How many daily jumps should you do to ensure that you train regularly and progress efficiently? It’s a common question, and there is no easy answer. In fact, there are various schools of thought on the subject, with some proponents of as many as twelve or more repetitions while others recommend as few as six.
Is six enough? Six seems like a lot, but it’s not if you consider that you have to build up to it gradually. Also, how many repetitions should you do in each workout? The general guideline is four to six repetitions for muscle building and aerobic workouts, and as many as ten for powerlifting. For the sake of comparison, a standard jump involves raising your knee as high as you can and then unleashing a leg kick as you jump up (Athletics Canada).
The Jumper’s Perspective
When you’re first learning to jump, it might feel like an eternity before you make that first genuine, coordinated jump. After all, your body isn’t used to the motion, and the technique can be somewhat unfamiliar. It’s not uncommon to feel discouraged, thinking that six repetitions is going to be a monumental task and, quite frankly, a little bit boring.
Once you get the hang of it, things change. Your body gets used to the motion, and it starts feeling good. Your coordination also improves, allowing you to pull off higher jumps and add more explosiveness to your practice sessions.
From a purely physical standpoint, the more you do it, the better you get. That’s the theory, anyway. In that spirit, we’ll discuss some factors that make up for one’s daily quota of jumps.
Increasing Your Confidence
As we mentioned above, when you’re first learning to jump, it’s not easy to do it for the first time without feeling a little bit uncomfortable or anxious. Just remember that you’re not alone in feeling that way. Even seasoned jumpers can have doubts about whether or not they can pull off a specific maneuver. That’s why, as you get more comfortable with the motion, you should try to increase your jumps gradually. Start with a low point, and when you feel confident enough, add a couple of repetitions.
At first, you might feel hesitant to pull off six or seven jumps in a row without thinking twice. Once you build up your confidence, you’ll be able to pull this off without fear, and your daily limit will increase by itself. This is a good thing, because otherwise, it’s easy for your jumps to decelerate as you get tired after a couple of sessions. Remember: your body gets used to the motion, and the more you do it, the easier it will become.
Adding Variety
There’s no question that repetition is the bane of many workout routines. Variety is the best way to avoid this, and having a workout regimen that includes various movements and modalities is what makes it more effective. Even a short break from doing the same old thing can make a world of difference, as your body will have a chance to adjust and get back on track.
As we mentioned above, when you’re first learning to jump, it takes some time to get the hang of it. As a result, it’s a good idea to include a different movement or modality in your practice sessions. You don’t need to do this perfectly, so don’t get discouraged if you miss by a mile or two. The point is that variety will add a new dimension to your workouts, allowing you to strengthen your mind and body in different ways. Variety is the best way to improve, and, quite frankly, it’s the only way to maintain.
Matching Your Body’s Physique
When we said that variety is the key to maintaining a workout routine, we didn’t mean that you need to go overboard and include every possible variation in your practice sessions. Instead, it’s a good idea to find a movement or modality that matches your body’s physique. In other words, if you’re a natural high jumper, maybe you should include some triple jumps in your routine. Or, if you’ve got long legs and want to incorporate some lunges in your routine, go for it!
Even though it might feel like an eternity when you first start out, sticking to one or two movements or modalities that match your body’s physique will make all the difference in the world. You’ll have a much easier time remembering how to do them, and doing them correctly will make all the difference in the world, as well. In general, natural movements are easier for your body to do and, quite frankly, easier for your mind to follow. This is key, because, as we discussed above, repetition is the bane of many workout routines. Having a workout regimen that is as unique and interesting as possible will make all the difference in the world, and you won’t have to worry about your body getting used to the motion, because it won’t feel like the same as the previous one.
Inclement Weather
Some days are just better than others, and there’s no use in beating yourself up because it’s not a perfect day. When it comes to jumping, the weather can make or break your practice sessions. A lot of the time, you’ll have cloudy skies with random drops of rain, making it difficult to determine how high you should go.
If the drops of rain are hitting the ground with a rhythm, then you know that it’s going to be an easy day. On these types of days, you might want to scale back on your repetitions a bit, especially if you’re feeling a little tired. Remember that the sky is still likely to be cloudy, and the drops of rain will make it more difficult to gauge how high you should jump.
Other times, the sky could be clear with puffy clouds floating by, calling for a high jump. In these types of weather conditions, you might want to go for some triple or quadruple jumps, incorporating some powerful kicks into your routine. On these types of days, your body won’t feel like it’s getting enough oxygen, which could lead to muscle cramps, particularly in the legs. On these types of days, it would be wise to steer clear of any movements that require a lot of leg work, like running or cycling. These types of exercises are great when the weather is nice, but on very inclement days, you might want to avoid them, as they aren’t exactly taxing.
In summary, there’s no easy answer when it comes to how many jumps you should do each day. The number will depend on numerous factors, mainly your body’s current level of fitness and the weather. If you feel physically and mentally prepared to jump, regardless of the weather conditions, then six to seven jumps should suffice for your daily workout. As you improve, your number will increase naturally. The sky is still likely to be cloudy for the majority of the day, so you might want to avoid very high jumps when the sun is beaming down, as this will make it easier for your body to absorb the oxygen needed for a proper workout.