Thread: How to learn splits?

I would recommend stretching AFTER any exercise you do, as muscles stretch best when pre-warmed. Also, most people are more flexible on one leg than the other, so try both and see which is easiest for you. Good luck!

i've just had four weeks of classes in mongolian contortion so please feel free to ask any questions about training the splits... it's absolutely important to stretch everyday in a warm environment and not try to push your natural movement too far too quickly.

I couldn't split as a child, I only managed it a few years back and only got fully square hips in my split recently...now if only i could quite manage an oversplit i'd be delighted!!

best of luck
xx

I used to be able to do the splits effortlessly when I was young, then I left it a while and at 15 I couldn't. I worked up to being able to do them again. But now I've left it for 2 years so have probably lost it. Anyway my point is you just need to stretch out regularly and eventually you'll get there. How long it takes depends on how flexible you are when you start. You mentioning this has made me consider trying to do them again so thanks

My nana taught me how to do the splits - she could do them at the ripe old age of 70! Also she taught me how to wrap my legs around my neck. My party trick is smoking with a cigarette held between my toes...

She taught me to do the splits by putting two chairs either side of my body. I used them to support me while bouncing down gently to the splits. If you do this, you should get closer to the floor the more practice you do over the weeks.

Obviously, all the other advice posted here should be heeded!

I can still do the splits and used to be able to do the splits with my back leg against the wall, my right leg held up and then falling down into the splits and also I could do the splits facing one way, and then twist to face the other way...just not sure if i can do the latter any more!!!!

I still havent managed the splits, I'm too lazy and just stretching my hamstrings makes me feels a bit sick. I've started holding on to a very low trapeze then seeing how far I can do teh splits, it helps me to pull myself back up. My brothers girlfriends can jump and land in the splits, she doesnt even warm up.

Sorry if I've put this before on here, I remember writing about the splits a long time back, I'm still no nearer to doing it.

Originally Posted by Amelie Soleil

i've just had four weeks of classes in mongolian contortion so please feel free to ask any questions about training the splits... it's absolutely important to stretch everyday in a warm environment and not try to push your natural movement too far too quickly.

I couldn't split as a child, I only managed it a few years back and only got fully square hips in my split recently...now if only i could quite manage an oversplit i'd be delighted!!

best of luck
xx

Hi Amelie,
you make me curious: What is mongolian contortion?
I started to stretch on an almost-daily base (I know I should do more often..) and feel I'm not getting more flexible yet but the stretches hurt less and less, so I guess that's progress as well.

mongolian contortion is just a form of contortion; like say flamenco is to dance.

Contortion has been a tradition in Mongolia for hundreds of years. Contortion is also part of the traditional Buddhist Tsam dances and Mongolian plays. In Mongolia contortion has come to be considered an art form rather than just an acrobatic display. Since the 1960's contortion has been strongly developed both technically and choreographically. Contortion acts are often considered top acts in the world of entertainment today. They are considered top acts thanks to the outstanding traditional contortion schools and great contortion masters.

Here is a video of my coach to explain a little more; I'll never be able to do that but splits and backbends are getting better ha!

YouTube - Serchmaa-Mongolian Contortionist

xx

Being an ex-gymnasts I know how hard it is to learn the splits, but if you do a bit of a warm up and them practise lunges and attepmt to get down into splits everyday then soon enough you will. Try joining a cheerleadng club or dance or something like than. believe me when u get down for the first time it feels so good!

love you x

Originally Posted by evildrneil

This is a pretty good overview of stretching for the splits:

Stretching and Flexibility - Copyright Information

As for frequency to get that level of flexibility you probably need to be stretching every day if not a couple of times a day. I'm another highly inflexible one and it took me about 3-4 weeks of daily work to be able to throw head high kicks (when I was kick-boxing not for general purposes!) which is probably roughly equivalent to being able to just about to a straddle splits! Based on this experience I would have thought it would probably take in the order of 6-8 weeks to be able to do a (comparatively) comfortable splits.

that is a killer tip gives hope to those who think they cant i guess its all about trying thanks much