I'm thinking about taking up american kenpo will it matter I'm not very flexible or should i try another form?

Question

I'm thinking about taking up american kenpo will it matter I'm not very flexible or should i try another form?

Answer 1

Through training over time and with a little sweat and dedication, you will gain flexibility. Whether its Kenpo or any other art, flexibility training is normally part of it.

Answer 2

Flexibility, like strength or stamina, can be trained and improved through practice and certain drills.  Stretching and flexibility training can vastly improve flexibility.  In addition, training itself will make you more flexible.  Kenpo will be fine for you.

Answer 3

You will make great gains in flexibility with any style of martial art. If you have a school near you and you like it, then go for it. It may hold you back a little bit at the beginning, but every instructor out there has been there and seen that before and can help you to properly gain flexibility with out damaging yourself.

If you want to get a little head start, jump rope and maybe do some squats to get the leg muscles good and warmed up and then stretch. You always want to stretch after the muscles have been warmed up, stretching while too cold will result in tears in the muscle tissue.

Best of luck!!!

Answer 4

Kenpo does not require great flexibility. It has kicks mostly waist high or lower. It is a practical form of self defense and Mr. Parker thought it made no more sense to kick someone in the face than it does to punch them in the foot. There is flexibility training, but that is more for preparation to train and prevent injury than it is to do high kicks.

Kenpo will be a great art for you. Most of my students begin and are usually not very flexible. Good luck and have fun.