Jumping rope may be an activity associated with the schoolyard, but it is quickly becoming a popular exercise routine to burn calories while jumping. Practicing with a jump rope is an inexpensive way to get in a cardio workout. The equipment is low priced and you can complete an entire circuit at home – no gym membership required! If you are interested in jump rope, keep reading for the Top 10 Best Jump Rope Workouts for Beginners.
Key Takeaway
Jump rope workouts are good exercise for the cardiovascular system. As a beginner, learning to jump rope with one foot is a great way to improve cardiovascular fitness and coordination, as it requires balancing while rotating the rope and aiming not to hit the ground for at least 15 minutes.
There are several circuits you can practice to strengthen your muscles and improve coordination. These circuits contribute to your bone density, which prevents bone loss and fractures.
Here you can read an article on how to size your jump rope length.
Tips for Getting Started With Jump Rope Workouts for Beginners
Jump rope workouts are a fantastic way to improve cardiovascular fitness, burn calories, and enhance coordination. Whether you’re a complete beginner or someone who hasn’t picked up a jump rope in years, here are some helpful tips to get started with a jump rope workout:
1. Choose the right jump rope:
A jump rope that is too long or too short will make it difficult to jump rope properly. The right length of jump rope is when you hold the handles with your arms at your sides. The rope should reach your armpits.
Need the best jump rope for you? Click here to choose the best fit for you.
Warm up before jumping: Jumping rope is a high-intensity workout, so it’s important to warm up your body first. A good warm-up includes light cardio, such as jogging or marching in place, and dynamic stretches, such as arm circles and leg swings.
2. Start slowly and gradually increase the intensity:
When you’re first starting out, don’t try to jump rope for too long or too fast. Start with short intervals of jumping, such as 30 seconds of jumping, followed by 30 seconds of rest. Gradually increase the length of your jumping intervals and decrease the amount of rest time as you get better.
3. Focus on your form:
Good form is essential for preventing injuries. When you jump rope, your feet should be shoulder-width apart, and your knees should be slightly bent. Your back should be straight, and your shoulders should be relaxed.
4. Take breaks when you need them:
If you start to feel tired or sore, take a break. Don’t push yourself too hard, especially when first starting out.
5. Listen to your body:
If you’re feeling pain, stop jumping rope and consult a doctor or physical therapist.
Top 5 Jump Rope Benefits
Jumping rope is a versatile and effective exercise that offers numerous benefits, especially for beginners looking to enhance their fitness routines. Here’s an updated and SEO-optimized overview to enrich your existing content:
1. Improves Athletic Performance:
Jumping rope enhances coordination, agility, balance, endurance, and explosiveness by engaging multiple body parts simultaneously, thereby boosting overall athletic performance.
2. Supports Cardiovascular Health:
As a moderate to high-intensity workout, jump rope elevates heart rate, building cardiovascular fitness and health. Regular aerobic activity like jumping rope can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
3. Builds Strong Bones:
The weight-bearing nature of jump rope exercises can improve bone density, making bones less susceptible to fractures and reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
4. Burns Calories Efficiently:
Jumping rope is a high-calorie-burning exercise, with research indicating that it can burn approximately 1,300 calories per hour, making it an effective workout for weight loss and improved body composition.
5. Convenient and Portable:
Jump ropes are lightweight and portable, allowing for workouts anywhere and anytime, making it easy to incorporate into a busy lifestyle.
Proper Jump Rope Form
Maintaining correct form while jumping rope is crucial to maximize benefits and prevent injuries:
- Posture: Stand upright with a straight back, keeping your head up and eyes forward.
- Arm and Hand Position: Keep your elbows close to your body with your hands at hip level. Rotate the rope using your wrists rather than your arms to maintain control and reduce fatigue.
- Knee Flexion: Slightly bend your knees to absorb the impact of each jump, reducing strain on your joints.
- Foot Placement: Land softly on the balls of your feet and avoid letting your heels touch the ground. This technique enhances agility and minimizes injury risk.
- Jump Height: Keep your jumps low, just enough for the rope to pass under your feet, to conserve energy and maintain a steady rhythm.
