Rope Jumping

This is one of the best exercises around...
Trust me! You'll break a sweat in no time, plus it's a great cardio exercise. It builds power in your legs, esp. lower legs, arms, whole body. And it burns fat quicker then baking :)

Let's get going...

first get a decent rope !
I know this sounds obvious, but trust me a good rope is a must! Or you'll begin to hate the exercise even before you'll start doing it.
Lenght of the rope: stand on itand it should reach your elbows. But as always - you'll find your ideal lenght along the way.

start exercising
That's really all there is to it: Strong will!
At first you'll be able to do 100, 200 reps. Maybe more, maybe less - depending on your previous experience, but build up slowly and when you reach around 2000 reps in one round you've managed it!

How to do it? - core routine
Always jump on the balls of your feet! Avoid hard surfaces that have no give - such as cement. Feet about shoulder width apart slightly bent (don't lock your knees). Your elbows should be "touching" the torso with your lower hands poining to the ground - making about 45deg angle away from the body.
Spin the rope with your hands and wrists, not shoulders and elbows! They are not circulating! You'll see that this makes quite an test on your upper arm - you'll feel it in area where biceps and triceps join.
Lower arms, wrists, and hands will "hurt" - I don't mean that literally, but it is quite a combination of cardio/strenght endurance test. Same goes for lower legs, ankles and feet. I guess that's why it's such a good all-round exercise.
Boxers use rope extensively, and they are one of the most physicaly fit and strong athletes.

Build your endurance, and do not get discouraged easily. It takes some time to maste rope. But when you do it's a nice exercise - you'll always wanna return to jumping when everyhing else fails - that is when your seek and tired of other sports, but wanna "move" your system.

You don't need much space: 2x2m is enough. Just bare in mind that the ceilling must be hih enough! About 2,5-2,6 is minimum for a grown up - depending on his height. I used to do jumps in a flat - well, my neighbours downstairs were not pleased, but... and ceilling was 2.55m (me being 1.85m) - my rope just managed to not touch the ceilling. That's said just for orientation. If you can, go to the forest,... nature, whatever. If tou can't (hard winters, heavy rains,...) you'll be just fine doing it inside, as a stand alone exercise or warm-up for some other sport.

Variations

• one foot jumps
• running in place (switching left-right-left-... foot jumps)
• two-two (two left foot jumps, two right,...) - like watching boxer practice
• cross hands *that one is the last, I would guess, as it's in my opinion the hardest to master, or maybe again not...

...

By the way: As rope jumping is a great all round body exercise it has an impact to innner body as well. Meaning that you'll break a wind or two along the way, ei.jumping... :)
No bushing around. It's true - as any exercise this one, too, squeezes, strecthes,... your digestion system thus making it work better (whatever be the case). I do not know why isn't it written anywhere, but it is a fact: you'll go to the-place-where-even-the-king-goes-by-himself much easier then just waiting for "it" to happen.