Postby jumptheshark » Tue May 11, 2021 1:42 pm
I think there is definitely a technique to jumping and safeguarding your abs.
As mentioned previously, many organizations that require competent fitness are no longer doing core work the same way they were 20 years ago. In fact the abs aren't even really considered a prime mover of the core anymore, and understanding this might just help your issue. Consider, what is your core?.... analogy coming: Say you eat an apple, what's left... the core... the actual hard parts of the structure. You think that when a lion eats a human they leave the ab wall for the hyenas? No man, your abs are the soft juicy bits. Your fucking spine and pelvis are the core! Prime movers of the lumbar spine and pelvis are the core muscles, and learning to move you body by properly recruiting them is key to minimizing articular wear..... The lower lumbar segments and the hip joints are primary sites of arthritis in your true core. Most of that wear is the result of poor muscle recruitment and motor patterns. Your low back muscles, your glutes, hip flexors and your thighs are your true core muscles. The ab wall is a key supporting player, but its supporting and should not be where you think of contracting to facilitate movement during any big move, be it a heavy lift or a kiteboarding boost.
Your abs are meant to primarily brace and support, not be prime movers. When you boost, don't pull your lower half off the water, or you knees up by doing a crunch with your abs. Like in the pictures above, let your body extend as you jump and use your thighs, ass and lumbar muscles to then suck your knees up to a more tucked posture in the air. If you reef up with your knees, your gonna tear your abs. If you let your body reach full extension and THEN suck up your lower half with the more natural recoil of your body by recruiting the prime movers of your core you wont over strain the abs. In the pics above, see how his knees bend and his hamstrings and glutes are already getting his board moving upward.
I rode a heavy wooden twin tip with boots for years. Still have my favorite one and its a beast. Learning to NOT use the abs to get you into your tuck after you jump will save a lot of pain and likely also result in you jumping higher as relying on your abs generally cuts the extension phase of take off a bit short.
And like elguapo, do squats. Actually before you get into squats get a kettle bell and learn to hip hinge. Then do squats!
Last edited by
jumptheshark on Tue May 11, 2021 2:03 pm, edited 2 times in total.