Is This Even Possible?

[d0nut_l0ver]

Is it possible to physically NOT be able to get your right, left, and/or straddle splits all the way down??

I've been trying to get them for a YEAR (I stretch in them often!!) and I haven't even got down an inch.

I'm starting to think I'll never get on my gym's team because splits are physically impossible for me. :'(

 

[cher062]

usually what i've seen is very girl has a "good" side that they can get down into a good split and a "bad" side that just won't go down. My DD Left leg in front beyond horizontal. Right leg a space and no sign of getting lower. Flexability takes a long long long time. keep stretching and ask your coach what stretche would be better for you. You might be stretching but not stretching the right muscles. Keep thinking YOU CAN and eventually YOU WILL (yes it might take a few years to get there but it will happen). If you THINK you CAN'T and IT's IMPOSSIBLE then it will be. Gymnastics is 50% mental ability and confidence

 

[Deleted member D3987]

some people never get them.

 

[poppy]

For some people it does take much longer. You just have to persevere! Be sure to warm up REALLY well, stretch little and often, and vary the stretches you do... and don't give up!

 

[gymgal]

I think age is a factor as well. The older you are, the less flexible you are. That doesn't mean you can't do it but it will take a lot more work. When dd was 4-5 yrs old, she had all her splits to the ground naturally. She was very flexible. Because of this, we didn't think it was important to do daily stretches with her. Gradually, she lost her "bad" leg split and middle split. It took almost a year to get her back to the ground - and it was a lot more work for her to do it. I encourage her to stretch while she is watching TV or is on the laptop to keep her distracted.

 

[mumoftwogymnasts]

DD is in her third year of gym and I don't think she will ever get middle splits, no matter how hard and how much she trys. Her coach while saying "never say never" tends to agree. Her hips are just too tight, she is gradually getting lower, but it is a very very slow process, and I honestly don't know that she will ever get flat. She has right and left splits, but she has a definite "good" leg that comes easier to her.

DS has middle splits, totally flat and can oversplit to approx 20 cm. Middle was the first split he got flat about six months after starting gym (DS and DD started at the same time, DS was 7.5, DD was 5). The team physio told me he has "hips a ballet dancer would kill for". He also has right and left splits, with a good and bad leg. Flexibility seems to come easy to him, DD works harder and longer to be half as flexible as DS.

I'm starting to think I'll never get on my gym's team because splits are physically impossible for me. :'(

Is all three splits are requirement for your gym's team?

 

[Kiwi]

Have a look on you tube for stuff by Lisa Howell, and on her website 'the ballet blog'. She is a physiotherapist who specialises in dance and works with a lot of ballet dancers. Her approach is a bit different, in that she teaches that flexibility is not just all about stretching muscles. If you are not getting anywhere with traditional stretching, it is possible that some of her techniques might help you.

 

[d0nut_l0ver]

some people never get them.

I was kind of looking for positive reinforcement...

 

[d0nut_l0ver]

usually what i've seen is very girl has a "good" side that they can get down into a good split and a "bad" side that just won't go down. My DD Left leg in front beyond horizontal. Right leg a space and no sign of getting lower. Flexability takes a long long long time. keep stretching and ask your coach what stretche would be better for you. You might be stretching but not stretching the right muscles. Keep thinking YOU CAN and eventually YOU WILL (yes it might take a few years to get there but it will happen). If you THINK you CAN'T and IT's IMPOSSIBLE then it will be. Gymnastics is 50% mental ability and confidence

Thanks, and although in this thread I seemed to doubt myself, I still believe that I can get my splits and I work very hard for them.

 

[d0nut_l0ver]

Have a look on you tube for stuff by Lisa Howell, and on her website 'the ballet blog'. She is a physiotherapist who specialises in dance and works with a lot of ballet dancers. Her approach is a bit different, in that she teaches that flexibility is not just all about stretching muscles. If you are not getting anywhere with traditional stretching, it is possible that some of her techniques might help you.

Okay, I'll do that! I take ballet as well, it helps me with gymnastics a LOT... I'm much more graceful that I used to be! Also, I just think ballet is fun, and next year I have the chance to audition for a small part in The Nutcracker, which hundreds of people come to see!

 

[d0nut_l0ver]

For some people it does take much longer. You just have to persevere! Be sure to warm up REALLY well, stretch little and often, and vary the stretches you do... and don't give up!

Thanks for the encouragement!!

 

[d0nut_l0ver]

I think age is a factor as well. The older you are, the less flexible you are. That doesn't mean you can't do it but it will take a lot more work. When dd was 4-5 yrs old, she had all her splits to the ground naturally. She was very flexible. Because of this, we didn't think it was important to do daily stretches with her. Gradually, she lost her "bad" leg split and middle split. It took almost a year to get her back to the ground - and it was a lot more work for her to do it. I encourage her to stretch while she is watching TV or is on the laptop to keep her distracted.

