Woot, Take alook at this article.. Describing something that i have been doing since young.. hahahaa
Jumping Workshop Lifts Attendees To New Heights
By COSHANDRA DILLARD
Staff Writer
NEW CHAPEL HILL -- Skipping, criss-crossing your hands while jumping or doing hand stands and 360-degree turns doesn't seem to be that hard with a little practice. But try doing it with a jump rope -- that is skill.
On Saturday at the Chapel Hill High School campus, more than 200 avid rope jumpers of all ages attended the Heart Throbbers Jump Rope Team's annual workshop.
It was a chance to show off their skills and pick up a few more. Twenty-one teams from around the country attended -- including those from Ohio, Washington, Utah, Louisiana, West Virginia and Texas. Instructors were youth ranging from seventh grade to college age.
The workshop offered instruction in single rope, partner and double Dutch stunts.
Ashton Horton, a Jones fourth-grader and Heart Throbbers member, works on a jump-rope combination Saturday morning. He placed third in the nation last summer.
Based in Tyler, Heart Throbbers was started in 1992 by Tracy Berg and she began offering the workshops about two years later. A former elementary physical education teacher, she wanted to provide everyone with the opportunity to take advantage of the many benefits of jumping rope. Her team participates in national competitions and connects with other rope jumpers from around the country.
Some adults even participated, as the sport of jumping rope has not only proven to be fun for all ages, but a health benefit.
"It is a great exercise," Ms. Berg said. "The health benefits are immeasurable. They also learn teamwork and leadership skills because the kids learn from each other. They make friends and root for them at different events. Competitions are like family reunions."
The workshop was led by Shaun Hamilton of Ohio-based Jumping Sports Industries. He is a board member of USA Jump Rope and head coach of the USA Jump Rope All-Star Team. He has set world records and said he would like to introduce the sport to the Olympics. He said in addition to the health benefits, jumping rope boosts character skills.
"It teaches structure and discipline and with obesity running rampant in this country, it's a great remedy for it," he said. "It is still the No. 1 cardiovascular exercise you can do."
According to researchers, jumping rope is an ideal brain exercise because it develops the left and right sides of the brain. They say it increases mental alertness and spatial awareness. In addition, the rhythmic effects and skills, such as criss-crossing at the midsection, improve reading skills.
Patrick Vorbroker, 16, of Mason, Ohio, has been jumping rope for five years since joining an after-school enrichment program. His team won second overall in a world competition last summer in South Africa. One of the Saturday workshop's staff members, he said he enjoys teaching others what he loves to do.
"They get good enough to teach you stuff," he said. "That's when you know it's worth it."
Jumping rope never really died, but it is definitely growing in popularity, workshop leaders say. Like any other sport, people are serious about jumping rope. It has different levels of skill that take years of developing. And it has evolved. Boxers and other athletes have used it to improve agility and speed.
"It's a growing sport," Ms. Berg said. "It's not just for little girls. Half of our team is boys. It's a great cross-trainer for other sports and there's no limit to the creativity. It's always changing every year."
Heart Throbbers also display their skills at schools for Jump Rope for Heart, a national educational fundraising program sponsored by the American Heart Association and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
