[Rec] Challenge! A roundup of jump rope tricks and techniques
One exercise everyone is familiar with: jump rope.
Of course it’s a playground game, but since it’s also part of elementary school P.E.
classes, people of all ages have tried it.
That said, jump rope is also a prestigious sport with world championships.
Which means there are lots of so-called “tricks” as well.
In this article, we’ve compiled jump rope moves and techniques!
We’ve picked a wide range—from the most basic ways to jump to those that require quite a bit of practice.
It’s content we hope both adults and kids will try!
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[Recreation] Challenge! Jump Rope Skills and Techniques Summary (1–10)
Criss-cross
Cross Cross is a move where you switch the upper and lower hands while doing cross jumps.
Do one cross jump, then before the rope comes around again, switch the upper and lower hands and do another cross jump.
Repeat this sequence.
The key points for Cross Cross are to switch your hands within the area from your chest to your belly button, and to make sure both hands are level at the moment you jump.
If you follow these, you can keep the rope from wobbling and jump continuously.
If your hand heights are uneven after switching, the rope will distort as it comes down and is more likely to catch.
So first, practice switching your hands while turning the rope without jumping to get the feel, then combine it with the jump.
forward jump
Let’s start here by really mastering the basic forward jump.
It’s easy to think, “That’s simple,” but for kids just starting with jump rope, doing consecutive forward jumps can be tricky.
Two prerequisites are: keep the handles fixed pointing outward, and match the timing of the rope swing with your jump.
These are the absolute basics.
It might help to begin by holding the rope in one hand and swinging it at your side to get used to the rhythm.
From there, speed up bit by bit, and before you know it, you’ll be a forward-jump master!
toad
The “toad” is a jump rope trick that combines a cross and passing your hand under your leg.
Once you can do a side swing cross (AS) and a cross, try the toad! Practice the form of crossing the rope and threading the lower hand under your leg, then start combining it with jumps.
You can enter from a basic forward jump, do consecutive toads, or alternate forward jumps and toads like an “AS” pattern.
It’s a skill with many variations to enjoy, so if you’re aiming to become an advanced jumper, be sure to master it.
[Recreation] Challenge! Jump Rope Tricks and Techniques (11–20)
crisscross jumping rope
The cross-arm jump, known as “aya-tobi,” is one of the more approachable jump-rope tricks.
Before the rope reaches your feet, cross your hands and jump over the rope while keeping them crossed.
The key to aya-tobi is smooth wrist rotation.
If you can smoothly “cross your hands, then return them to the original position,” you’ll avoid getting caught and be able to jump continuously.
Start by practicing without jumping: just turn the rope and cross your hands.
When you cross, make sure to really cross your arms so the space you’re jumping through is as wide as possible.
caboose
“Caboose” is a jump rope trick where you thread both hands from the front through between your legs so your hands end up behind you, then swing the rope and jump.
If you keep the threaded hand position to turn the rope, it’s called a “Caboose Open,” and if you cross your arms after threading, it’s called a “Caboose Cross.” Because you have to spin the rope and jump while squatting in an unstable position, the trick is quite difficult, but once you can do it, you’ll definitely impress others.
If you’re comfortable with basic moves like side swings, cross jumps, and double unders, give it a try.
Kruger
“Kruger” is one of the leg-over moves where the hands pass under the leg.
You pass the rope-holding hands from the inside to the outside of your leg and do a basic forward jump with one leg lifted.
First, thread your hands through and lift your leg, check your form, then try jumping.
Once you can do that, practice entering the Kruger position from a regular forward jump and actually execute the jump.
When returning from Kruger to a forward jump, you can switch directly, but inserting a side cross (one rotation at your side) or a regular cross (jumping with crossed hands) helps you transition smoothly—give those a try as well.
running jump
Running-in-place jump rope, known as “jogging steps,” is a basic technique, but it’s surprisingly easy to trip up and hard to keep going for long.
There are two variations: jogging with alternating left and right steps while the rope makes a single turn, and switching feet once with each turn of the rope.
For both, effective practice methods include “air jump rope” (imagining the motion without holding a rope), “one-hand jump rope” (swinging the rope with one hand while jogging), and “hop-on-one-foot jumps.” Give them a try!