Exercise Essentials

Jumping high is a dream of lots of people, especially aspiring professional athletes.  The power that a superstar athlete possesses to jump amazingly high can be directly attributed to their vertical leap. 

 Through the use of conditioned muscles, people can jump great vertical distances, as long as they are properly conditioned and trained.    

Basic exercises to increase vertical jumping like ball throwing, handling, squatting, jump rope and running are all beneficial and pretty simple drills to start you on your way to a better vertical jump.  If you can already jump high, vertical jump training will enable you to jump better, faster and with an output of more jumps.  

Vertical training only works if it is a combination of weight training for strength, and plyometric training for speed.  Despite what many say, weight training is essential in vertical jumping because you need calf strength.  This type of weight training will not cause you to bulk up, rather it focuses on strengthening your muscles and conditioning. 

Plyometrics are the other essential ingredient in your vertical training regimen.  Plyometrics works on your explosive element, and trains your body for speed.  Plyometrics is typically done on a box or step so that you can maximize your jump training.  Do not do too many repetitions on the boxes as you will train your muscles to endure more than your maximum jump height.

Lastly, the benefits of squat exercises to increase vertical jump ability cannot be overlooked.  Squats can be done standing up straight or against a wall, and with or without weights.  The most important aspect of squats is to make sure you maintain proper form. 

If you are unsure of your form or if you are doing an exercise correctly, always consult the advice of an approved vertical leap trainer to assist you.  Many trusted trainers have vertical leap programs for you to follow, choose one and stick with it!