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Vertical Jump

Forum Index > Sports
Post a Reply
1 2 3 Next All
fatfail
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States386 Posts
August 24 2012 20:29 GMT
#1
Hi guys, I'm trying to maximize my vertical jump in preparation for sports in the coming school year. Last year I did cross country as well as track and field, and strengthened my lower body and core enormously. I also did a shitload of bodyweight squats every day this summer, like up to 1500 per day. I don't really have access to a weight room, so I also did squats with a huge backpack and holding a massive sack of rice. (about 70 lbs total weight) I jumped rope about 500 times for 5 reps daily and did pushups and situps extensively. I'm 145 and I have a bit of belly fat, but I thought I was relatively in shape. But when I measured my vertical jump it was about 12 inches. I always sucked at playing basketball and jumping, but 12 inches seems like it really sucks given how much I worked my lower body. How can I maximize my vertical jump? Clearly my current exercise routine is not working out. Btw I'm 5'7", 145 lbs, I run a 5:30 miles. Can't give you squat weight and stuff because I don't have a weight room, but I did 270 lbs on the leg extension at the end of last year's track and field season.
Kong fan... <3 Stork <3 Jangbi <3 Yellow <3 Fantasy
sob3k
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
United States7572 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-08-24 21:28:53
August 24 2012 21:27 GMT
#2
Well, Im sure experts will come in a in a bit, but my first impression is that bodyweight squats will not be an effective way to improve your maximum explosive power that you need for vertical. Legs are strong muscles and you can probably do a ton of them, which is just going to increase your endurance, and not do much for your explosive power. If you are training for power you generally do much less reps at a much higher intensity, so squats and whatever at very high weight for a few very tough reps.

Sprinters dont run marathons trying to train for the 100, you are training for moving your legs about 2 feet as fast as you can.
In Hungry Hungry Hippos there are no such constraints—one can constantly attempt to collect marbles with one’s hippo, limited only by one’s hippo-levering capabilities.
GreEny K
Profile Joined February 2008
Germany7312 Posts
August 24 2012 22:07 GMT
#3
What you need to do is dead lifts, those are the best for vert jumps. Also, the explosive type of muscle that is needed for higher jumps develops over time, and normally needs to be trained from a young age. I started working on my vert last year and it's improved by 3 inches. That might not seem like a lot, but it's a pretty good improvement. Also, you won't see results for about 6-8 months in jump increase because it takes that long to develop.
Why would you ever choose failure, when success is an option.
fatfail
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States386 Posts
August 24 2012 22:27 GMT
#4
Thanks for the response. I don't have barbells, or any equipment for the matter. I'll do all my squats with my rice in the future, and add some explosive/high intensity stuff like leaping squats or one leg squat. However, I'm not sure if I can get good deadlift form with ordinary objects like bags of rice. I think I really need to add some weight as I'm reaching plateau with my bodyweight squats. I can do 2000 in one day np nowadays, so I'm probably just getting endurance, not strength gains. Also, I have to ask a question which probably makes me sound like a noob, but can I train endurance and explosive power at the same time? Without hurting gains for each side? Can I jump high and run 10 second 100 meter dash while being able to run marathons? Btw I run relatively long distances for my school events, 2 mile and 800 meter. However, I want to join the varsity badminton so although I have the endurance, I need to get explosive power for hits. Yeah, so I need some power to be more balanced athletically.
Kong fan... <3 Stork <3 Jangbi <3 Yellow <3 Fantasy
eshlow
Profile Joined June 2008
United States5210 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-08-24 23:06:58
August 24 2012 23:05 GMT
#5
Buy a barbell and plates off of craigslist for cheap.

If you want to make any good progress you need barbells for squats and deadlifts.


And yes, training explosiveness and endurance hurts each other. Strength and power are at one end of the spectrum and endurance is at the others. YOu can't have your cake and eat it too.

If you want to be a good athlete focus on getting stronger and powerful. It applies to the most sports.
Overcoming Gravity: A Systematic Approach to Gymnastics and Bodyweight Strength
fatfail
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States386 Posts
August 24 2012 23:34 GMT
#6
On August 25 2012 08:05 eshlow wrote:
Buy a barbell and plates off of craigslist for cheap.

If you want to make any good progress you need barbells for squats and deadlifts.


And yes, training explosiveness and endurance hurts each other. Strength and power are at one end of the spectrum and endurance is at the others. YOu can't have your cake and eat it too.

If you want to be a good athlete focus on getting stronger and powerful. It applies to the most sports.


