Today

At one time boys traditionally avoided skipping rope because it was viewed as a past-time for "pig-tailed girls and sissies". Today, the jump rope has evolved into a variety of uses. From the inner cities of Philadelphia and New York, the double dutch jumpers amaze the world with their fancy jumping skills. Sugar Ray Leonard could be seen skipping rope before each fight as an integral portion of his pre-fight training regimen. When Angelo Dundee, renowned fight trainer for Mohammed Ali and Ray Leonard was asked what rope skipping does for his fighters, he said, "I don't know what you call it, all I know is that it works".

Rope jumping is no longer just a childhood game but a grown-up exercise. In the last five years alone, this activity has increased in the United States for all age groups and lifestyles. Not only children, but teenagers, athletes, sports enthusiasts and business people, all participate in rope jumping for various reasons. The educational school systems have made rope jumping a mandatory portion of the physical educational curriculum. On the shelves of our sporting goods stores, toy departments, and food stores one will discover an array of jump ropes. In the United States, many organizations (such as the American Heart Association) use jump rope teams to promote physical fitness. From the playground to the boxing arena, rope skipping can be a warm-up to exercise, for sports conditioning, an efficient calorie burner, for competition and for recreation. More people are becoming increasingly aware of the positive physiological benefits and joys of jumping.

Rope jumping has evolved from pure recreation into a child's game and in the last century a viable sports cross training and fitness technique as well as an exhibition and competitive sport. It is an activity that can meet the fitness demands of both children and adults. Performed at a high intensity level, using complex skills, it can be strenuous enough for an athlete in training, yet, performed at a slower pace, using simplistic skills, suitable for the beginner or as part of a rehabilitation program.

Rope jumping also offers a creative approach towards fitness, through its vast variety of skills such as footwork, rhythmic dance steps, and body movements. It is an activity that challenges us not only physically, but also fine tunes our minds by developing creativity, that we can expand upon as we design our own jump rope routines.

Jump rope activity has spread to both sexes and all age groups. From the little boys and girls, to athletes, fitness enthusiasts, housewives, and businessmen, the jump rope activity has found a variety of uses.

Both boys and girls can be seen participating in jump rope competitions held around the United States. Many athletic teams throughout the country have incorporated jumping rope into their training regimen to improve on skills and enhance athletic performance. For many injured athletes, rope skipping serves as a graded exercise to help maintain a level of fitness until regular participation in their sport can be resumed. Many fitness enthusiast jump rope as an aerobic alternative for producing cardiovascular fitness. Housewives find rope skipping a convenient way to exercise right at home when a busy day restricts them from leaving home. The portability of the jump rope has made it particularly popular among businessmen. When long working hours, in crowded cities, limit them to the confines of their offices, rope skipping becomes an excellent means of exercising. No more is the art of jumping thought of as a child's game, but as a simple exercise that can positively benefit everyone

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