The Best 10 Jump Rope Workouts for Beginners
1. The Basic Jump Circuit
Start off simple with a basic jump, and only bounce once for each rotation of the jump rope. This circuit is one of the best beginner jump rope workouts because it takes no experience to complete it.
You can also modify the circuit to fit your experience level. If you find the first few sets to be easy, you can increase your speed or tempo as you go. Give this jump rope circuit below a try:
- 15 jumps followed by 30 seconds of rest
- 25 jumps followed by 30 seconds of rest
- 35 jumps followed by 30 seconds of rest
- 25 jumps followed by 30 seconds of rest
- 15 jumps followed by 30 seconds of rest
When you are learning beginner jump rope moves, you are likely to miss a few jumps. If that happens, it is important to keep jumping. By continuing to jump and push through each set, you are keeping your heart rate elevated. Stopping a set in the middle can cause you to get less benefit from your workout.
2. The Consistent Intervals Circuit
Once you master the basic jump circuit, you can move on to consistent intervals. Starter circuits for jump rope are fairly short because the workout is intense. This circuit only takes seven minutes to complete, but it is a great cardio workout. As you improve your moves, you can use this circuit as a warm-up or warm-down exercise.
- 30 seconds of jumping followed by 30 seconds of rest
- 45 seconds of jumping followed by 45 seconds of rest
- One minute of jumping followed by one minute of rest
- 45 seconds of jumping followed by 45 seconds of rest
- 30 seconds of jumping followed by 30 seconds of rest
Breaking your workout up into short segments can make the time go by faster and help you feel more accomplished. Each set you complete is another victory. Try using a weighted jump rope or switching out your handles for a different workout experience. The simplicity of this circuit makes it easy to customize for your unique workout needs and experience level.

3. The Strength Training Workout
Combine jump rope with your typical strength training exercises for great jump rope workout for beginners. This exercise routine consists of two circuits that take a total of 11 minutes. If you want to up your workout, you can use a heavier weighted jump rope for the first circuit. The best beginner jump rope workouts will leave you sweaty and a little sore, and this circuit is no different!
Strength Set 1:
- A 20 seconds of jumping followed by 40 seconds of rest
- 20 seconds of push-ups followed by 40 seconds of rest
- Another 20 seconds of jumping followed by 40 seconds of rest
- 20 seconds of squat thrusts followed by 40 seconds of rest
- 20 seconds of jumping followed by 40 seconds of rest
Strength Set 2:
- 20 seconds of jumping followed by 40 seconds of rest
- 30 seconds of inchworms followed by 30 seconds of rest
- 20 seconds of jumping followed by 40 seconds of rest
- 30 seconds of bodyweight squats followed by 30 seconds of rest
- Lastly, a 20 seconds of jumping followed by 40 seconds of rest
Once you have a little more experience under your belt and feel comfortable with the jump rope, you can increase your speed during jumping sections. As you build your stamina, you can also add the consistent intervals circuit to the beginning or end of this workout.
4. The Simple Fitness Circuit
When you want to make your time spent jump roping really count, try the simple fitness circuit. This circuit delivers a high-impact workout in a short amount of time. Split into two blocks of five minutes each, you just need to know how to complete a basic jump and an alternate foot jump.
- 30 seconds of jumping followed by 30 seconds of rest
- 30 seconds of alternate foot jumping followed by 30 seconds of rest
- Rest for one minute before completing the next set
- 40 seconds of jumping followed by 20 seconds of rest
- 40 seconds of alternate foot jumping followed by 20 seconds of rest
If you want to add even more punch to your workout, use a weighted jump rope for the first set and a lighter rope for the second half. In just 11 minutes, you have completed an intense cardio workout without having to leave your home.
5. The Daily Skipping Workout
If you want to make jump roping a regular part of your workout routine, this daily skipping workout can help. Starting off with a lower impact workout, you can build your stamina and endurance each day until you are jumping for ten or more minutes. Follow this weekly plan to make beginner circuits for jump rope part of your daily routine.
