How to Do Chinese Jump Rope

In a society where childhood obesity is a growing problem and some video games are designed to trick players into physical activity, the classic games of childhoods past often get lost. Chinese jump rope is one of those games, and uses an elastic cord held by the feet of two people, while a third jumps in and out of the cord in various patterns.

Instructions

1. Set up the game. Decide on which two people will be the "ends," or holders. These holders should put both of their feet inside the elastic band, so it is around their ankles, and stand with their feet roughly shoulder width apart, far enough away from one another that the band is tight and makes a rectangle.

2. Begin the first level. In the most basic level of Chinese jump rope, the jumper jumps in the following pattern: first with both feet inside the rectangle, then with both feet straddling outside the rectangle, then alternately straddling the single rope on each side of the rectangle, then with her feet back inside the rectangle, then again straddling the rectangle, and finally jumping so that each foot lands on top of each side of the rectangle. To remember this, the jumper often chants "in-out-side-side-in-out-on."

3. Progress to more challenging levels. There are a wide range of variations on the basic level, including "skinnies" and "wides" (the same as the basic level, except the "holders" hold the rope on only one foot or on two widely spaced feet), "diamonds" (the "holders" hold the rope on only one foot while the jumper crosses the rope with his feet to form a diamond, the jumper then jumps ½ turns while keeping his feet inside the diamond and spelling his name or D-I-A-M-O-N-D, ending with "in-out-on"), "scissors" (the same as the basic level except the jumper must clap his feet together while in the air) and more.

4. Increase the challenge. Once you progress through the different levels successfully, move the rope progressively higher until the jumper makes a mistake. The common progression is ankles, knees, hips, armpits and neck.

5. Take turns. Once the jumper makes a mistake, she takes the place of one of the holders to allow him to become the jumper.