The Side Swing

Hello Jump Ropers!

We know that jump roping will make you better as a person and as an athlete, so what do you need to get started?  Many think that you just need a jump rope and go out and try some double-unders, like that boxer you saw on TV!    

Wrong!

Of course, you need a good pair of athletic shoes and a place to jump, but I’m not talking about those obvious things.  I’m talking about proper step by step progress.  Remember, we’re looking to incorporate jump roping into your lifestyle, not just try it for five minutes one day, figure it’s too hard, and then set it aside… often forever.  Believe me, I’ve seen many, many people make that mistake, and justify it with the typical ‘it’s too hard!’ or ‘I’m just not coordinated!’ excuses.  

Sure, if I just go out and try to fly an airplane today, by myself and with no training, whatever coordination I have in me would soon be over, along with everything else.  So take your time, follow the steps, and gradually get better.  

First things first, and in the Jump Roping world, this means the Side Swing.

The Side Swing is not jumping, so it won’t kill your lungs and muscles on your first day.  You may say it’s way too easy and that you’re hardly getting a workout, but don’t get ahead of yourself.  It may be easy to do, but not so easy to do it right.  And by right, I mean that the rope is fully extended, making perfect circles. Practice it rotating both forward and backward without stopping.  How?  You keep rotating the rope in the same direction and switch your body from one side to the next.  You will also want to change hands and get it right with both hands and in both directions. Here’s an example!

The challenge for this week is to do this right.  Go for a jog or do some push-ups if you want a more intense workout, but for now, don’t try to jump ahead.  Also, do not underestimate the importance of the Side Swing, because it’s part of any advanced jump rope routine.  It is used as part of active resting during a workout, as well as a transition move from one jump move to the next.  

Now, an obvious step that we didn’t cover is that you need a jump rope.  But not all jump ropes are created equal.  Sure, you can get one for $5 at Walmart, but poor jump rope performance makes it much harder to jump, and that includes making it harder to learn to jump rope well, which makes it easier to quit.  

And the Side Swing move is a perfect example.  A cheap jump rope will end up looking like twisted licorice in no time.  Not a big deal if the Side Swing is all you will do, but as you will soon see, the side swing transitions will transition into other jumps, and twisted licorice is not what you want.  

So practice your Side Swing this week, get good at it and you will soon graduate to awesomeness!

Jump On!