How to learn jump rope tricks?

For beginners, it can be hard to know where to start. There is so much to learn and it all seems so impressive and impossible at the same time. But rest assured, there is an easy way to get started if you’re new to jumping rope, as well as some simple steps you can implement to learn faster.

The Entry 20 is a free beginner course you can find on YouTube and on this website which is a progression-based approach to starting out with jump rope. It will take you through everything you need to know to develop good technique from day one as well as introduce you to all aspects of freestyle jump rope.

Once you’ve mastered everything in The Entry 20, you can dive into The Tricktionary. This is a huge catalogue of single-rope freestyle skills documented in slow motion, organised by skill type. As you browse it, you can learn the different skill categories, and variations of skills you know, and read my coaching cues based on the biomechanics of each skill category. From leg crosses to mic releases to wraps there are over five hundred skills to discover, both forwards and backwards.

On top of this, there are a few simple steps you can implement to learn skills faster and become more critical when troubleshooting your technique.

The first one is to record, record, record. Not only is this a great way to see progress over time, but it will allow us to review the footage and compare it to the slow-motion examples in the Tricktionary. Improving your ability to spot the errors in your form through a simple ‘spot the difference’ process can really help you progress faster. It doesn’t matter if you know how to fix the error you find, the hardest skill to learn is the ability to find them at all. There are always a ton of supportive jumpers online and qualified jump rope coaches who will be more than happy to offer help should you need it. 

The second, most valuable thing you can do to catapult your progress is utilise the toe catch. When learning any cross, performing a toe catch in that position can help you recognise where the deficiencies in your form are - are your handles level with the ground? Is the loop of the rope reaching the floor? Is the arc moving around you vertically or diagonally? All of this and more can be informed by utilising toe catches.

One of my missions as a professional jump rope coach is to make jump rope as accessible as possible which is why I believe no one should have to pay to start. These resources are free and will always be free.