Since before winter break, my students have been practicing for the 縄跳び大会 (なわとびたいかい)... that's Japanese talk for, literally, the Big Jump Rope Meet.
Let me just start off that... not surprisingly, the Japanese turn jump roping into more than just a leisure activity.
These elementary kids do stuff I've never thought of doing with a jump rope. So, yeah... they basically can jump rope circles around me.
When I was in elementary school... I barely remember doing anything with a jump rope. All I really remember is the jump ropes the school provided us with... those red and white, plastic-link-coated jump ropes. When we jump roped... I'm pretty sure it was just to keep doing it without stopping for a certain time period.
Not these kids... these kids bring their own plastic-like jump ropes that make jump roping way easier.. especially for the things they do.
To start off, they jump rope regularly. Some kids can go on for over 5 minutes without messing up. Then they switch it up and jump rope backwards... which is nothing special for them. Funny how if we were to change things up... it'd probably be like... "Hey, can you jump rope backwards?!?"
They also do that criss crossing deal... and then they change it up a bit. It's hard to explain, you basically have to see it for yourself. They start off with the jump rope to the side of them and don't jump once, then when it goes back down they cross their arms to jump it, and then when it goes around again, they have it to their side again without jumping. So, they alternate from criss-cross jumping and just having it to their side... in quick succession.
These kids also do the boxer-like jump roping where they quickly alternate between feet.
Then, to bring on the challenges... they do something called 二重跳び (にじゅう とび) which, I'm not sure of the name in English... but, it's when each jump has the rope revolving you twice. Yeah, they do that both forward and backwards and while criss-crossing and on one foot and I don't know what else. Also keep in mind that they don't do it like we used to do it... we'd jump once really high and try to get the rope to go around us twice. These kids are doing this in constant succession without stopping. I heard a kid say his best is 70-ish times.
For these kids... the cool thing is being able to do 三重跳び (さんじゅう とび) which, will be jumping with the rope revolving you 3 times.
So, feeling out-of-the-loop... I bought my own jump rope and have been working on my 二重跳び skills. I fail miserably... and after 4 days of practicing... I can happily, yet pathetically, say that my record is a grand total of 2. I can do it twice before messing up. It's a very hard process. My legs are so sore... and for me... with the calves I have... it's quite a feat. I actually think I feel my muscles ripping and growing daily. I'm really excited about getting good at this and being able to get some nice definition in my legs... not that I don't already have good definition... but, I want to see VEINS popping... heh heh.
But, yeah... it's definitely a good workout and I hope to continue with it.
Oh yeah... and I forgot to mention the finally. These kids have this event where, using a long rope, the kids line up and quickly run and jump a rope in succession. So, this line is constantly moving with a new kid jumping each second. Some classes are better than other... but, regardless... all my kids are amazing at this. It's really fun to join in and I'm surprised we don't do this in America as well. In Japan... this is a huge deal... here's a video to prove it:
Please note that these kids are hella hella hella good. My kids don't go that fast... but, they are still impressive nonetheless.
Anyway... I let you go now to stretch out my legs.
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