How to Jump Higher! Vertical Leap Secrets from the World’s Best Strength Coaches: Part 1

For years I’ve used stair training to maximize myworking with large groups. Our weight room workouts
power which lead me to using them with the hundredshave over 40 student athletes working out at once
of athletes I’ve trained including players from Majorand introducing the kettlebell has been a blessing
League Baseball and the Women’s Nationalbecause I find it much easier to teach the movements
Basketball Association. And because of my work withthan power cleans. And even easier than teaching the
professional athletes and my love for basketball I gethang clean. Does this mean I’m lazy? No, I just
many questions from people all over the world onhappened to find a better tool for teaching athletes
vertical jump training. And since I don’t know it allexplosive hip extension. Will I abandon the power and
(far from it) I know it’s in my best interest to learnhang clean? No. No I have even more exercises in my
from other strength coaches, personal trainers, physicaltool box which makes it easier not to be married to a
therapists, nutritionists, doctors and so on. And I’mset a certain exercise.
actually pretty lucky as I can pick up the phone orSo what’s the lesson here? If you can add
email many of the best trainers in the world and pickkettlebells into your training programs you have an
their brain on performance enhancement.excellent vertical jump training tool that is hard to beat.
So in late 2006 I decided to get on the phone and grill2. Another great thing about kettlebells reiterated by
over 13 world class strength coaches on their verticalSteve Cotter is that there is a unique quality in the
training methods. How can you go wrong when youshape of kettlebells: The shape I believe and many
have over 13 of the nation’s best experts teachother trainers will agree is that they actually guide you
you first hand what they know on vertical jumpinto proper form. Because of the round shape any
training?deviance from bad form and you automatically feel it
And the best thing for me was the learningso you get right back into the correct groove. This is
experience. I learned so much from these world classkey and something I’ve never really experienced
coaches and here is my chance to share what Iwith barbells and dumbbells. Furthermore, a big premise
learned. I must warn you though: There is a chanceof kettlebells is that training is practice and practice
you can bang your head on the rim by following thesedevelops your skill. The more skilled you are the
vertical jump tips!stronger you will be and the higher you will jump. I
The first group of guys I will speak of are Jason Cmean do you ever really see guys that can jump or
Brown, Steve Cotter and Brett Jones. Besides beingare really fast not run or jump with excellent form?
gentlemen and world class strength coaches they alsoNot really. Fix someone’s technique and form and
share the unique distinction of being kettlebell trainingthat in itself will help them jump higher.
experts.3. Keep things simple. Read that again and again. All
I must admit when I first learned about kettlebells yearsthree guys alluded to this. We know what works and
back I never really gave it much thought because Ihave known for a long time. Don’t try to reinvent
thought you could do kettlebell exercises with athe wheel and just use what we already know. Basics
dumbbell. As I quickly learned, you can not dolike the dead lift, squat and its variations combined with
exercises that are specific to kettlebells with aexplosive lifting, actually jumping, and of course
dumbbell. It’s not the same. Try a kettlebell swingexcellent technique will take you very far.
with a dumbbell and they are very different. Now this4. Another big point to drive home from this panel was
is not to say that dumbbells are bad. This is just to saykeeping the reps low (3-5) when strength training. A
that each piece of equipment has a specific use andgreat vertical requires excellent strength and that
each has its own advantages and disadvantages.means to train movements like the dead lift, squat and
In speaking with the gentlemen a few things ringpull-ups with low reps to develop that strength. No
through with kettlebell lifting that make them excellentneed for higher reps as that can lead to weight gain
tools for vertical jump training.and possibly using bad form.
1. It is very hard to find an exercise that mimics theSimple enough right. 5 sets of 5 reps on big bang
motion of vertical jumping better than the kettlebellexercises and you are good to go! Don’t forget to
swing. Further more is that you can perform thepractice your jumping. I mean would you ask someone
exercise explosively. Now this is not to say that powerwanting to improve their speed not to sprint?
cleans or snatches are not great exercises that teachGet even more free Vertical Jump Training Secrets
explosive hip extension but they are more technicalfrom Steve, Jason and Brett along with over10 more
and harder to teach. This is simply not the case withVertical Leap Experts! Visit Jump Experts right now!
the kettlebell swing which makes it excellent for