How do I get swoll and still maintain my flexibility

[degoviet]

any suggestion on how to maintain my flexibility but still get big. I'm a martial artist so I need to be flexible to perform some of the moves but I'd like to get a little bigger physically. I've heard rumors that the more bigger you get the less flexible you become. Comments or suggestions ?

 

[Dlove]

lets just say since heavy deads and squats i can no longer swing a golf club. i was flexible as hell at 205 two yrs ago. now at 260 my girlfriend said i have a huge ass. i can barely put my socs on and i got a funny walk. i dont think there is any way around it. bigger=less flexible

 

[huskyguy]

I do yoga once a week. I look funny doing it because nobody in our yoga class was gaining weight except for me. I feel that yoga helps me stay a bit more limber, but yes the added weight probably hinders some flexibility.

 

[pullinbig]

just do a lot of stretching. i trained a couple of MA guys. they didnt lose any speed or flexability. with the added strength and weight they were even more dangerous.

 

[inked1]

stretching has got to help, but you have surely got to lose some flexability with incresed size eventually

 

[pullinbig]

why? i mean how far you gotta be able to bend? how far past a full split you gotta go? how much more limber you gotta be in upper body than to be able to pul your hands over your head and down your back while keeping your hands together? if you a contotionists it may hinder you but in MA i dont see the correlation. heres a pic of a guy i helped to add 30lbs in 9 months. he went from 180 to 210ish and his bf stayed the same. he dieted down to 195ish in this pic. hes getting ready for a bb show. he's a 7th degree black belt in his particular discipline. he'll tell you he didnt lose any flexability or quickness. his bench went from 315 to 405 also.

 

[bula]

Actually, most professional BBs spend hours stretching. Flexibility does get compromised if you lift, but serious stretching (not just that 2 min pre w/o stuff) not only keeps the joints elastic, the muscle fibers heal better and toxins are released out of the muscle and into the bloodstream - aiding growth.

Case in point, see Ronnie Coleman .. http://www.bodybuildingpro.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1334&stc=1

Enough said.
Bula

 

[tripz_shahab]

I dont do stretching ,but yeh sometimes i can stand and then bend to touch my knee with my nose for 1 minute non stop, and that too without breaking my knee joint(its straight)

 

[degoviet]

Thank you every body the comments and suggestions.

 

[mister69]

well, i stretch before every workout. Then when i train brazilian jujistsu I stretch about 15 minutes prior to each session which is 3 times a week. And brazillian jujistsu alone lets you become more flexible. But i havent been training bjj for the past month but still been stretching. Hey dlove i hear ya on the golf swing.....My view is just to make sure yuo stretch and yuo will be fine, and i am always active so its not like i am sitting on the couch all day.

 

[inked1]

why? i mean how far you gotta be able to bend? how far past a full split you gotta go? how much more limber you gotta be in upper body than to be able to pul your hands over your head and down your back while keeping your hands together? if you a contotionists it may hinder you but in MA i dont see the correlation. heres a pic of a guy i helped to add 30lbs in 9 months. he went from 180 to 210ish and his bf stayed the same. he dieted down to 195ish in this pic. hes getting ready for a bb show. he's a 7th degree black belt in his particular discipline. he'll tell you he didnt lose any flexability or quickness. his bench went from 315 to 405 also.

that dude looks pretty fucking jacked, nice work. do you think he would still be as flexible if you got him up to 300lbs though pb?

 

[painless2]

Provided that you go through full range of motion, weight lifting actually increases flexibility. There is plenty of research showing this across the board. Obviously though, if you become muscle bound you may limit the physical range of motion about a joint e.g. the reason very little bicep work is done by Olympic lifters who compete in the clean and jerk.

 

[pullinbig]

that dude looks pretty fucking jacked, nice work. do you think he would still be as flexible if you got him up to 300lbs though pb?

he could be if he worked at it. at 5'6" he would be thick

i think you confusing flexability and mobility. obviously the more heavily muscled you are there is going to be less mobility due to more mass being in the way. however flexability is something totally different. but i have seen several MA guys that are heavily muscled and are fast, flexable and dangerous. i'd jump on one of the little guys first

juts look at some of the MMA guys. some of those guys are brutes and still have no prob kicking someone in the head much less doing splits and stuff.

the guy who is the above guys instructor is 6' 3" and about 245. 50 some years old and one bad hombre. one of the most flexable guys you ever meet and heavily muscled.

 

[Mudge]

well, i stretch before every workout.

Stretching should never be done before a workout.

 

[Mudge]

Like PB said there is a difference between flexibility and mobility. If you were unconcious every single one of you could do the splits, because LACK of flexibility is a muscular safety response.

 

[mister69]

would stretching after the workout be better?

Stretching should never be done before a workout.

 

[pullinbig]

Stretching should never be done before a workout.

i disagree with this 100%. i always stretch before every workout. as does every top pler i know.

 

[mister69]

i stretch before and after each workout, be with weights or if i am training martial arts.

 

[inked1]

i think you confusing flexability and mobility. obviously the more heavily muscled you are there is going to be less mobility due to more mass being in the way. however flexability is something totally different. .

you're right.

 

[painless2]

i disagree with this 100%. i always stretch before every workout. as does every top pler i know.

I think what he meant was that stretching for length is not recommended before a workout. It increases pliability in the tendon/ligament structure around the joints, resulting in increased injury risk as well as performance decrease in speed and strength.
Range of motion, exercise specific stretching is different, given that it seeks to warm the working muscles and lubricate the joints, while not comprimising their strutural integrity.