I'm somewhat confused by this post. You can't possibly be claiming athletes don't need to train endurance. Or do you actually mean that?
Kong fan... <3 Stork <3 Jangbi <3 Yellow <3 Fantasy
Najda
Profile Joined June 2010
United States3765 Posts
August 24 2012 23:56 GMT
#7
If you dont have access to weights you should at least be doin pistol squats (one leg)
AirbladeOrange
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
United States2574 Posts
August 25 2012 00:02 GMT
#8
On August 25 2012 08:34 fatfail wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 25 2012 08:05 eshlow wrote:
Buy a barbell and plates off of craigslist for cheap.

If you want to make any good progress you need barbells for squats and deadlifts.


And yes, training explosiveness and endurance hurts each other. Strength and power are at one end of the spectrum and endurance is at the others. YOu can't have your cake and eat it too.

If you want to be a good athlete focus on getting stronger and powerful. It applies to the most sports.


I'm somewhat confused by this post. You can't possibly be claiming athletes don't need to train endurance. Or do you actually mean that?


No, he's saying they are opposites. Training for explosiveness and endurance are very different. That's why sprinters do not do the same type of workouts as distance runners. It's very tough to be good at everything so it might be best for you to prioritize what's most important to you and train for that.
BlackMTsidE
Profile Joined March 2011
United States32 Posts
August 25 2012 00:14 GMT
#9
If you want to be explosive, you need to train like it. All those airsquats only got you better at ... doing airsquats. The olympic lifts (snatch, clean and jerk) and their variations are great for training explosiveness. Also, plyometrics like box jumps, broad jumps, depth jumps, sprints.

I would also focus on developing maximal strength in your legs. Learn to squat and deadlift properly with heavy weight. Ditch the leg press.

Good luck. By the way, even a 10-20% increase in vertical jump is considered excellent progress, so keep that in mind.
eshlow
Profile Joined June 2008
United States5210 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-08-25 00:14:34
August 25 2012 00:14 GMT
#10
On August 25 2012 09:02 AirbladeOrange wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 25 2012 08:34 fatfail wrote:
On August 25 2012 08:05 eshlow wrote:
Buy a barbell and plates off of craigslist for cheap.

If you want to make any good progress you need barbells for squats and deadlifts.


And yes, training explosiveness and endurance hurts each other. Strength and power are at one end of the spectrum and endurance is at the others. YOu can't have your cake and eat it too.

If you want to be a good athlete focus on getting stronger and powerful. It applies to the most sports.


I'm somewhat confused by this post. You can't possibly be claiming athletes don't need to train endurance. Or do you actually mean that?


No, he's saying they are opposites. Training for explosiveness and endurance are very different. That's why sprinters do not do the same type of workouts as distance runners. It's very tough to be good at everything so it might be best for you to prioritize what's most important to you and train for that.


This is precisely what I am saying.

Focus on getting stronger and powerful as strength is the foundation of athleticism.

If after that you want to add in some endurance after you're pretty strong go for it, but know that it can negatively affect your explosiveness,
Overcoming Gravity: A Systematic Approach to Gymnastics and Bodyweight Strength
Vitruvian
Profile Joined September 2011
United States168 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-08-31 09:23:12
August 28 2012 23:21 GMT
#11
Kelly Baggett's stuff is pretty good. By far the most important thing you can do for your vertical is to develop your squat and deadlift strength. This is the foundation upon which your power and explosive ability will be built. You literally CANNOT significantly improve your vertical without first developing the strength.

Mod edit: Don't link to pirated things on TLHF please
eshlow
Profile Joined June 2008
United States5210 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-08-29 00:38:59
August 29 2012 00:38 GMT
#12
You know you're linking to a book that you're supposed to buy through his site, right?

Go support the author!

http://www.higher-faster-sports.com/verticaljump.html
Overcoming Gravity: A Systematic Approach to Gymnastics and Bodyweight Strength
emjaytron
Profile Joined June 2011
Australia544 Posts
August 29 2012 00:49 GMT
#13
Cannot emphasise this enough. When I was in final year of high school trying to make our top division volleyball team I squatted 3x weekly, going from about 60-70kg to 120kg in 3 months with little prior strength and conditioning training, and learnt to powerclean. Put about 15cm on my vertical jump to get it to about 80cm in 3 months training. Then the next 8 years I barely managed to put another 5cm on it through all kinds of exercises. Getting that squat up towards 1.5-2x bodyweight is everything man. And powercleans are fantastic neural recruitment exercise.
Grubby - SaSe - Oz - Hero
Vitruvian
Profile Joined September 2011
United States168 Posts
August 29 2012 01:53 GMT
#14
On August 29 2012 09:38 eshlow wrote:
You know you're linking to a book that you're supposed to buy through his site, right?

