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Jumping rope is one of the simplest ways to get a great workout. Think about it– jumping up and down while turning a rope with your arms– it really gets your heart beating. Some people use jumping rope as a great training exercise. Others skip rope for fun, while some folks have taken the sport to competitive levels.

You can imagine how jump ropes have evolved. Maybe someone decided to use a grapevine to twirl around themselves once upon a time. Another obvious choice for a jump rope would be a clothesline or rigging rope. History holds evidence of people marketing jump ropes for sale during the 1870’s, but curiously enough, girls of that era were looked down upon if they jumped rope. Extreme physical exertion was not considered a lady-like activity. Bah humbug!

Nowadays, girls and boys have taken skipping rope to new levels –competitive teams have formed all across the world. Most of these teams have been formed to strengthen not only kid’s physical bodies, but their self esteem and sense of community as well. Clubs compete in areas of speed jumping, group routines, freestyle and Double Dutch.

Double Dutch, in case you don’t know, is when two ropes are turned in opposite directions at the same time by two people. The ropes resemble egg beaters when Double Dutch is being performed. Imagine trying to enter these rotating ropes at lightning speed, and then doing turns, tricks and singing rhymes. Primarily a sport mastered by girls, Double Dutch showed up on the streets of New York City after World War II. It died out during the 1950’s, and enjoyed a resurgence in 1973, when some New York City police officers and several physical education teachers invested time in developing the sport. If you’ve ever watched Double Dutch in action, you know what a jam it can be.

If you are not quite ready to jump in a flurry of ropes spun by other people, you can practice skipping rope on your own Here are some pointers you should consider so as to avoid injury. First of all, the jump rope length should reach from the floor to your armpits when it is doubled. Also, be sure that you are wearing shock absorbent shoes and that your legs and shoulders are stretched and your body is warmed up. Also, try not to jump primarily on a concrete surface; rather, use a rubber mat or wood floor for your skipping. Don’t over-do it at first. Work up to a couple of minutes of solid jumping. Now, be sure to keep your hands at waist level, and turn the rope with your wrists. Before you know it, you’ll be skipping like a pro!