Many Things About The Jump Rope
A few weeks ago, while jump roping, I thought, “I can definitely write 500 words about jump roping.”
I had a random idea to keep my jump rope outside in the backyard. The thought being, I’d use it more, having it there instead of its former location – buried in the hall closet. It would be a fun outside exercise thing. I realized that, being summer, putting on sneakers was annoying and became a roadblock to my new jump roping endeavor. So the next incarnation developed. I bought an old yoga mat outside so I can jump barefoot. I inadvertently made a jump rope station! Two weeks later, the setup elevated again when I scored a thick workout mat in the garbage pile at the condo next door.
I added a mini jump rope sesh for a couple of minutes after surfing. Paddling gives my upper body a tremendous workout, so adding a little lower-body movement felt right. It’s also great for coordination and balance training and cardiovascular health.
My jump rope exercise station has transformed into something even better.
Stan’s World Champion Pepper Steppers, Far Rockaway, Queens, NDDL Holiday Classic ’09 Photo Source: Instagram: @stanspeppersteppers
Whenever I finish a long, annoying Zoom call or start feeling wound up by a deadline, or agitated learning Adobe Premiere, I step outside and jump rope for a few minutes. It’s amazing how quickly it changes my mood and resets me. My breathing steadies, my mind clears, and whatever problem seems overwhelming suddenly feels manageable. My heart rate climbs, as the wheel of thoughts in my mind slows.
The other day, while I was jumping, I found myself wondering about the history of the jump rope.
People have been jumping rope for centuries. Historians believe versions of it date back to ancient China, where ropes were used during New Year’s celebrations. In Egypt, people were depicted skipping rope using vines. By the 1600s, children in Europe were skipping rope in the streets, and eventually the pastime made its way to America.
The Double Dutch variation is when two turning ropes are used, and fast footwork along with jumping gets creative. This became especially popular in New York City, where girls transformed sidewalks into social stages with rhythms and progressive dance-style jump roping. What looked like kids playing was actually remarkable coordination and endurance and a fun, healthy activity for city kids.
There is the International Jump Rope Union – the highest authority and world governing body for the sport. And jump ropes today are still in every school as well as in gyms with high-tech functions, digital counters, built-in weights, and all that.
Mine is just a regular plain rope, and that’s cool with me.
As I googled around about the history of the jump rope, I discovered Far Rockaway has its own world-class double Dutch team! Stan’s Pepper Steppers are World Champions who have brought their talent to audiences around the globe. They’ve been featured by Anderson Cooper, PIX11, and other news outlets, and The Wave has covered many of their accomplishments over the years, including their invitation to perform at the legendary Apollo Theater during a competition in 2024. Pretty cool, right?!
There’s something refreshing about an activity that is simple. No complicated instructions. Just a rope, a little open space, and the calming repetitive movement.
If you haven’t jumped rope since middle school, go get one!
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skipping_rope, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/jump-rope-benefit
