Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is skiptrix®?
2. Who is skiptrix® aimed at?
3. How demanding is skiptrix®?
4. Does 'increasing the intensity' mean doing the same thing for longer periods?
5. How can the skiptrix® programme be so versatile?
6. What are the benefits of skiptrix® ?
7. Is there anything I need to do before I start skiptrix®?
8. What should I wear?
9. What equipment do I need?
10. Where should I skip?
11. How do I get started?
12. How can I learn more about skiptrix®?
13. How do I book a place in a skiptrix® class?
Skiptrix® is a compilation of Jump Rope skills blended with aerobic style march sequences, combined with a warm up and cool down. These are fused together with extravagant light effects and powerful music, creating an overall totally different atmosphere to the usual classes. The carefully choreographed classes combining the jump rope skills and march out sequences, is what enables everyone to workout together at a pace which they find comfortable.
Skiptrix® is a unique training program suitable for both men and women, boys and girls, of all ages. Its concept is designed to constantly improve cardiovascular and motor fitness levels whilst having fun, making it desirable for both young and old alike. If you want to have fun and get fit doing it, then skiptrix® is for you.
3. How demanding is skiptrix®?
The workout intensity can be adapted to suit the individual, varying from low impact aerobics for the beginner, through to high impact, and even anaerobic training for the more serious athlete.
Reducing the intensity of the workout is beneficial for those who are beginners, for those who are overweight or just simply people who have not worked out for a while and want to ease back into training gently. The intensity of the workouts may then be increased to progress training, and ensure continued improvement in fitness levels.
4. Does 'increasing the intensity' mean doing the same thing for longer periods?
The same workout done continually works the same muscle groups to the same degree, halting progress, causing a maintaining level of fitness rather than an increasing one, not to mention boredom occurring and then individuals look for something else. In order to ensure continually increasing fitness levels, it is important to constantly push oneself beyond the comfort zone, whilst ensuring that each workout is within the capabilities of the individual. Making the workout more challenging or simply extending the duration of ones workout will do this.
Due to modern day hectic lifestyles, skiptrix® varies the workout providing new challenges and faster workouts to constantly increase fitness levels. Its variety prevents boredom, and builds up different muscle groups making them stronger also helping to prevent injuries, because stronger muscles, whilst providing support to surrounding tissues, are less prone to injury.
5. How can the skiptrix® programme be so versatile?
Skiptrix® uses a specially devised training formula for its techniques, to create "jump rope - or skipping sets" which involve numerous levels of skills, together with a variety of march sequences to enhance the workout.
Shortening the skipping sets and lowering the impact of the march sequence can assume the lower impact variation. During the march sequences, this is achieved by keeping the arms between waist and shoulder height, or allowing the arms to hang loosely at ones sides, whilst keeping the knee raises much lower.
By repeating, extending or combining multiple skipping sets, together with raising the knees to at least waist height, while keeping the arms at or above shoulder height during the march out, the energy and impact level of both the skipping sets and the march sequence will be increased, resulting in high impact training.
6. What are the benefits of skiptrix® ?
Skiptrix® is primarily designed to give a fun workout. If a workout is fun then one is more likely to stick with it long enough to experience its benefits. Skiptrix® also provides challenging variations within the workout, leading to freestyle training allowing individuals to then create their own training regime.
The most effective fitness and weight management program combines aerobic training with resistance training and stretching. Skiptrix® combines all these elements to ensure a full body workout, which is suitable for both the novice exerciser and the keenest athlete. Aerobic work provides progressive development of the energy systems, leading to improved stamina and cardiovascular fitness, whilst resistance work builds and tones muscles and stretching increases flexibility, helping to prevent soreness and injury.
Skiptrix® training also improves motor fitness. It increases skill related aspects of fitness by improving power, agility, co-ordination, balance, reaction and attitude.
7. Is there anything I need to do before I start skiptrix®?
Before beginning any training program, make a doctors appointment for a medical evaluation to get the go ahead to start. One should particularly consult with a doctor if over 35 years old or have been inactive for a long period of time, if overweight or if there are any medical concerns at all; such as heart disease, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, frequent dizzy spells, extreme breathlessness after mild exertion, arthritis or other bone problems, severe muscular or ligament problems, back problems, obesity or a family history of such diseases.
Due to skiptrix® involving quick lateral movements with jumping and leaping, appropriate attire should be worn. Choose clothing with limited toggles or ties, which may become tangled in the rope, and choose suitable footwear, which not only provides cushioning and shock absorption but also good medial-lateral stability. Skiptrix® clothing can be ordered and collected from your skiptrix® team instructor at your class.
Skiptrix® equipment is totally portable. All you need is a jump rope! It can be coiled up and kept neatly in your bag, briefcase, car or even in your pocket. There is a wide range of skipping ropes available, including synthetic, leather and cable, some with wooden handles, plastic handles or even weighted handles.
Our skiptrix® team instructors use the World Championship Freestyle Jump Rope and these will be available for sale to you at your classes. These skiptrix® jump ropes have 8" handles, allowing ease of manoeuverability - for even the most complicated of skipping skills, the rope has a 4mm solid PVC cable - making it lightweight enough for beginners and yet fast enough for the high speed skills. The length of cable (upon purchase) is 9' with an easy adjustable clip for shortening. The most important factor is to ensure your rope is the correct length for you; stand on the centre of the rope with both feet and including the handles, should just reach your underarms.
If you are having difficulty with co-ordination, or are training inside with a low ceiling, you can even practice the skiptrix® patterns without a rope!!Although skipping may be done anywhere, skipping on hard concrete surfaces may cause concussion up the legs and joints if good posture is not maintained, so a wooden sprung floor, such as those found in dance studios and gymnasiums, is preferable.
Keeping good posture throughout the workout is very important to help avoid injury. When jumping, ankles and knees must bend on landing and remain soft throughout, whilst the upper body is kept straight and the upper arms remain by ones sides, using only the forearms and the wrists to turn the rope. When marching, avoid hyperextension of the knee and elbow joints and again keep knees and ankles slightly bent and soft throughout.Firstly, you need to achieve basic skipping skills and gain some rope control. To do this, hold a rope handle in each hand with the rope hanging against the back of your legs. Start bouncing on the spot at a steady speed with your feet leaving the floor by about 2-3 inches. Now pass the rope over the top of your head and under your feet, try to jump two bounces for each single revolution of the rope. We call this 'half time speed' skipping, 'Playground' or 'Double Bounce'.
Next, we move onto single-speed skipping (also called simply "speed skipping"). Again start with the rope in the same position as before and begin bouncing. This time as you pass the rope over the top of your head and under your feet, the speed of the revolutions of the rope needs to be quicker, allowing only one bounce per single revolution of the rope.
Once these two basic skills are achieved, try alternating between them without stopping the rope. Change from playground to speed skipping and back again. This will give you good rope control skills before you try the more complex patterns.
12. How can I learn more about skiptrix®?
You can attend our skiptrix® introduction classes or if you have any specific questions or comments you can contact skiptrix®. See our contact us page for more details.
13. How do I book a place in a skiptrix® class?
Contact Martyn either using our contact us page, or telephone on 07722403330 or email bookings@skiptrix.co.uk. Details of skiptrix venues can be found on our classes page.
