Skipping - A top high intensity training option

Skipping is something I've done for many years.

Like running at times, I find it calming, it's therapeutic, it can take my mind off things & be a stress relief.

Additionally, it's a quick & effective way to get your heart rate up & to get on a sweat.

Although the ropes I use are basic rotating it over & under your body at speed, whilst moving both feet simultaneously or one at a time will physically challenge you.

A standard requirement for amateur & professional boxers skipping ropes are used for prolonged periods to drop weight or for short periods as a warmup.

You could say that in a sport which demands physical fitness like few others, if it's good enough for them then it certainly is for me.

They can cost as little as £5, are usually pretty durable (when on a smooth studio floor) & headroom aside, you don’t need a lot of space.

Some brands have either weighted handles or a weighted rope itself, in my opinion however, they aren’t worth it as a standard one is sufficient enough of a challenge & would be vouched for by those who used to participate in a boxing class I ran in London some years ago.

I always used to get everyone to jog around the studio to warm up the ligaments in the feet & achilles tendons before we’d skip for 5 minutes.

After this everything was ready to go.

I’m a strong believer in varying training as much as possible; regardless of what your preference is, so why not add skipping to your repertoire.

It’s a rhythmic exercise that can be easily intensified with various movements & speeds but the key rule when starting is to keep it simple & get used to moving the rope.

Movements requiring this coordination with the rope hitting the ground & exactly the right time is often tricky at the start as it's unfamiliar so take your time.

I’ve addressed this by breaking it down into manageable phases in a short video.

But skipping is not for all & not advised if you have bad ankles, hips or especially knees due to the stress they’ll come under.

Skipping is ALL on the balls of the feet which should not be any higher than 2-3 inches of the ground if doing standard jump roping.

Impact should be absorbed gradually & the only sound you should hear is that of the rope cutting through the air.