Techniques on How to Jump Higher

The History Behind Kung Fu Jumps

• Kung fu, the martial arts that developed in China, has areas of specialization that allow its practitioners to attain expert proficiency in one of many aspects of fighting. These specializations are referred to as "kungs" (pronounced gung) and they include ways of training various attributes. For example, iron palm kung is a method that strengthens the tissues of the hand for striking.
  Jumping kung is a proven method to attain jumping skill. Many are unaware that the martial arts were originally used as a method of combat during times of war. Soldiers who faced a horse-mounted adversary were obviously at a distinct disadvantage; jump training was one of the avenues taken to equal the odds. Combined with skilled kicking, extraordinary jumping ability allowed the kung fu practitioner the ability to remove riders from their mounts.

Learning to Jump as High as a Horse

• There are three factors at play when performing a jump; body weight (or more precisely body composition), muscle conditioning (particular fast-twitch muscle fibers) and timing (the coordinated effort of the entire body).
  Reducing your body weight is a simple way of immediately enabling a higher jump simply because there will be less weight to move. It has also been found that decreasing or completely eliminating meat in one's diet produces a less dense body, which directly translates to higher jumps.
  Training in jumping kung simultaneously trains fast-twitch muscle fibers builds coordination.

Jumping Kung 101

• Digging a waist-deep pit to jump out of was the traditional method used, but this is both inconvenient and unnecessary. Instead, get four used tires (truck tires are best, but any will do) and a piece of plywood three-fourths inch thick. Screw the plywood onto the top of one of the tires with wood screws so that the hole is covered.
  Stack the tires three high (the fourth will be used later) and, standing directly in front of the stack, jump up and onto the platform, landing in a low squat. Immediately leap down into the original start position.
  Repeat jumping nonstop until another jump cannot be completed safely. Each jump should be done lightly both up and down. The best way to accomplish this is by trying to land silently. When another safe jump is impossible, the training session is complete. Do this daily five days per week. At the beginning of every month add a new tire to the stack (traditionally the hole was dug approximately six inches deeper each month).