Good Exercises to Jump Higher

There are many possible reasons you could be looking for exercises to jump higher. Perhaps you play basketball or aspire to dunk on your friends in your next pick-up game. Maybe you just started track and field and are looking to improve your high jump. Whatever the case, there are many people out there interested in exercises to jump higher. Well, practice makes perfect so one of the first ways to ensure you are getting maximum spring is by jumping!

Let’s talk about what a jump is before we delve into finding exercises to jump higher. A jump occurs when force is applied to a stationary surface, which propels a reactionary force propelling you, the jumper, into the air. You’ve heard the old adage “every action has an equal and opposite reaction”? Well that applies here.

The key to jumping higher is increasing the force you apply to the ground. This force is where you find your spring and what propels you into the air.

The force we are talking about is generated when you prepare to jump. If you are doing a stationary jump, this force is marked by a slight bend at the knees right before you push off. That push is the force. And that push is governed by the muscles in your legs and glutes primarily.

Good exercises to jump higher will involve strengthening those muscles that propel your jumps. Strength training your legs and glutes are a surefire way to increase the force which you apply to the ground when preparing to jump. Weighted squats and step ups are a good place to start.

In addition, practicing your jump moves will strengthen those muscles and train them for the powerful spring action. The P90X Plyometrics DVD workout delivers some serious jump training. Plyometrics is actually called “jump training”. It trains the body to react with strong and fast movements.

For additional in-depth information about plyometrics, check out this blog post.

Strengthening the muscles used in jumping and practicing your explosive power moves will all but guarantee more powerful and higher jumps.