Exercises To Help You Jump Higher
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There are many ways to increase your vertical jump. In this article, you will learn some simple exercises that are easy to do and don't require a lot of expensive equipment. Add these to your current workout or just perform them when you have some extra time and you'll be sure to see extra inches added to your vertical.
Begin with a good warm up. Do some kind of easy full body activity to get your blood flowing. Jogging, stairclimbing, jumping jacks, or preferably jumping rope. Jumping rope acts as a warm up, but is a great way to increase your jumping ability as well. You should aim to jump rope at least five times per week because it is so beneficial to jumping.
Squatting is next. It is possible to do squats with heavy weights, or with no weight at all. Both will help you. To do the exercise, slowly lower your body down by bending at your knees whilst holding your back straight (or with its natural curve). During the squat, keep your feet flat on the floor about shoulder width apart and pointed out a little bit. Be sure not to let your knees move out in front of your toes to prevent injuries to your joints. Once you lower your body down in a slow and controlled motion, hold at the bottom for one second. Then stand back up again in the same slow and controlled motion.
Building upon the squat, the squat jump is a fabulous exercise to help your jumping. Start by lowering your body down as in the squat. Once at the bottom, pause for a brief moment, and then explode and jump as high as you can. Once your feet hit the floor, immediately begin lowering yourself down for another repetition. You want to do as many of these as you possibly can every time you work out.
Standing calf raises are usually not mentioned in jump training programs. That's a big oversight. Calf raises won't get you 10 extra inches on your jump, but they might get 2. Everything adds up. Calf raises can be performed in a standing or seated position, using weights or only your body weight. Begin with standing calf raises with no weight. It is a great exercise since it can be done anytime and anywhere. Stand straight and tall and use your calf muscles to raise your body up on your tip toes. Once you are as high as you can go, tighten your calf muscles and hold it for a second. Finally, slowly lower your body back down to the starting position. You can kick it up a notch by doing only one leg at a time. I love calf raises and try to do them anytime I am waiting in a line (at the store, bank, etc).
Finally, core strength is important in overall athletic ability, including jumping. It is another overlooked area in jumping programs. Try to do basic abdominal crunches every day.
The exercises described above are simple to do and don't require a lot of time, but the synergistic effect of all five will yield awesome results in your jumping ability. Don't wait to get started, begin today and see a dramatic difference in your jumping skills.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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