- First Day : Jump until you get too tired, rest for one minute, and repeat for five minutes
- Second Day: Jump until you get too tired, rest for 45 seconds, and repeat for seven minutes
- Third Day: Jump for 20 seconds followed by 30 seconds of rest, and repeat for five minutes
- Fourth Day: Pick an exercise other than jump roping
- Fifth Day: Jump for 30 seconds followed by 30 seconds of rest, and repeat for five minutes
- Sixth Day: Jump for 30 seconds followed by 30 seconds of rest, and repeat for 10 minutes
- Seventh Day: Rest
By day 7, you will be ready for some rest! The daily circuits make it easy to incorporate jump rope into your workouts. With small time commitments and beginner moves, this workout can be completed by almost anyone. And, it is easy to squeeze in just five or ten minutes of jump rope each day!
6. The Endurance Circuit
This circuit requires looping through up to four times. However, you must rest for about four minutes in between the exercise set. This is one of the best jump rope workouts for beginners who wants to develop endurance.
- Five minutes of Light intensity jumping | a minute rest
- Four minutes of medium intensity jumping | a minute rest
- Three minutes of High-Intensity jumping | Circuit ends
Jumpers may change their jumping ropes at the beginning of each set. For this circuit to be effective, you may need to increase your jumping speed as you proceed with the exercise. If you are a beginner, a plank is not compulsory, but it is ideal for advanced
7. The Jump Rope HIIT Circuit
To do this exercise, you need the heaviest rope initially, then keep changing till you get to the lightest for each circuit. Take 30 seconds break at the end of each circuit. The exercise takes up to 17 minutes.
The circuit follows;
Circuit 1
- 20 seconds of basic Jump | 30 seconds rest
- 30 seconds of Squat Jump | 30 seconds rest
- 20 seconds of basic jump | 30 seconds rest
- 30 seconds of mountain climber | 30 seconds rest
- 20 seconds of basic jump | 30 seconds rest
Circuit 2
- 20 seconds alternate foot jump | 20 seconds rest
- 30 seconds drop squat | 30 seconds rest
- 20 seconds alternate foot jump | 20 seconds rest
- 30 seconds forearm plank | 30 seconds rest
- 20 seconds alternate foot jump | 20 seconds rest
- 30 seconds drop squat | 30 seconds rest
- 20 seconds alternate foot | 20 seconds rest
Circuit 3
- A 30 seconds freestyle jump | 30 seconds rest
- 30 seconds bodyweight squat | 30 seconds rest
- 30 seconds freestyle jump | 30 seconds rest
- Another 30 seconds mountain climber | 30 seconds rest
- 30 seconds freestyle | 30 seconds rest
8. The Bone Intensity Circuit
You can incorporate jump rope with your bone intensity exercise to build strong bones. You can do this regularly as a beginner to keep your bones in good shape. Begin each of the exercises slowly, then increase your speed to make it effective.
- Do a one minute of basic jump | 30 seconds rest
- One minute of Overhead squat | 30 seconds rest
- Another one minute of basic jump | 30 seconds rest
- One minute of power squat | 30 seconds rest
- One minute of basic jump (speed) | 30 seconds rest
- Finally, another one minute of triceps kickbacks | 30 seconds rest
We recommended weighted jump rope for this circuit. Building strong bones is an ideal Jump rope workouts for beginners as it will aid other types of exercise.
9. The Crazy Conditioning Circuit
This circuit works fine for every part of your body. It is one of the most effective jump rope workouts for beginners, especially if you are traveling or want a quick session. It’s a combination of;
- 30 seconds tuck jumps | 30 seconds rest
- One minute squat jumps | 30 seconds rest
- 30 seconds plank | 20 seconds rest
- Another 30 seconds tuck jumps | 30 seconds rest
- 30 seconds squat jumps | 30 seconds rest
- 20 seconds basic jump | 20 seconds rest
It takes up to seven minutes to complete.
10. The Strong Arms Circuit
This is one of the recommended jump rope workouts for beginners to build a strong upper body within few minutes. You will feel the vibration in your arms. It is a mixture of jump rope exercise and other fitness training.
