Stretching - to stretch or not to stretch?

“ … Not only does stretching NOT warm your body and prepare it for exercise, but it can be harmful.” - The Maffetone Method by Dr. Philip Maffetone

Stretching as to its benefit is very controversial. It is understood that stretching for most who exercise are not necessary for proper warm up and cool down. The only time stretching is necessary is for those disciplines that require a greater range of motion like dancers and apparently martial artists. The critical part here is that stretching requires a substantial commitment to time. It is also said that of the two types of stretching, i.e., ballistic vs. static, that static be used and ballistic be avoided. In addition, professionals, want those who stretch to understand that according to some studies it can be demonstrated that increased flexibility through stretching produces more injuries. 

This brings up the question for martial disciplines that use stretching, is it necessary. My perception is that stretching is not necessary but warming up and cooling down is - regarding health, fitness and the prevention of unnecessary injuries. My perception as to martial disciplines regarding a need for greater range of motion is - it ain’t necessary for self-defense or combatives or even fighting. Most stretching involves, in martial disciplines, higher kicks when in reality as to its realistic applications in SD, etc., is the higher kicks are not necessary or even recommended. 

If one trains properly and one warm’s up and cool’s down properly along with health and fitness levels then injuries are vastly reduced and even when they occur the recuperation and healing time is reduced. In a real SD situation in the only part that leaves physical application will not require one be stretched out to prevent debilitating injuries. Granted, in a violent conflict one does not have time to warm up and cool down properly but all the training will still make for “Muscle memory” so when the body is taxed to that extent the injuries and recovery will be better. 

Isn’t it interesting just how much of what we “Thought” was good exercise actually ends up be detrimental to our fitness and health. One reason I appreciate it when I get recommendations for things to study like the recent recommendation for the book, “The Maffetone Method,” as it has provided “Food for thought” regarding how I train and practice. 

Bibliography:

Maffetone, Philip Dr. “The Maffetone Method: The Holistic, Low-stress, No-Pain Way to Exceptional Fitness.” McGraw Hill, New York. 2000.