Using a jump rope is one of the healthiest activities you can ever do; people suffering from heart diseases and poor blood circulation are all required to perform exercise with a jump rope regularly. Moreover, people suffering from obesity commonly perform a jump rope fitness workout to diminish their weight.

Some models of jump ropes have been exclusively developed for being used in the gym; beaded jump ropes, for instance, are ropes composed of many small plastic or foam segments. These ropes have the peculiarity of lasting longer, if compared to regular ropes, and have a better resistance to prolonged use on any kind of surface.

For a more efficient workout, there are also ropes which are purposely heavier, so that the jumper will burn more calories during the exercise. These ropes are called weighted jump ropes and are used by people who wish to lose weight but also by boxers and those who practice martial arts.

Besides this healthy side, jump ropes are also incredibly appreciated by children, because they allow them to do something they love to do, jumping, and also because rope jumping is not a monotonous activity since kids can perform many different jump rope games. A jump rope is ideal for those children who refuse to go to the gym; children love rope jumping and so using it will not feel like physical activity to them, but its benefits will still be effective.

One of the most widespread games that can be played with a jump rope is Chinese jump rope. Chinese jump rope rules are not fixed because there exist many variations of the game; according to the most popular and common Chinese jump rope instructions, three or more people are needed to play. Two of them will stand in front of each other and will hold the rope, which usually is an elastic rope, with their ankles. The third person, called the jumper, is the one which will perform various types of jumping. He or she will start with very simple jumps which do not require any particular ability; as the game goes on, the rope may be raised at the knee level and may also be set up to form an X. There is the possibility for more children to play together organized in teams. Chinese jump rope is extremely widespread in European countries like France, Great Britain or Italy, where it is called “Elastics”.

Both Chinese jump rope and other types of jump rope activities are often performed singing particular verses; jump rope rhymes are especially common among young children, which start associating movements or jumps with particular words.

Jumping with a rope may give the impression of a solitary and repetitive game but this is not the case at all; once you learn how to jump rope you will start feeling lighter and more agile and not much time will pass before you start performing challenging jump rope tricks which will require ability and….courage! With time and practice, you will develop more and more elaborate jump rope skills that will make you proud of yourself.

If you are looking for a good quality jump rope, ask your self what you would like to do with it before you buy one. Are you thinking of working off those few pounds you put on during the Holidays? Or are you just interested in performing tricky jumps that are so rhythmic and smooth that they almost resemble a hip-hop dance? If exercise and fitness are the reason why you need the rope, purchase a beaded jump rope or a weighted jump rope. Choose one with ergonomically shaped handles, so that your hands can withstand the activity longer, and do not forget to purchase fitness gloves; especially the first times you do exercise, it will be almost natural for warts to appear on your hands, and wearing protective gloves will prevent them from appearing.

If, instead, you desire to quickly learn jump rope tricks, choose a lighter rope which does not require any effort from your arms and so you can focus your energy on the jumping. For this purpose you could buy jump ropes which are made of nylon or very thin ropes made of elastic fiber.