Yeah, I started gymnastics late so obviously I didn't have ANY of my splits. Plus, the first 2 years I spent at my bad gym, they didn't even make us DO splits! That just PROVES how bad that gym was!! But luckily, I have the most flexible back in my class. That's one positive thing!

 

[d0nut_l0ver]

DD is in her third year of gym and I don't think she will ever get middle splits, no matter how hard and how much she trys. Her coach while saying "never say never" tends to agree. Her hips are just too tight, she is gradually getting lower, but it is a very very slow process, and I honestly don't know that she will ever get flat. She has right and left splits, but she has a definite "good" leg that comes easier to her.

DS has middle splits, totally flat and can oversplit to approx 20 cm. Middle was the first split he got flat about six months after starting gym (DS and DD started at the same time, DS was 7.5, DD was 5). The team physio told me he has "hips a ballet dancer would kill for". He also has right and left splits, with a good and bad leg. Flexibility seems to come easy to him, DD works harder and longer to be half as flexible as DS.

Is all three splits are requirement for your gym's team?

Yes, I have noticed how flexibility comes easier to some than others. Well, is your DD at least close to the ground in her middle split?

No... they're not required... well, actually, they kind of are. Left and right leg splits have to be AT MOST 2 inches from the ground, and middle splits have to be less than 6 inches from the ground. Right now, my right split is about 4-5 inches from the ground, my left split is about 5-6 inches from the ground, and my middle split is over a foot from the ground. So, yes, I guess you could say that they're required, just not all the way down.

 

[All Chalked Up]

I think age is a factor as well. The older you are, the less flexible you are. That doesn't mean you can't do it but it will take a lot more work. When dd was 4-5 yrs old, she had all her splits to the ground naturally. She was very flexible. Because of this, we didn't think it was important to do daily stretches with her. Gradually, she lost her "bad" leg split and middle split. It took almost a year to get her back to the ground - and it was a lot more work for her to do it. I encourage her to stretch while she is watching TV or is on the laptop to keep her distracted.

Not always- I started when I was 12, and I'm the most flexible in the gym. I wasn't naturally flexible either- I worked hard on them for a month and I now have double overspilt down on right, left and middles!

I'm sure you'll get them soon if you're not too far off the ground. Do different spilt streches, such as lying down and having someone bring your foot as close to the ground as you can safely do.

 

[d0nut_l0ver]

Not always- I started when I was 12, and I'm the most flexible in the gym. I wasn't naturally flexible either- I worked hard on them for a month and I now have double overspilt down on right, left and middles!

I'm sure you'll get them soon if you're not too far off the ground. Do different spilt streches, such as lying down and having someone bring your foot as close to the ground as you can safely do.

Well, I'm like 6 inches from the ground in my left leg split, 5 in my right, and over a foot in my straddle... so... no. I'm not close. At all. But I AM trying really hard to get them!

 

[GetaGrip]

It all depends on flexibility, age, and persistence! But, there was a very good level 10 on our team who couldn't go down in her splits to save her life. Now that she's doing college gym her splits are going down more, but she's still not there yet. She's not a flexible gymnast though, but very powerful and strong.

I'd say just keep pushing, even if it hurts (just not too much). Good luck!

 

[gymnastbeth]

I'm 100% sure that I will never get my straddle split... That's just the way it is with me. After years of stretching, I finally got my left leg split, it just happened one day. There was never a time where I thought I was very close to getting it, but one day I started stretching and it was all the way down! I'm sure you'll get your splits at some point, you just need to be patient.

 

[Mack_the_Ripper]

some people never get them.

This is true. I have a friend who stretched her splits almost every day at home, worked on them in the gym, for the 2-3 years that I knew her. She was always at least 6 in away from the floor, and if she missed a couple days of stretching, she'd be even farther. Her back and middle split flexibility were okay, but her splits were just not going to happen. She's switched to a less competitive program which is a better fit since she wants to do other sports as well.

HOWEVER most people are not my friend. If you keep stretching several times a week, you'll probably have them soon. I didn't find oversplits that helpful before I had my split flat. I think the key is to push yourself down as far as you physically can go and make yourself hold it for 30 sec. Then come up a little bit, rest, and do it again. My coach used to come around and push people farther down, but she actually couldn't push me any farther because I was already at my limit.

Also, make sure you're warmed up so you don't hurt yourself.

 

[Flipsta]

stretch for ten minutes on each leg twice a day I did this and had left and right under 1 inch and middle at 2 inches in two and a half weeks

 

[Iwannabemargo]

I used to do a lot of yoga and their phylosophy really works - its about RELAXING - easy to say but harder to do. When you stretch go as far as you can and then conciously relax ! You will find that you will then be able to go further.

I know in our gym some of the boys can't split, and have rubbish japanas. We went round stretching them and S had his hands on the ground and he was pushing against me pushing his back. I made him put his hands on his head and with no further pressure from me he lowered 6 inches.

Keep going and you will get them

'Margo