STRETCHING MAKES YOU WEAK (THE TRUTH!)

"Stretching Makes You Weak."

Have you ever heard this bit of tomfoolery?

I've heard it a few times over the years. Usually, it's coming from Jimmy, the gym bro, who tried a yoga class once, discovered how bad he sucked at it, and gave up.

"Stretching is for chicks anyway..." he grumbles.

On the flip side, you have equally silly people who will tell you that stretching is, in fact, the cure for everything. Including the dubious idea that stretching ALONE makes you stronger. Or it makes you run faster. Or jump higher. Or other such shenanigans.

Let's just settle this right now:

Stretching makes you flexible
Lifting weights makes you strong
Running and jumping make you better at running and jumping

There is not a TON of carryover between the different disciplines.

Yes, of course, Loaded Stretching will develop a bit of strength.

Yes, of course, full range of motion strength training will develop some flexibility.

But stretching will NOT turn you into Hercules, and strength training alone will NOT get you into the splits.

What we can be sure of is that stretching does NOT, in fact, make you weak.

For example, I consider myself a pretty average guy who has a reasonable balance of flexibility and strength.

Is my 225x5 lb deep squat or 275x5 lb deadlift impressive to a powerlifter?

HELL NO!

But can most powerlifters do the splits?

For someone whose goal is to be a healthy, well-rounded, lifelong athlete – being able to deadlift reasonably heavy AND do the splits 3 seconds letter is pretty good.

I'm far from the strongest. In fact, I'm not the most flexible either...but I have a nice mix of both.

I'm actually proud of not being the best at anything.

No, I don't look like Hercules.
No, I can't deadlift 400 lbs.
No, I don't care (it's not my goal.)

My goal is health. REAL health.

My goal is a body that can run, jump, squat, lunge, push, pull, tumble, stretch, and play sports without any pain or problem.

And on that front – mission accomplished!

So, bottom line, does stretching make you weak?

No, laziness makes you weak.

It also makes you stiff and tight.

Neither stretching NOR weightlifting is the enemy.

Excuse-making is the enemy.

So let's get over our personal biases and lift heavy things AND stretch - sound good?