Hyper extention

[ThinkBackwards]

Im constantly hyper extending my arm at the elbow when i lunge. If anyone has any hints that may help me rectify this mistake please help, thnks.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Originally Posted by ThinkBackwards

Im constantly hyper extending my arm at the elbow when i lunge. If anyone has any hints that may help me rectify this mistake please help, thnks.

Yeah, quit doing it. Do some extensions into open space, not hitting a target. Do alot of them, and do them perfectly, you're basically breaking a habit, so you might as well get the right habit while you're at it. The reason you do it without
a dummy or target is so that you get a feel for what its like to do a correct extension without the added stimulus of your weapon impacting something. When you get the extension how you like it, then practice on dummy's or targets.

[ThatReallyHurt]

Try doing some slower lunges without a weapon - are you hyperextending because you're trying with every fiber in your body to reach as far as you possibly can?

[Li'l Bebe]

Have you tried twisting as you lunge? If you twist so that if you're looking straight ahead, you're looking off the strip, then turn just your head so you're looking at your opponent, it gives you several extra inches, which might just do the trick in certain situations. Look for other options to extend your reach other than just extending your arm, like maybe a balestra (Jump lunge) or more powerful lunge.

[jfarmer]

Originally Posted by ThinkBackwards

Im constantly hyper extending my arm at the elbow when i lunge. If anyone has any hints that may help me rectify this mistake please help, thnks.

What do you mean by hyper extending the arm at the elbow? Are your elbows "double-jointed" such that the elbow bends a bit more and the arm isn't straight (actually bends back some)?

My son had that problem. The only solution that finally worked was for him to just practice slow extensions, stopping his elbow when the arm was completely straight.

John

Novice coach, Oak Ridge Fencers Club, (http://www.orfencer.org/)

[i'mnottelling]

Correct any mistakes in your form. Also, do you have a weight training program? If you do make sure you are working muscle groups properly and equally. If you work your triceps make sure to work your biceps.

If you don't do any weight training consult with a physical therapist or a trainer at the gym before starting. Working your biceps curls will give your elbow some support to prevent hyperextension. Wrist curls are helpful for your forearms. Remember that you need to tone your muscles so work with the smaller weights.

Sovle this problem quickly otherwise you are looking at a long bout of tendonitis.

Good luck.

i'mnt

[DonnaP]

First thing - there is no such thing as "double jointed" - what this means is laymens terms is that you may have lax (loose) joints. The elbow is a simple hinge that has to stop when it is fully extended because the bone of the olecranon hits the bone of the humerus (with a little bit of fluid cushion called the bursae) so - bone hits bone = no more motion. A "normal" elbow can actually bend backwards a little bit in many people, especially skinny ones. So the next question is -do both of your arms do this? If so - this is normal for you and yes - you will need to work on correct form and you can work on "bulking" up the muscles of your arms to compensate. Many baseball pitchers need to do this to avoid elbow injuries from the high velocity extension they do when throwing. (now when I say bulking up - I don't mean like Arnold - I mean strengthening to provide additional resting tension - a different thing) I would recommend doing alot of 'eccentric' bicep work - that is - focus on the return motion from full elbow flexion. But you would need to include triceps, supination, pronation, and wrist flexion, extension and radial deviation to strengthen the 12 different muscles that attach to or from the elbow. There are many different ways to strengthen the elbow complex and spending some time with a therapist or trainer who can provide the exercises/weights that are correct for you is best. But, if your elbows don't both do this and you've had any previous injuries to the involved elbow - you definitely need to have this evaluated by a professional as there may be more going on structurally.

Good Luck,
Donna