Stretching in Jujitsu

The answer is: Both.

This is not an either/or option; stretching both before and after physical activity is a must. Stretching after exercise to get a jump on your next session without stretching beforehand will not do you any good either.

The purpose of stretching before exercise is to help prevent injury. Stretching does this by lengthening the muscles and tendons, which in turn increases your range of movement. This helps you move freely without restriction or injury occurring. However, the reason why you stretch after exercise is very different.

Why Do I Have To Stretch After Exercise?

Stretching after you exercise is necessary for a very different reason. Any strenuous activity, particularly weightlifting, causes a small amount of damage to the muscle and associated soft tissues.

These small rips and tears are what force the muscles to grow when they begin the process of repairing themselves. Stronger tissue replaces the damaged tissue, which often causes soreness up to 48 hours after exercising.

This is called delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS. You might not feel sore immediately following a workout, but think how many times you or someone else has said, "I’ll pay for this later."

Stretching after your exercise routine helps release the tension and prevents the muscles from becoming tight. Right after your workout, your muscles are warm and elastic. The post-workout stretching session affords you a second chance to increase your flexibility and range of motion, particularly around your joints. Regardless of the type of activity, you should stretch all major muscle groups.