks and splits."