Skipping

Tim Robbins

Hi,
I was just doing a bit of skipping in the gym tonight. Did 50 jumps and then took a break and 50 again.

Any tips? Is this exercise any good for anything? What sort of goals should you have?

One thing, I need to work on is sprinting from a standing start, need to be more springy if you know what I mean.

Cheers

BobbyOLeary

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Hi,
I was just doing a bit of skipping in the gym tonight. Did 50 jumps and then took a break and 50 again.

Good start. I've only met a few people who's first time skipping could manage 50 jumps in a row. I know I definitely couldn't!

Any tips?

Start small, do 50, take a break and do 50 again. Pick a high number, 300 - 500 and try and reach that in as little sets as possible. Start with sets of 50 then edge it upwards until you can get 300 - 500 in a row. At that point it's a matter of your cardio rather than skill. Also, practice. Then practice some more. When you're finished try practicing again. I'd say three weeks practicing with a rope everyday would be enough to get double unders down and single unders up to 500 in a row.

For technique try to only jump as high as you need to clear the rope and keep your legs as straight as possible. No donkey kicks.

Is this exercise any good for anything? What sort of goals should you have?

It depends. I find skipping great for weight loss for competitions. Not for any particular sciencey reason but rather because I enjoy it and it's less boring than the treadmill. And people think you're cool when you can do some skills (double unders anyone?). As for goals see above. Aim for 50 double unders in a row and 500 singles unbroken. Also be able to crossover, jump on one foot, side to side and back to front.

One thing, I need to work on is sprinting from a standing start, need to be more springy if you know what I mean.

Maybe try sprinting if that's your main goal.

ApeXaviour

BobbyOLeary wrote: »

it and it's less boring than the treadmill. And people think you're cool when you can do some skills (double unders anyone?). As for goals see above. Aim for 50 double unders in a row and 500 singles unbroken. Also be able to:) crossover, jump on one foot, side to side and back to front.

Double unders ftw. Very much worth learning how to do (takes some practice, don't be discouraged, skill for life once you can do them). 2mins unbroken is "gold standard" apparently; most I can manage is ~30s before my heart wants to jump outta my chest.

Banks

Tim Robbins wrote: »

One thing, I need to work on is sprinting from a standing start, need to be more springy if you know what I mean.

Try oly lifting, Will get those type 2 fibres firing like never before!!

Tim Robbins

BobbyOLeary wrote: »

For technique try to only jump as high as you need to clear the rope and keep your legs as straight as possible. No donkey kicks.

That's interesting. i was jumping two feet at a time (i.e not jogging the skip). Sometimes I wasn't keeping my legs straight, I'd bend my knees while jumping. Is this really bad?

It depends. I find skipping great for weight loss for competitions. Not for any particular sciencey reason but rather because I enjoy it and it's less boring than the treadmill. And people think you're cool when you can do some skills (double unders anyone?). As for goals see above. Aim for 50 double unders in a row and 500 singles unbroken. Also be able to crossover, jump on one foot, side to side and back to front.

I could feel I was using the balls of my feet a lot more. In that I was on my toes rather than being flat feeted. This might be good for keeping my springy on my toes. I am a rugby ref - being lite on your feeet is import as is being able to get up the revs quickly.

Maybe try sprinting if that's your main goal.

Agree, but that's not possible in a gym.

Thanks for your feedback and to everyone elses.

Pontificatus

Banks wrote: »

Try oly lifting, Will get those type 2 fibres firing like never before!!

Not this **** again

chiefbrody1974

ApeXaviour wrote: »

Double unders ftw. Very much worth learning how to do (takes some practice, don't be discouraged, skill for life once you can do them). 2mins unbroken is "gold standard" apparently; most I can manage is ~30s before my heart wants to jump outta my chest.

wow that makes me feel realy good so. I start my workouts every day with 6 x 2 minute rounds of skipping, 30 second rest between rounds. IM skipping years though and can do doube unders, tripple unders, backwards running, hopping on one foot and all that. it does take a good while to be efficient at it. If you're starting off, try do it in front of a clock. skip for 30 seconds, then rest for 30 seconds, keep that up and try ad 5 seconds per round per week. a typical 2 or 3 minute round would be 20secs moderate skip then the next 10 secs flat out, continue like that til end of round. Your fitness goes through the roof, like interval training. When you get fit at it, you can do more rounds and then the shoulders and upper back are what starts to go!!! great for stayin in shape and lean. I could do a full workout with my rope. 1 minute fast rope skip, drop to 25 pushups, do 8-10 chin ups, 30 free standing squats, rest for 45 seconds, then repeat. do this 5 times and finish with 3 3 minute rounds on the rope.

great conditioning.

Banks

Pontificatus wrote: »

Not this **** again

Whats wrong wit u Pontificatus?? Don't like oly lifting??

ApeXaviour

chiefbrody1974 wrote: »

wow that makes me feel realy good so. I start my workouts every day with 6 x 2 minute rounds of skipping, 30 second rest between rounds.

Well I meant 2 mins of double unders unbroken is gold standard.

But sh.t triple unders??? Fair play!

token

I really like double unders. This is a good crossfit wod to do that features them heavily once you get them down. I did it one-legged when my knee was injured earlier this year and I'm working on doing it backwards at the moment :pac:

"Annie"
50-40-30-20-10
Double-unders
Sit-ups