Vince Gironda’s 8 X 8 Workout

When you’re new to jumping rope for fitness, you may not know where to start. It seems easy enough, but the truth is that much of the success you achieve will begin with first properly fitting your rope to your body height, and then starting with the basics of a jump rope routine after that. It’s very simple, but if done wrong can rob you of the additional results, you should be getting for your efforts.

A jumper’s rope should always be the proper size, as this is necessary to keep rhythm, flow, and posture in proper form, but it is for safety reasons as well. For instance, a rope that is too long will cause you to bend your body in awkward positions and prevent you from achieving the right rhythm and continuity you need for these high-intensity workouts. But, on the flip side, a rope that is too short is a near-guaranteed tripping hazard.

In order to find the right sized rope for your body, you can take a long piece of string, yarn or rope and stand in the middle of it. Bring each end up to your armpits and mark the endpoints where they meet. This is the perfect way to measure when you want to buy a rope, because you then simply measure the string from point to point, and then round up to the nearest foot (jump ropes are usually sold in foot increments). If you want to measure more exactly, you can look for a basic height guide for jump rope lengths and use their estimates for which length to purchase.

[easyazon_block add_to_cart=”default” align=”left” asin=”B0007W2EQO” cloaking=”default” layout=”top” localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” tag=”jumropfit-20″]A beginner might also benefit from purchasing a rhythm rope to start. This is mainly because rhythm ropes – or bead ropes – are those which have hard, plastic bead around the actual rope. As a novice jumper tries to find his rhythm and coordination, it is much easier when you can hear the beads hitting the floor every time the rope comes down. Additionally, bead ropes are extremely durable and are practical for both indoors and out.

For a true beginner, finding a comfortable speed and cadence is a key factor for successful jump routines. After that, you can begin your first jump rope workout with a short, 5 minute session, always remembering to warm up for 5-10 minutes before your routine, and cooling down for at least 5-10 minutes after.

While those determined to begin their new exercise routines may be enthusiastic about them, you can’t truly dive into a heavy jump rope workout until you learn to use the rope effectively. But don’t worry, it doesn’t take very long, and everyone eventually works it out.