Jumping rope

**Matthius100** · Posted On: 1/23/2004 4:39pm

what's so speedy about a speed jump rope?

**Nid** · Posted On: 1/23/2004 4:51pm

They use plyometrics.

**Matthius100** · Posted On: 1/23/2004 5:03pm

what?

**Dochter** · Posted On: 1/23/2004 5:08pm

Originally posted by keinhaar
By running and swimming, respectively.

Why? Because despite convention calling both of those activities "aerobic" neither one does jack-**** for the other. Nor will jump roping have any bearing on one's trainable factors which are applicable to that for which you're training. You will, however, become an excellent jump roper.

Anecdotal: When in competitive swimming shape I certainly was able to run farther, faster and longer than when not.

There may not be a complete transferance (it would be silly to think there was) but there certainly is some.

**Nid** · Posted On: 1/23/2004 5:44pm

The main point is that the changes which do transfer from activity to activity take place at a common level. That being the muscles which drive the movement. *Compared* to being relatively sedentary, the leg muscle development incurred from the swim season (which includes lifting I presume), would certainly transfer to running. Just as the leg development from track season (and the lifting) might help the kicks in swimming. It's certainly not your heart which changed, nor your lungs, nor your diaphragm, nor your red blood cell count...it's the skeletal muscles. And there is a very simple (albeit boring and unromantic) method of improving them for any undertaking. The rest is activity specific.

Jump rope is specific to nothing; and is an inefficient way to make the other kind of changes.

**Dochter** · Posted On: 1/23/2004 6:07pm

No lifting during swimming and it was the fact that I wasn't getting winded that I was refering to. Certainly you're benifiting from common level changes but the level of specificity you seem to be impling to be neccessary is in my opinion disingenuous.

blah

**Nid** · Posted On: 1/23/2004 6:13pm

I wouldn't say disingenuous. Densley superlative yes.

Fine. Same thing.

I'm taking that position to counter the free-for-all of what seems to "work" (which is basically anything as long as someone says so).

**Dochter** · Posted On: 1/23/2004 6:25pm

...along the lines of any strength schedule works for new/weaker people.

**MadeOfOlives** · Posted On: 2/03/2004 8:21pm

In terms of jumping rope being an activity that is specific to nothing... if as previously mentioned it helps with the development of coordination and footwork, then it does get pretty specific, doesn't it?

Or, as is often the case, I might be missing the point.

**Goku** · Posted On: 2/03/2004 9:22pm

Leather speed rope, and to those saying skipping ISN'T a workout...you've obviously never used one AS a workout (or you're jumping rope like little girls do and singing a song).