Posts Tagged ‘jumping exercises’

Do Less To Leap Higher

Sunday, February 7th, 2010

Are you serious about your vertical leap training?

Correct training to increase your vertical jump is very COUNTER INTUITIVE.

The vertical jump is an explosive act caused by the sudden contraction of fast twitch muscle fibers.  Because of this, training to improve jumping should be “anaerobic.”  Too many athletes are training in a way that that is mostly “aerobic”.

How is training different for the two?

Athletes looking to improve have been told that running cross country would increase their vertical. That is big mistake. Running long distances like that can make your vertical leap to plummet.

Sprinting, like jumping is a more anerobic event.  Do you see [a sprinter running the 2 mile run as part of their training for sprinting? NEVER! Then why so often do vertical leap programs have us PACING ourselves during our vertical leap training workouts?

NEVER NEVER NEVER PACE YOURSELF FOR] TRAINING YOUR VERTICAL JUMP!

We have all seen it before. Athletes “running the stairs” or dog tired from doing speed ladder drills. Or maybe get done jumping rope for 20 minutes and you are worn out.. you are going to say to yourself, “Now that was a hard workout, surely that will increase my vertical.”

This is not explosive training, so they are NOT going to see results in explosive moves. I guarantee you, they will be disappointed. You have to train for explosion and not endurance to increase your vertical leap.

“Explosive” training will not feel right at first.  You won’t get the same burn as training aerobically.  In some ways training explosion is easier, although it requires a good deal more focus and short term effort.

99% of all athletes [that follow these suggestions incredibly just by decreasing repetition and increasing intensity.

Doesn’t doing less to get better results sound like a winning combination?

To get the most out of your vertical jumping exercises, you should consider a vertical jump training program. Check out these Vertical Jump Program Reviews to check which are rated the best and to find more information on How To Jump Higher.

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Top Five Things To Look For In A Vertical Jump Program

Friday, February 5th, 2010

If you’re looking for a way to improve your basketball skills and would like to jump higher or even dunk, vertical jump programs can give you the boost you need. Which jump programs actually deliver on what they promise though? There are many different products available, and several of them make claims that they can’t back up. If adding big increases to your vertical jump was really as easy as a few of the products make you think, wouldn’t everyone be able to dunk by now? So how can you find a genuinely first-rate vertical program?

Here are the 5 things you should watch for when reviewing vertical jump programs.

1. Uncomplicated information
It’s important that you can grasp what the inventor of the program is discussing. It shouldn’t matter if you’re just starting or are an accomplished athlete, the program ought to be simple for anyone to use without a bunch of difficult terms.

2. Plyometrics and weighlifting workout routines
Programs that have plyo and weight workouts produce better results. If a product doesn’t have these things, there’s no way it can help you get the best outcome. Plyometrics is all about explosive movements, which is something you’ll need to give you the ultimate results.

3. Workouts you can customize
All athletes are at different stages, and what might work for you probably wouldn’t work for somebody else. This is why it is extremely essential that a vertical leap program has enough variation – for beginners, intermediate and advanced players. That way, if you are advanced in plyometrics workouts, but you’ve never lifted weights [before, you can create a special workout made up of the precise exercises that you need.

4. Increases overall strength and quickness
The program should not only help you increase your ability to jump, it ought to automatically make you stronger and faster as well. So, if your vertical jump only improves by a couple inches, the program you are using is most likely not helping you get stronger or faster.

5. Be Reasonably priced
You should not have to spend an arm and a leg just to jump high! (After all, how high can you jump with just one leg (ha ha)? There are some workouts out there that are worth the money, but none of them should cost five times what the others charge.

If you can find all five of these things in the program you are considering, it is most likely a good one, and one that ought to produce results.

To get the most out of your vertical jumping exercises, you should think about a vertical jump training program. Check out these Vertical Jump Program Reviews to see which are rated the best and to get more information on Improving Your Vertical Jump.

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Movements to Improve Your Vertical Jump

Friday, February 5th, 2010

People involved in athletics, especially basketball, football, volleyball, and soccer, are frequently interested in finding a way to increase their vertical jump. There are many drills and programs available that are specifically designed for improving a person’s jumping ability. Before proceeding with any of these programs though, you should at least be in fair overall physical shape. Here we list a few exercises that someone could start with before starting a vertical leap program. These will help get you started.

