Let’s set the scene. You are on the playground. You’re a kid. You are playing with the jump ropes with your friends. Guess what? that’s not just something for the kids. It’s something we can do in training! Don’t believe me? Read on!
- Good for response time
If you are in martial arts, you know; speed is key. Particularly in taekwondo. Jumping rope is an amazing exercise for response time. You have to be consistent when doing it, otherwise, you might feel a sting! Sure, it hurts, but on the plus side, it keeps you focused. If you spar regularly, you’ll quickly see the benefits of jumping rope. Your speed, response time, and nerves improve.
2. It works a lot of muscles
I learned that jump ropes can work a lot of muscles! Go figure, right? It mainly works your leg muscles, but it can work a whole lot more! Various types of jump rope exercises can use a variety of muscles. It just depends on the type of jump rope. Or even jump rope game!
3. Very easy to do
Many workouts are simple, repetitive tasks that exercise various parts of your body. Jumping rope is even more simplistic, believe it or not. Despite the fairly simple action (jumping repeatedly), it does use a lot of good quality muscles.
4. Not hard to buy
Let’s be real. Exercise equipment is so expensive. I mean, it is ridiculous sometimes! But, jumpropes certainly aren’t very expensive. In fact, they’re probably one of the cheapest form of exercise equipment I have ever bought.
5. It keeps you on task
Do you know how many times I’ve accidentally hit my foot or ankle with a smaller jump rope? Sure it doesn’t bruise or anything, but ouch! It certainly keeps my attention, that’s for sure.
6. A lot of games and varieties!
It also has many different games attached! You can do two jump ropes at the same time (this is called double dutch). You can change the footwork. You can change the number of times the rope hits the ground in between jumps. The options are basically endless! If I were more of a dancer, I suspect I could find some new ideas. If you get really creative, you can find games. Or even tournaments!
7. Great way to practice being light on your feet and having fast reflexes.
A big part of martial arts training is being light on your feet and having fast reflexes. Jumping rope helps with that. While it uses muscles throughout the body, what you’re focusing on is the motion of bouncing on the ground. Very similar to the bouncing that you need for sparring.
Bonus Points! It’s Fun For (Some) Students!
Admit it, if you’re an instructor, you get it. Part of the fun of being an instructor is seeing the kids smile and (sometimes) seeing the grown ups groan. Jump rope is one of those things that successfully does that. The best is watching a class where the parents and the kids train together. You got a wide variety. There’s a little kid who is having the best time. Then there’s the parent who is trying really hard. And then the teenager who is strangely good at jump rope. Seriously, how do they do it?
Are you convinced yet? If you are at all interested, check out the jump rope I use! It’s so much fun, and I sometimes use it in my morning exercise routine. It might seem a little childish, but it’s surprisingly fun and exhilarating! To be honest, jumping rope reminds me of the fun I had as a kid. It starts my day off on a good note!
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Some of the links in this post are connected with Amazon Associates. Commissions from purchases go to supporting Taekwondo Tutors. This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only. All martial arts techniques and exercises should be supervised by a trained martial arts instructor in order to prevent injuries and to ensure the proper technique is utilized. The information on these pages and videos is meant only to amuse, not replace, the instruction given at your martial arts classes. To properly understand these techniques, you need to learn them from a martial arts instructor who can provide you with an in-depth explanation of the technique, help correct your mistakes, answer your questions and detail how the technique should be utilized. In addition, all martial arts techniques and training should be used safely and responsibly.
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