Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
The standing broad jump, which is sometimes called the standing long jump, is an exercise where the participant must jump as far as possible horizontally. Unlike other classic Olympic events, the jumper cannot run to build up momentum. Instead, he must stand in one spot, and use his muscles to jump really far without any kind of lead-in. This exercise takes concentration and focus, and it can be difficult to improve; however, improvement is well worth it. Strengthening and gaining more control over the muscles that allow you to jump great distances will also increase your running speed, since how…
The standing broad jump is a test that evaluates the power of an athlete's legs. Unlike the long jump that also indicates the speed of an athlete, the standing broad jump only measures the explosiveness of the athlete. The athlete stands behind a line with his or her legs parallel, and jumps off both feet as far in front of the line as possible. The concept is simple, but there are techniques that add distance to the athlete's measurement.
Vertical jumping requires a combination of posture, full joint mobility and technique to perform well. To improve your vertical jumping skills, start with postural exercises before jumping, suggests physical therapist Gray Cook, author of "Athletic Body in Balance." Although two of these preliminary exercises do not resemble vertical jumps, they provide a foundation of form and body awareness that you need.
Learn how to warm up for a jump and kick fitness workout in this free exercise video.
