This document provides instructions for exercises to improve vertical jump ability. It recommends using a foam roller to relieve muscle knots, doing Bulgarian split squats for leg strength, and practicing depth jumps on a box to improve reaction time and lower body muscle activation. It also suggests incorporating knee-to-feet jumps, daily calisthenics like pushups and lunges, daily stretching, calf raises, deep squats, lunges, and single-leg stands to strengthen the ankles. All of these exercises target the leg muscles to build strength and power for increased vertical leap.
This document provides instructions for exercises to improve vertical jump ability. It recommends using a foam roller to relieve muscle knots, doing Bulgarian split squats for leg strength, and practicing depth jumps on a box to improve reaction time and lower body muscle activation. It also suggests incorporating knee-to-feet jumps, daily calisthenics like pushups and lunges, daily stretching, calf raises, deep squats, lunges, and single-leg stands to strengthen the ankles. All of these exercises target the leg muscles to build strength and power for increased vertical leap.
This document provides instructions for exercises to improve vertical jump ability. It recommends using a foam roller to relieve muscle knots, doing Bulgarian split squats for leg strength, and practicing depth jumps on a box to improve reaction time and lower body muscle activation. It also suggests incorporating knee-to-feet jumps, daily calisthenics like pushups and lunges, daily stretching, calf raises, deep squats, lunges, and single-leg stands to strengthen the ankles. All of these exercises target the leg muscles to build strength and power for increased vertical leap.
This document provides instructions for exercises to improve vertical jump ability. It recommends using a foam roller to relieve muscle knots, doing Bulgarian split squats for leg strength, and practicing depth jumps on a box to improve reaction time and lower body muscle activation. It also suggests incorporating knee-to-feet jumps, daily calisthenics like pushups and lunges, daily stretching, calf raises, deep squats, lunges, and single-leg stands to strengthen the ankles. All of these exercises target the leg muscles to build strength and power for increased vertical leap.
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Vertical Jump Training
1. Get the knots out of your legs
Muscle knots—also called “trigger points”—are everywhere in your body and restrict the length of your muscle tissue, making them shortened and weaker. Use a foam roller Opens a New Window. to relieve these spasms, focusing on moving slowly and stopping on tender spots until the knot releases. Work on each of the following areas for at least 30 seconds before switching legs: Calves: Put the roller under your calf and rest your other foot on the floor (or cross it over the top of your shin to increase pressure). Roll from your ankle to your knee. IT Band: Lie on your side with the roller near your hip and rest your other foot on the floor. Move the roller along your outer thigh. You can increase pressure by stacking your legs on top of one another. Quads: Lie on your stomach with the roller placed under the front of your thigh. Roll up and down from the bottom of your hip to the top of your knee. 2. Do Bulgarian split squats Your legs give you power to jump higher. (Another reason not to neglect your stems!) The Bulgarian split squat will help build strength, while improving your balance. To do it, stand a couple paces away from a bench, and place your non-working leg on it. The top of your foot should be on the bench. Hold a dumbbell in each hand and stand erect with your chest up. Descend until your back knee nearly touches the floor. Using the heel of your lead foot (the one that’s on the floor), push yourself back up into a standing position. That’s one rep. Try doing 3 sets of 8 reps on each leg on your lower-body workout day. 3. Practice depth jumps A depth jump is performed by stepping off a box, then exploding up immediately after landing on the ground. This teaches reaction time and will help your lower body muscles activate when you need to catch air. Start by standing on a box that’s 6 to 8 inches off the ground. Step off. As soon as you touch the ground, jump as high as you can, reaching your arms overhead. Land softly in an athletic position. Take a second to recover, then step back onto the box, set yourself up, and repeat. Follow this progression: Week 1: 3×3 reps Week 2: 4×3 reps Week 3: 5×3 reps 4. Incorporate knee-to-feet jumps You’re probably less familiar with this plyometric move: knee-to-feet jumps. How to do it: Come down to your knees and sit back on your heels. Swing your arms to help create momentum as you explosively jump up, driving your hips forward and bringing your legs and feet directly underneath you. Brace your body as you land in a squat position with your arms out in front of you. Lower back to the kneeling position, coming down on one knee at a time. 5. Perform calisthenics every day to increase flexibility. Calisthenics includes basic bodyweight exercises that help build up your muscles. Because you don’t need any equipment, you can do calisthenics anywhere to build strength and agility. To improve your vertical leap, do calisthenics that target your leg muscles. Some examples of calisthenics include push-ups, jumping jacks, sit-ups, and lunges. You can do calisthenics daily, but take at least one rest day per week. 6. Stretch daily. Focus on leg stretches, such as stretching through your heel and doing toe touches. Not only will stretching help protect your body during the rest of your workout, it will also improve your jumping abilities by loosening your muscles. 7. Perform calf raises. Stand with your legs together. Lift yourself onto your toes, then lower yourself down. Move slowly to make the muscles work harder.[2] For better results, stand on the edge of a curb or a step. Start with 20 reps, increasing as the move gets easier. 8. Do deep squats. Place your feet hip-width apart, and keep your heels flat on the ground. Slowly lower yourself as far as you can by simply bending your knees while keeping your back erect and your neck straight. Lift back up to starting position. Your thighs should go below your knee when doing a deep squat. A good squat should feel like it's working the entire lower half of your body, as well as stretching the core muscles around your back and abdomen. Start out with 3 sets of 10 squats. Do some squats while keeping your weight on your tiptoes. This will help you strengthen your ankles. 9.Do lunges. Start in a standing position. Take a big step forward, bending your front knee. Lean your body forward with your front knee lined up vertically above your ankle. Rise back to a standing position. Alternate your legs. Do 3 sets with 10 reps on each side. 10. Stand on one leg. Alternate standing on each of your legs so that your ankles become stronger. This may help to prevent you from getting an ankle injury when you land your jumps. Stand up straight and focus on an object straight ahead of you. Bring one foot off of the ground and hold this position until your leg starts to get tired. Then switch your weight to the other leg and repeat this process.