Jumping up on to obstacles – and over them
This is where things get serious. First, find something very small to jump on to. A roadside curb is perfect.
Jumping on to obstacles requires two things. Height and Confidence.
When learning to jump on to something quite small (under 1 foot), you don’t have to worry so much about the height. You’ll either make it or you won’t and it’s not high enough to cause any real injury if you fall.
If you cannot get the height then you need to put more effort into your jumps. It may also be your confidence preventing you from jumping higher as it can get scary.
You need the confidence to be able to actually attempt it in the first place and often this is not so easy to gain.
- Start with something low. A curb or a small block is ideal
- If you can’t manage it, go back to something lower and do it 20 times or more.
Getting higher
To get more height you need to push down when your stilts are on the ground. Put your weight into your heels and get used to the spring doing it’s work.
When you are learning to jump on to an obstacle higher than about a foot you need to be confident with your bounces and in control at all times.
Jump on the spot, in front of the object. Get the height you need but stay relaxed and focused on the object. If you lose balance on a bounce then just keep going and try to get it back. Don’t attempt the jump up unless the bounce is good and you have the height.
Jump up and use your arms and shoulders to propel you forwards and upwards.
A common problem with jumping on to things is lack of commitment which makes you leave one leg behind so you end up with one leg on the object and one leg on the floor…which will probably cause you to fall to the side.
Commitment is everything
If you are not yet able to achieve your goal then you need to keep trying. Don’t quit, you will get it soon enough.
It is very important though that you do not move on to something else before nailing your current goal.
Even higher….
You will find that you can really only jump about 2 foot high just by pushing the spring down with your feet.
To get higher, you need to learn to use your whole body while you are off the ground.
At the highest part of the jump, lift your arms up to your head and as you start to come down swing your arms downwards aswell. This provides more downward pressure and results in a higher jump.
BE CAREFUL! Higher jumps need new balance and can cause you to fall.