This circuit includes;
- 30 seconds jump lunges | 20 seconds rest
- 14 handstand push-ups | 30 seconds rest
- 10 mountain climber | 30 seconds rest
- 30 seconds basic jumps | 20 seconds rest
- 10 wide arm push-ups | 30 seconds rest
- 30 seconds forearm planks | 30 seconds rest
This circuit is ideal if you have limited space but are interested in building your arms.
The Best Jump Rope for Beginners
As a beginner, there are certain things you should understand about choosing a jump rope for workouts. You should look for important things in your fitness jump rope, such as length, weight, and density.
When starting, you should opt for high-density and 4 mm steel ropes. These features make your jump rope functional and your workout meaningful. Choosing anything different from this can mar your fitness goals. The smart choice to begin your journey is to neglect fancy features.
Considering the length, the suitable jump rope to start with should be three feet longer than your height. The ideal way to confirm this is by pulling the cable from both ends and standing in the middle. If the handles don’t get close to your upper chest, it’s not the ideal rope for you.
In terms of weight, there is basic, weighted, and speed. If you are getting a jump rope for its fun, the basic jump rope should come to mind. The weighted jump rope with a thick and heavy cable is great equipment to improve your strength. You can grow stronger using a heavy rope in a short period.
The speed jump rope is different from other types. It is light and slim, which enables fast rope skipping. It is the ideal fitness tool for footwork and stability.
How to Speed up your Jump Rope Skills
Becoming efficient and seeing effective results are a few signs that you are improving your jump rope skills. Getting to this level depends on how long you jump rope and the length of your fitness equipment.
We advise that those passionate about workouts with jump rope should never overlook the jump rope size. The moment you get this wrong, it won’t be easy to develop your jump rope skills. A longer rope slows you down, while a shorter rope stops you from doing the workout appropriately.
If you want to become better at jumping rope, it is necessary to learn about the basics.
FAQs
● How long should a beginner jump rope for?
For beginners, the duration of a jump rope workout should be gradually increased over time. When starting out, aim for a total workout time of about 10-15 minutes, including both jumping and rest periods. As your fitness level improves, you can gradually increase the duration to 20-30 minutes.
For a start, focus on building endurance and mastering the basic jump rope technique. Start with shorter intervals, such as 30 seconds of jumping, followed by 15 seconds of rest. As you progress, gradually increase the duration of your jumping intervals while keeping the rest periods consistent or slightly shorter.
Remember, consistency is key. Having shorter, regular jump rope sessions are better than longer, sporadic workouts. Aim to jump rope at least three times a week to experience the benefits and progress steadily.
Always listen to your body and adjust the duration and intensity of your jump rope workout according to your fitness level and personal goals. If you experience discomfort or pain, take a break and consult a healthcare professional.
● Can jumping rope burn belly fat?
Yes, jumping rope is an effective calorie-burning exercise that can contribute to overall fat loss, including belly fat, when combined with a balanced diet and regular exercise routine.
● Can you get in shape by just jumping rope?
Jumping rope provides a full-body workout that improves cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and coordination. While it is highly effective, combining it with other forms of exercise and strength training can lead to more comprehensive fitness results.
● What is a good beginner jump rope workout?
A simple beginner workout includes:
- Jumping at a steady pace with both feet together for 30 seconds.
- Resting for 30 seconds.
- Repeating this cycle for 5-10 rounds.
As fitness levels increase, incorporate variations such as single-leg jumps, high knees, or alternating foot jumps to add complexity and challenge.
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What to do now from here
Once you develop your jump rope skills, the way forward is to participate in jump rope challenges. The setting of targets for yourself can further improve your hand-eye coordination, conditioning, and balance.
A good example is the Fat Burning jump rope challenge that helps to get rid of calories. Another thing you can do is a fun-filled 30-day Workout challenge. The Fake Push up challenge also features among the fitness trials you should consider. Accordingly, you can learn advanced tricks to take your jump rope skills to another level.
Conclusion
In conclusion, jump rope workouts for beginners are a fantastic way to improve cardiovascular fitness and coordination. By following these tips and gradually increasing the duration of your workouts, you’ll be well on your way to reaping the benefits of this fun and effective exercise. Happy jumping!
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