Go support the author!

http://www.higher-faster-sports.com/verticaljump.html


Yeah, I know. And I actually did buy it. The download format he provides for purchase is absolutely obnoxious though. Restrictions so extreme that you can't even zoom in or out of the document. Or do any kind of ctrl-F search for key sections. In any case, you're probably right, go support the author! Haha.
decafchicken
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
United States20168 Posts
August 29 2012 02:56 GMT
#15
On August 29 2012 09:49 emjaytron wrote:
Cannot emphasise this enough. When I was in final year of high school trying to make our top division volleyball team I squatted 3x weekly, going from about 60-70kg to 120kg in 3 months with little prior strength and conditioning training, and learnt to powerclean. Put about 15cm on my vertical jump to get it to about 80cm in 3 months training. Then the next 8 years I barely managed to put another 5cm on it through all kinds of exercises. Getting that squat up towards 1.5-2x bodyweight is everything man. And powercleans are fantastic neural recruitment exercise.

Quoted for truth.
how reasonable is it to eat off wood instead of your tummy?
phyre112
Profile Joined August 2009
United States3090 Posts
August 29 2012 05:21 GMT
#16
On August 29 2012 11:56 decafchicken wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 29 2012 09:49 emjaytron wrote:
Cannot emphasise this enough. When I was in final year of high school trying to make our top division volleyball team I squatted 3x weekly, going from about 60-70kg to 120kg in 3 months with little prior strength and conditioning training, and learnt to powerclean. Put about 15cm on my vertical jump to get it to about 80cm in 3 months training. Then the next 8 years I barely managed to put another 5cm on it through all kinds of exercises. Getting that squat up towards 1.5-2x bodyweight is everything man. And powercleans are fantastic neural recruitment exercise.

Quoted for truth.


In the past four years (college) my vertical jump has improved from ~26 inches (could grab a basketball rim) to ~30 inches (can reliably dunk without a problem) both from a standing jump. In that time, I've gained over 50 pounds of bodyweight. The difference has been an increase in strength, due to squats and deadlifts (both of which I've added over 200 pounds to) and in explosiveness from learning to clean (power clean and c&j) and proper form when I'm doing my sprints (activating more involved musculature, which transfers well to jumping).

So sure, plyometrics and other things that have you actively practicing the motion of jumping will help to an extent, but not nearly as much as getting strong will (if you're not strong) and learning to activate those muscles (if you can't). Jumping stuff comes third.
Dirkzor
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
Denmark1944 Posts
August 29 2012 07:49 GMT
#17
How to you guys meassure vertical jumps? head height when standing to head height when at top?

I'm asking because I did a 118 cm (46~inches) box jump (standing) a few months back but does that translate to a vertical jump?
"HOW THE FUCK ARE YOU ON TOP AGAIN???? HOW DO YOU KEEP DOING THIS????" -Julmust (also, thats what she said)
Flicky
Profile Blog Joined December 2008
England2674 Posts
August 29 2012 08:25 GMT
#18
If you're still not convinced about deadlifts and strength for improving your Vertical Jump, go find any video of Benedikt Magnusson jumping after he deadlifts some obscene weight. If a guy with that body can jump like that, you know his excercises are good for it.

Alternatively, look for that Pyrhos Dimas vertical jump after his Snatch/C+J WR.

(at work so can't find youtube links)
Liquipedia"I was seriously looking for a black guy" - MrHoon
fatfail
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States386 Posts
August 29 2012 22:06 GMT
#19
I am absolutely convinced that strength training helps vertical. It is just that I don't have gym membership or weights. ):
Kong fan... <3 Stork <3 Jangbi <3 Yellow <3 Fantasy
eshlow
Profile Joined June 2008
United States5210 Posts
August 29 2012 22:19 GMT
#20
On August 30 2012 07:06 fatfail wrote:
I am absolutely convinced that strength training helps vertical. It is just that I don't have gym membership or weights. ):


If you got about $100-200 bucks you can probably snag an Oly bar, and weights off of craiglist for as much as 300 lbs or more.
Overcoming Gravity: A Systematic Approach to Gymnastics and Bodyweight Strength
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