Workouts to Jump Higher - Learn How to Jump Higher

You are going to find a lot of workouts to jump higher.  The truth is, depending upon what level of fitness you are in already, you will have initial gains with any program simply because you are doing something different than what your body is accustomed to doing.  To be successful at any program you will have to dedicate time and consistent effort to it.  Learning how to jump higher is not any different.  I am going to give you a workout to jump higher that really works, and I will even tell you why it works.

First let's go ahead and start with the why it works.  Effective workouts to jump higher are built around 3 key principles: total body moveMents, change of direction, and stretch reflex. 

• Total body moveMents are just as they suggest, moveMents that incorporate the whole body. Jumping is a whole body moveMent, so why waste your time doing hamstring curls, a single joint movement.  It is not specific enough to increase your vertical leap and jump higher.
• Constant change of direction in your exercises is important because jumping is the perfect example of a change of direction.  You will be changing from a forward motion to an upward acceleration in a very short period of time.  Which brings us to the final point.
• Stretch reflex is the body's way of transitioning from slowing down to speeding up.  The only way to train a stretch reflex is to train Fast with minimal amount of time on the ground.  The best training method to achieve this is plyometric training.  Plyometrics is simply quick jumping movements.

Now for the workout.  I will only give a brief idea of the exercise description because it seems everybody tends to call the exercise something different.  Here is a workout to jump higher that has repeatedly worked for my clients.  Exercises to increase vertical leap require high intensity and effort as well as short duration.  So, don't expect a workout to jump higher to last very long.

1. Jump squat (3 x 8): A jump squat is a combination of a quick squat that finishes with a jump.
2. Scissor jump (3 x 8 each side): With your feet sTAGgered in a lunge position, jump as high as you can.  While in the Air switch your feet and repeat.
3. Ice skaters (3 x 8 each side): Start with your left foot and jump to the right as far as you can with only your left foot.  Land on the right foot and jump to the left.  Spend as little time in transitioning between each jump.  This is actually a hop (but who cares about semantics?)
4. Repeated Broad Jump (3 x 4): Jump as high and as far as you can 4x quickly.  Turn around and do it again.  Make sure you are doing this one on a moderately soft surface such as grass.  Never do this one on concrete (ouch! Can you say shin splints?)

The secret to a good workout to jump higher is that the exercises must be completed quickly with maximum effort.  That is why good jumping programs work.  The transition between one jump to the next must involve minimal amount of time on the ground.  The longer you spend on the ground, the less effective the exercise becomes.  Remember the critical components of a good workout to jump higher and you will be well on your way to dunking over that rival of yours in no time.  Now is the time to start that program you have been looking at.  Train Fast! Increase Vertical!

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