jumping rope

[charleslong]

I've been doing kettlebells and body weight exercises for my workouts. I've been making gains and showing improvement. I recently added jumping rope to my routines and results have been coming much quicker. Jumping rope is not a sissy school girl thing but can really be a kick butt workout all by itself. If you don't jump now, I would highly reccommend adding it to whatever routine you do now.

Charles

P.S. Start slow as it will fry your calves. I was walking around like an old man (I'm 46) for the first 3 or 4 days.

[DN Moderator]

Charles - you got that one right - if jumping rope makes you a sissy, then you're a powerful and agile sissy.  Ori is a machine when it comes to jumping rope.  The last time we worked out together, he shamed me greatly while trying to teach me some advanced techniques doing it.  Several of our trainers use it as well.

[charleslong]

Ori would probably shame me greatly on about everything. I'm not ready for any advanced techniques just yet but I will get there. Now I just do the basic jump. I'll work up to some more advanced stuff.

Charles

[Mr. Z]

I feel like a damn fool admiting this but I have no idea how to jump rope. I bought a rope, made a rope, have pestered small children and even tried to look it up on line. Is there like a rope jumping gene that I wasn't born with? Is it one of those things you just have to be willing to get out in the yard and work it until you get it right? I'm talking about that skipping thing boxers do not the basic two footed up and down jump. (which always makes me feel like Godzilla) Suggestions?

[charleslong]

Is it one of those things you just have to be willing to get out in the yard and work it until you get it right?

I think you hit the nail on the head here. You just have to do it. I do have some suggestions. If you do it in the yard you need a level spot with the grass very closely cut. Longer grass will interefere as I found out the first day I had my rope. Or a smooth spot of bare ground. Personally, I like jumping on the carpet in my house but not everyone has that option. Make sure the rope is sized right for you. If you put your foot in the center of the rope and hold the handles up, the top of the handle should come to about the top of your head. If it's too long, it will hinder your jumping. Being shorter is okay if you're an advanced jumper but since you're not, you'll do better with the size guidelines I outlined above. So get a good rope the right size and a good spot to jump and just go for it. It might take awhile but you'll get it.

Charles

[Rockhead]

Ditto on Charles' "fried-calves" comment....I'm 46 as well and started with 60 seconds jumping, 30 rest, 60 on, 30 off for a full 7 minutes of jumping total.
Calves were VERY unhappy with me..
If you can't seem to do it, keep jumping if you miss and just keep plugging away.
Practice jumping without a rope and just move your arms/wrists like they are holding a rope to mimic the move. You'll get it eventually...it will be the best 5 minutes of cardio you can imagine (other than 5 minutes of alternate 1 hand swings with a kettlebell)
Don't give-up on this fantastic move!