Warm Ups
Before starting any exercises, you need to warm up your muscles. Try jogging around for ten minutes or run up and down s few sets of stairs. It is also a good idea to stretch your muscles prior to beginning your exercises. Warming up prior to doing exercises helps you develop muscle fibers that are used during the jumping process.

Skipping Rope
Jumping rope is an exercise that should not be overlooked, as it will contribute to improving the strength of your legs. It also helps maintain excellent cardiovascular condition. Do this exercise for 15 to 30 minutes regularly.

Knee Raises
Grab an overhead bar securely, with your arms about shoulder-width apart. Hang from the overhead bar, with your arms fully extended and knees bent slightly. Holding this position, slowly pull your knees towards your chest. Concentrate on contracting your stomach muscles while doing this. Hold this position for a few seconds, before lowering your legs back down. Repeat this 5 times.

Knee Bends
One of the best exercises to improve your leg strength is with knee bends (also called squats). Stand in an upright position – straight, with chest out and keeping your back tight. Now, bend your knees slowly, keeping the back straight. Squat, in a slow motion, to the maximum possible extent. Repeat this process 20 times.

Toe Touches
Stand upright. Bend at the waist while keeping your legs straight. Continue bending down as far as you can go and try to touch your toes with your fingers. Sustain this position for a couple seconds. This exercise should be done slowly and do not “bounce” while trying to reach your toes. Repeat this thirty times.

Sit-Ups
Sit-ups will help improve your vertical jump. Begin with with your back against the floor, with your legs bent at the knees, and your feet flat on the floor. Place you hands behind your head. Now, lift the shoulders from the floor, in a slow motion. Continue to bring your body to an upright position. Try to not “pull” on the back of your head with your hands. Concentrate on making your stomach do the work. Exercises for your waist are important for all physical activity as your ultimate all around strength and flexibility start here. Repeat this exercise 10-20 times.

To get the most out of your vertical jumping exercises, you must consider a vertical jump training program. Check out these Vertical Jump Program Reviews to check which are rated the best and to find more information on Improving Your Vertical Jump.

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Three Exercises To Begin With For Vertical Leap Training

Monday, December 28th, 2009

So you want to learn a few good vertical jumping exercises? Since there are many, we’ll help you narrow the list a little. There are a few in particular that can enhance your capacity to jump higher. Ensure that you follow the exercises correctly. Many people perform the correct exercises, but they don’t do them correctly. Add these three exercises to your vertical training and you will be well on your way to adding major inches to your vertical.

Many people mistakenly suppose that it is only the leg muscles that need to be developed to increase your vertical leap. The muscles in the back and waist are also especially important. The erector muscles are the strongest muscles in the back and take on the most work. Your plan should include exercises for the back and waist areas as well. Which brings us to our initial exercise.

Dead Lifts

Dead lifts are great. To begin the exercise, grab the barbell, bend your knees, and arch your back. Come to an upright position while holding the bar. Gradually return the barbell back to the starting position on the floor. The first 3 sets of 6-8 reps should be done quickly but steadily to avoid injury. Take a rest. Perform one additional set taking your time and being more intentional.

Leg Presses

One more good exercise is leg presses. Choose a weight on the leg press machine that is near the higher end of your range, but not the highest you can lift. Put your feet about shoulder breadth apart. Bring the plate down slowly until your knees bend to your chest, and then quickly push it away. It’s not about the slow and steady here. Your muscles function explosively when you are jumping, so you have to train them that way in your exercises as well. Repeat this exercise six times – and execute five sets. Take a brief break between each set.

Medicine Ball

Finally, utilize a heavy medicine ball in place of a basketball. Make believe you are going to slam dunk, but don’t actually throw the ball! Exaggerate the actions and reach for the rim. This will help strengthen all the muscles you will be using when you slam dunk for real. Doing this exercise as hard as you can will have a big influence on your vertical jump.

These three exercises are only three of several that can help enhance your vertical leap and learn how to jump higher. Start with these and as soon as you can do them well, you can progress to other exercises. Make certain you do them correctly, though.

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