Jump Higher In Basketball and Fly Like MJ

Basketball is indeed a game of inches, but for most of us, flying as many inches off the ground as a Kobe Bryant or a Vince Carter or (daresay) a Michael Jordan just isn't going to come naturally. For most of us, a healthy dose of elbow grease is going to have to be in the cards in order to tack a few more precious inches onto our own vertical leap. Here, then, are some exercises to jump higher in basketball.

When getting started with exercise of any type, it's always wise to spend a few moments beforehand getting warmed up and stretched out. The most important result of any workout regimen, including those that feature exercises to jump higher, is to walk away from the activity afterward without an injury. A pre-workout warm-up is your best defense against such an injury.

Once you're loose, get into a decent steady physical rhythm on a jump-rope. The non-stop hopping motion provides solid conditioning for reactionary leg muscles, which of course contribute to your vertical leap.

Next, try moving into some deep knee-bends. Initially stand with your feet at a width shoulders-apart, then slowly bend down with your knees while keeping a straight back posture. Crouch as low as you can, and hold that extreme position for three to five seconds. After that, rise back up slowly to your original standing position. Fifteen is a decent round number of reps for a first attempt at deep knee-bends, but over time, try to increase your total number of reps in increments of ten every few days, eventually topping out in the neighborhood of 75 reps per routine.

Another simple, highly effective example of exercises to jump higher would be toe raises. Pick any safe and solid spot to stand still with your feet somewhat close together. Raise your body up onto the balls of your feet, using your toes for added balance, and then lower yourself back down slowly. It's truly as easy an exercise as it sounds.

Finally, mix in a routine of stomach crunches. Lie flat on your back, and use your abdominal muscles to elevate your shoulders to just above the floor surface. The result from this activity is an increased strength in critical "core" muscle groups, which are very important for increasing leaping performance. Oh, and they'll make your abs look pretty!

So try a few of these exercises to jump higher when you get the chance, and before you know it, you'll be flying like MJ himself.