The New Nation - Internet Edition

If you're tired of the treadmill and bored with the gym it's time to grab yourself a rope and get skipping. It might sound like an easy option at first but you'll soon discover that it's a lot tougher than you think. Continuous skipping will give you a high intensity workout, and it's great for the muscles of the upper and lower body. Just 20 minutes skipping will burn 250 calories.

A High Energy Workout

Skipping is an excellent cardiovascular workout and is comparable to running at 12kph when you consider the number of calories burned per minute. Skipping targets the calves, thighs, bottom, and shoulders, helping to keep these areas toned. It is a lower impact activity than running, is kinder to the joints and consequently, carries a smaller risk of injury.

Exercise On The Move

Skipping is a convenient, great value for money workout. It requires very little room and even less storage space. You can carry your rope with you for a workout anytime, anywhere! Skip in the park, in your garden, or any room with a high ceiling - it's an exercise for all-weathers.

Correct Rope Length

The length of the rope should be right for your height. Stand on the centre of the rope, and lift the handles upward. The point where the handles meet the rope should be level with your armpits. Some types of rope allow you to cut them down to size but if your rope is the wrong length don't despair! Tie knots near the handles to make alterations - a good idea if more than one person is going to be using the same rope.

The Basics- Guidelines

Wear soft-soled shoes. Jump on softer surfaces where possible (e.g. wooden floor would take preference over concrete)

The Basics -How To Skip

1. Stand tall but relaxed - breathing naturally

2. Elbows remain at waist level with arms extended sideways at about a 90 degree angle

3. Use a circular wrist motion to turn the rope

4. Hold the rope loosely, using thumb and index finder for control

5. Jump on the balls of the feet landing softly

6. Jump just high enough for the rope to pass under the feet

Sixty to seventy turns per minute is a good starting pace (roughly 1 turn per second).

Skills & Tricks

There are well over one hundred skipping tricks you can learn. A full list is available on the International Rope Skipping Federation website which also lists a 'skill of the month'. Skills and tricks can add variety to your workouts, as well as the chance to show off a little!

The Cross-Over

Keep the elbows at waist level and bent at roughly 90 degrees. Turn the rope as normal and as soon as it passes over your head, cross your arms as far across the front of the body as possible, jumping through the gap and over the rope.

Double Unders

In this trick, the rope passes under the feet twice with every jump. You can try just one or do few in a row if you want to look really flash! Jump a little higher and use your wrists to whip the rope around as fast as you can.

Other Basic Moves

These include jumping forward and back (bell jump), side to side (skier), knees up in front (running step), rotate body from the hips from side to side (twist), feet apart then together (straddle).

Techniques To Target Different Muscles

Changing your grip will emphasise different muscles of the upper body; holding the rope will focus more on the shoulders, whereas holding the handles works the forearms. Jumping from side to side (skier) will target the inner thighs, and jumping forwards and back (bell jump) increases the work of the front of the thighs. To focus on the lower stomach try the running step. To work the inner and outer thighs try the straddle.

Jumping For Gold

There are a number of skipping clubs around the UK, check out the British Rope Skipping Association for more information. The Rope Skipping World Championships take place every two years. The next one is in 2008, so you've got plenty of time to practice!

20 minute Skipping Programme

This workout incorporates all of the techniques and tricks that we have outlined. Skipping for 20 minutes will elevate the heart rate, working the heart and lungs, improving fitness and burning calories. Each of the different skipping moves focuses on a different area of the body, giving you an all round workout, which you can do anytime, anywhere!

Warm Up

Begin by marching on the spot for thirty seconds, bringing your knees up to hip level and swinging your arms.Gradually increase the speed of your march until you are jogging, and jog on the spot for 1 minute. Perform stretches of the quads, hamstrings, and calves, holding each for thirty seconds. Rotate the ankles, 5 times clockwise and anti-clockwise on each side, then 10 arm circles forwards and backwards.