Plyometrics: Explosive Movement Excersises
Learning How to Jump Higher: An Introduction to Plyometrics
It would be quite an oversight to ignore Plyometrics when learning how to jump higher, since it is directly related to the function of jumping. The sudden force necessary to create a vertical leap is very difficult for the body to generate, which is what limits our maximum height and repetition abilities.
"Plyometrics is a type of exercise that uses explosive movements to develop muscular power, the ability to generate a large amount of force quickly. It may be used, for example, to improve the effectiveness of a boxer's punch, or to quicken the throwing ability of a baseball pitcher. Plyometric training acts on both the musculotendinous and neurological levels to increase an athlete's power output without necessarily increasing their maximum strength output...
...Most exercises involve a muscular contraction that starts off rapidly, but decelerates suddenly before the end of the repetition. For example, lifting a barbell involves jerking the weight quickly into the air, then bringing this motion to a sudden halt. Plyometric exercises are characterized by the lack of such a decelerative phase. They are open-ended movements into free space. Other animals take advantage of this effect; one is the Kangaroo. If a kangaroo needed to use 100% new energy to contract its leg muscles every time it jumped, it would not be able to jump very far consistently. However, because of the muscles' ability to store energy from its previous jump before like a spring, the kangaroo only needs to use a fraction of the total energy in the jump." - Wikipedia
While there are many ways to leverage the power of Plyometric exercises to increase vertical leap ability, it can also be quite dangerous, because we are utilizing a "sudden" action without a "deceleration". Thus over-extension can occur.
So make sure, as you attempt to improve yourself, that you exercise caution. That said, this may be one of the more important things you will ever find when learning how to jump higher. Proper execution and technique will dramatically impact your height potential.
Make sure you also take the time to evaluate the methods Luke Lowery teaches as well that have been known to more than DOUBLE your vertical leap, and severely improve their sprint.
Website created with Weebly