If you are a basketball player, for example, a higher jump can be a huge advantage if used properly. Imagine how much rebounds you will be able to do if you can jump higher than everybody else. Or how exciting it will be if you could jump over your opponents and dunk the ball for that last second winning score!
If you wish to improve your athletic skills, particularly that of increasing vertical jumping, you will need to undergo a training program made for such objectives.Much has been said about such programs and about how to jump higher through training and you can easily find “how-to” guides and the many jumping programs on the Internet but there is not much information on how to do it the wrong way.
Below are a few guides to help you determine if what you are doing is wrong.
- If you are finding yourself doing countless repetitions of jump higher drills, they probably are the wrong jump higher drills. No vertical jump exercise regimen will tell you to do it in hundreds of repetitions at a time because these are regimen that go after explosive speed and strength. Always go for the maximum.
- Focusing on isolation movements is also not advisable because you need to work out the big muscle groups and not just the small muscles. You can work out the small muscle groups but only to make it stronger and more flexible. The highlight of your training should be the drills that work on the collusion of the muscle groups needed to jump--- from the core, to the thigh and calf muscles of the legs, down to the ankle and toes. Vertical exercises that promote their teamwork to achieve the objective jump height are some of the most important exercises.
- If you are not spending time on core strengthening, you are wasting a lot of your effort. The core is very important in making the movements of your arms and legs more powerful. They are the base of muscular movement and, hence, should be as solid and stable as can be. You could do a lot of core strengthening exercises with simple exercises and a few simple fitness equipments. A weight bench can easily be used as a core weight strengthening machine or you could do some effective exercises with no equipments needed.
- If you are losing patience in waiting for positive results, you may need to reevaluate your training attitude. Results do not come overnight. Some may see positive results faster than others but one thing is for sure, if you are doing things right and according to sound scientific principles, positive results will come. Just keep doing what you are doing and focus on maintaining high quality workouts employing the correct understanding of vertical jump mechanics.
Always remember that if there is the right way to do things, there is also the wrong way. Be sure to know them both by heart before going all out. Vertical training programs are composed of high intensity, high impact exercises that could get you into a lot of trouble and pain if done the incorrect way. Be sure that you are on the right track before jumping into it full time.
Photo credit: sheebe
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