Comments on: In other news…

By: Anne

Anne — Sun, 05 Feb 2006 19:23:13 +0000

Ummm…can I recommend starting (or always) jumping rope on the grass and not on the sidewalk or driveway? Jumping up and down on a concrete surface is a really, really rude thing to do to your ankles, knees, and back.

As far as that goes, everyone else has said what I’d have said if I’d have said it earlier :) so my only other suggestions are:

1) Start slowly. If you’re not getting the rhythm, start with a slower rhythm.

2) Practice hopping without the rope if you’re having Foot Issues.

By: Arwen

Arwen — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 00:33:06 +0000

I always had to mutter the little syncopated songs under my breath. Skipping songs straight from the schoolyard.
(Cinder-ELLA Dressed in YELLA)…

By: zuzu

zuzu — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 00:45:49 +0000

Zuzu, I’m trying to jump with two feet together. My feet want to come apart, however.

I always had more luck with the one-foot-in-front-of-the-other thing. But others have had good tips, including keeping the jumps low, starting with the rope in one hand until you get the rhythm and all that.

If all else fails, go find some teenage girls doing Double Dutch and be awed.

By: Lynn Gazis-Sax

Lynn Gazis-Sax — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 23:10:24 +0000

I learned to jump rope by jumping on one foot. Actually, by jumping backwards on one foot. It helped, because every other girl in the entire world could jump rope forwards with both feet a million times before I could do it once, so teaching myself the one-footed way, I felt I was winning at something.

By: Hugo

Hugo — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 22:59:00 +0000

Thanks for the link, Deb!

By: Deb

Deb — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 22:34:10 +0000

Jumping rope is tricky, but it’s an amazing workout — and it’s a key part of the boxing regimen. I’ve been working with a boxing trainer for a few years (at the Wild Card in Hollywood). It took me a little while before I got the hang of it. Since you’re a runner, just try to take short, tiny steps — going back and forth from foot to foot like a jog in place. Here’s a link to a good site with more tips:

http://www.rossboxing.com/thegym/thegym26.htm

Good luck! Boxing is an incredible workout.

By: Antigone

Antigone — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 22:23:58 +0000

To add to a poster above: jump to music, but make sure it has a good, hard beat. If your too focused on the rhythm of the music, you’ll lose concentration. Music makes it more fun, but you could just use a metetron.

By: Hugo

Hugo — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 22:20:11 +0000

bb, thank you — excellent advice! I will look for a heavy rope!

Zuzu, I’m trying to jump with two feet together. My feet want to come apart, however.

By: bb

bb — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 21:20:23 +0000

I also learned to jump rope as a white male adult, so I know it can be done. :)

A few suggestions:

Don’t actually jump: give the tiniest of hops.
The rope will fit under your feet if you’re only about an inch off the
(smooth, clean, level) floor. the higher you try to jump, the more erratic
everything is and the less successful you’ll be. If you’ve watched boxers
jump rope, you know the tiny hop I mean - you barely get off the floor.

start with the rope in one hand, not two
To get the rhythm down, put both ends of the rope in one
hand. swing both arms like as normal, and try to get rhythm going.
You can get both arms and legs going for an extended time and get
things ‘lined up’ in time because you’re not tripping - the rope
is going to the side of your feet.

start with a heavy rope
The extra inertia will help smooth out bumps. It’s more of a workout,
but easier to keep moving.

By: zuzu

zuzu — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 20:32:04 +0000

How are you jumping? One foot, two feet, one after another?