Let's Move L.A.

DOUBLE DUTCH
The benefits of this simple but yet complex training technique ranks as an ideal brain exercise, bone builder, and as one of the most efficient ways of improving cardiovascular fitness in as little as ten minutes.

According to research jump rope for a minimum of five minutes a day can improve physical fitness and when you build to ten minutes of nonstop jumping at 120 RPMs it can provide the same benefits as the following:

In addition, jumping helps to develop the left and right hemispheres of the brain, to further improve spacial awareness and reading skills, and increases memory and mental alertness. Jumping on balls of the feet requires the body and mind to make neural muscular adjustments to imbalances created from continuous jumping. As a result jumping improves dynamic balance and coordination, reflexes, bone density and muscular endurance.

Jumping rope can also avoid the knee damage which may occur during running, since the impact of each jump or step is absorbed by both legs. Jumping rope also helps strengthen the arms and shoulders. This combination of an aerobic workout and coordination-building footwork has made jumping rope a popular form of exercise for athletes, especially boxers and wrestlers. Many badminton players around the world jump rope to increase their endurance for competitions.

It's inexpensive. All you really need is a decent jump rope ($10-30) and exercise wear including a good pair of cross-training shoes.
You don't need a fancy or special facility. Any area with a 9 foot or higher ceiling, some free space around you and a smooth floor surface with just a little give to it - like a wood or synthetic gym floor will work just fine.
It can develop nearly every area of fitness including: aerobic conditioning, muscular endurance, agility, quickness, timing, and rhythm to name a few.
There's tremendous variety in jump rope, especially in regards to the number of skills. You only need to witness a jump rope competition to realize that there are literally thousands of jump rope skills. I even made my living in part by demonstrating skills and
routines at various shows.
It goes well with music. In fact, for me I almost must have music to jump rope. It's what motivates me to put different skills, together, vary the tempo of jump rope, and simply make it more fun. To learn about how to "wear" music for rope jumping, go to the More Jump Rope Gear page.
If you master a few skills in jump rope, people will think that you are one of the kings of fitness. I know, this is an appeal to vanity - but what the heck.