Adarq.org

IMO their main importance is from a postural perspective and femoral control. Basically if the hip flexors are weak the glutes can't do their job becuase the hips aren't set in a way that primes the glutes optimally and the TFL tends to take over in hip flexion.  It's common in people with a naturally flat ass. Strengthen their hip flexors and all the sudden the posture of the hips changes and the glutes are more easily engaged. The relative size and strength of the psoas in black people is significantly greater than whites.

The relative size and strength of the psoas in black people is significantly greater than whites.

interesting, you've read studies on that or what? curious

pc

Hip flexors, at least in my short experience, are very useful, but only in motions that require a quick drive of the knee. (HURDLES). In hurdles, for example, without sufficient hip flexor strength, the trail leg doesn't move forward fast enough over the hurdle and it delays the time it takes for the lead leg to make contact (this part of the motion being highly dependent on hamstring strength). They're definitely useful, but crazy hip strength isn't really necessary for most athletic movements.

See, it's those strong hip flexors that in large part set the hips in a way that gives the illusion of lordosis/anterior pelvic tilt characteristic in athletes like sprinters.

Is the lordosis an illusion or is it real?

A comparison of actual and apparent lumbar lordosis in black and white adult females.
Mosner EA, Bryan JM, Stull MA, Shippee R.

U.S. Army-Baylor University Graduate Program, Academy of Health Sciences, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Abstract
The purposes of this study were to investigate differences in lumbar lordosis in black and white adult females and to explain the clinical impression that blacks have a greater lordosis than whites. An actual lumbosacral lordosis angle (ALS) was measured from a standing right lateral lumbosacral radiograph using the angle formed from the intersection of lines drawn across the top of the second lumbar vertebral body (L2) and across the top of the sacrum. An actual lumbo-lumbar angle (ALL) was measured in the same manner, except the second line was drawn across the bottom of the fifth vertebral body (L5). To determine whether gluteal prominence gives a false impression of increased lumbar lordosis, an apparent lordosis (APL) measurement was taken, measuring the distance from the subject's greater trochanter to the most posterior aspect of the buttocks. No significant differences were found in ALS or ALL between 25 black and 27 white adult female subjects (ALS, P = 0.26; ALL, P = 0.41). Significant differences were found between black and white APL, with blacks demonstrating a larger APL than whites (P less than 0.01). A high correlation was noted between ALS and ALL in both blacks (0.70, P less than 0.01) and whites (0.77, P less than 0.01). The investigators therefore contend that the clinician's assumption that blacks have a greater lordosis than whites is based on an apparent increased lordosis due to more prominent buttocks (APL).

Also there's some interesting reading here ont he subject of anthopometrics and posture for different sports if you scroll down and read pages 8-12:

http://books.google.com/books?id=2oh18I2TRIUC&dq=science+and+medicine+in+sport&pg=PP1&ots=Ka-E897YdD&source=citation&sig=JyBiCF4BizRtggq7F3wJ_npmR9o&hl=en&prev=http://www.google.com/search?q=Science+and+medicine+in+sport+&btnG=Search&hl=en&sa=X&oi=print&ct=result&cd=1&cad=bottom-3results#v=onepage&q&f=false

"Absent"?

What, some people don't have a muscle?

Maybe I missed it, but I still haven't seen a response to my question about what a black person is.

Maybe I missed it, but I still haven't seen a response to my question about what a black person is.

Yeah and I'm sure you thought I was talking out of my ass before I posted the above reseach on structural differences.   ;)The studies were done on African americans but if you want to take things further I would contact the researchers in charge and ask them for further clarification. There's no shortage of additional scientific information out there on structural & physiological differences among races and I'm sure you can eventually find a labcoat with enough info. to satisfy your curiosity. I have no need or desire to be that pedantic, however.

Kellyb, what is your take on hip flexor strengthening for gymnasts and martial artists that o lots of high and jumping kicks?
thx

It's already built into their training just going thru the progressions they use. For example, here's a progression on the L-sit for gymnastics:

http://www.dragondoor.com/articler/mode3/329/