How to Do the Jerk

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 2, 2020 References

Doing the jerk was a popular dance move in the 1960’s that sprang up from Los Angeles. Some credit The Larks as the band that was the first to popularize the move. It’s a pretty simple dance and definitely an old school one, but you can still look really good doing it. If you’re willing to take a little time to learn it you can show all your friends how to do the jerk. Keep in mind that doing the jerk is a different dance from jerking, which is a hip-hop dance. This dance is much more similar to the monkey.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Learning The Jerk

1
Pick an arm to start with. The jerk mainly focuses on moving your arms in time to the beat of whatever song you are dancing to. To get this dance move started you will need to pick an arm to begin the movement with. Either arm will work just as well when you are starting the jerk.^{[1]
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- Start with both arms at waist level.
- Place both arms in front of your waist.
- Pick and arm to get started with.
2
Start moving an arm. After you decide which arm to start the move with you will begin to move that arm upwards. The overall aim of the movement is to swing your arm up from waist level to a point that is by your head. Keep some of the following tips in mind as you move your arm:^{[2]
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- Your arm will be extended in front of you. However, don't keep your arm too tight or straight.
- The motion should be loose. You will swing your arm up from waist level.
- Bring the arm all the way up to head level.
- At the peak of the motion your arm will be bent at a ninety degree angle and your hand will be next to your head.
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3
Switch to the other arm. After your one arm has gone up to head level it's time to bring it back down. However, you will be moving your other arm up at the same time your first arm is coming back down. Your other arm will swing up in the exact same way as you did with your first arm. The arm going down should stop at waist level, ending a bit behind your waist.^{[3]
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- Try to evenly switch your arms, bringing your first arm down and the other up at the same time.
- Your arms should be meeting halfway through the movement.
- Bring your arm up just like you did with the first arm.
- Keep switching arms.
4
Add in head and chest movements. Although the jerk focuses on your arms you will also need to move your head and chest. These movements will both be small and will be timed with the motion of your arms. Keep some of the following tips in mind as you work to add these head and chest flourishes:
- Push your chest out whenever an arm is swung up to your head level.
- Sink your chest in when switching arms.
- Turn your head to face whichever hand you are swinging up to head level.
5
Add a slight bounce. There is no footwork for you to learn when practicing the jerk. However, you will still need to have some leg movement in order to make the whole dance flow. Try to incorporate some of these leg motions into your jerk dance:^{[4]
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- Slightly bend your knees when switching arms.
- Straighten your legs out when an arm is up at head level.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Feeling the Rhythm of the Song

1
Listen carefully to the song. Your body should feel a beat, which forms the rhythm of the song along with the tempo^{[5]
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- Doing the jerk isn’t something that most people do without music.
2
Snap to the beat. Once you have found the beat start snapping your fingers in rhythm. Your finger snap will probably occur on a bass note or a drum beat. The finger snap is often incorporated into the dance when people are doing the jerk, so this is a good way to get started.
- If you can’t snap your fingers try clapping your hands. The point of this exercise is to prepare your body to move with the rhythm of the song. Doing the jerk is partially about the move itself, but also about being in sync with the music.
3
Start moving your arms. Move your arms casually back and forth across your body as you snap. Doing the jerk will require a more pronounced movement, but for now just swing your arms back and forth as you snap your finger to the beat. If your song is in 4/4 time you’ll probably end up snapping your fingers on the same side each time.^{[6]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Adding Other Moves And Dances

1
Add in a double motion. You don't always have to switch arms when you are doing the jerk. If there is a change in beat or you just want to change the move up a bit, you can move the same arm twice or more. Adding the double motion can be a simple way to include a bit of variation to the jerk.
- Bring your arm up to your head as you normally do.
- Bring the arm back down again.
- Don't switch to bringing your other arm up. Instead bring the same arm back up.
2
Change to the pony. The pony is a dance from the 60's that can blend nicely with the motions of the jerk. The move is an easy one to learn and can be a nice addition to your jerk moves. Take a look at the following overview to get the basics of the pony down:^{[7]
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- Take a big step to your left. Stand in place and step on your right foot then back to your left.
- Take a big step to your right. Stand in place and step on your left foot then back to your right.
- Have your arms down at hip level on the big step.
- Bring your arms up with the smaller steps you take when standing place.
3
Do the twist. The twist is a simple dance move that looks great and can work together nicely with the jerk. You will need to be on your toes, twisting the direction your heels face, and moving your weight from side to side. Keep some of the following basic steps in mind when practicing your twist:^{[8]
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- Stand on your toes.
- Shift your legs and hips so that your heels are pointing either to the left or the right.
- Shift your heels to the other side.
- Keep this motion going and move your body from side to side, shifting your weight to your right or left leg.
- You can throw in a squat while you are twisting your feet for some extra style.
- Keep your arms loose and at about chest level, twisting them slightly from side to side.