How to Perform Jumping Jacks

Co-authored by Dean Theriot

Last Updated: December 1, 2021 References Approved

Jumping jacks are a basic exercise almost everyone has done as a child, but did you know how beneficial jumping jacks can be to your heart and lungs? Whether young or old, physically fit or just beginning a workout regimen, jumping jacks are a great, cardiovascular foundation. You can try to beat the jumping jack world record of 27,000 in a row, or simply use them as a way to warm up.^{[1]
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Research source} Knowing how to perform them properly will help you decide where they fit into your routine.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Executing a Jumping Jack

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Stand up straight, hold your arms at your sides, and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Relax your shoulders back and down along your spine. Keep the natural curve of your neck by relaxing your jaw too.
- Hold the top of your head up and directly between the tops of your shoulders. Keep your hips over your heels and relax your pelvis.
- From an upright, standing position widen your stance so that your feet are below our shoulders. Keep your arms beside your body and relaxed.^{[2]
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2
Jump and extend your arms overhead. With your feet shoulder width apart, slightly bend your knees so you can hop. As you hop, or jump just a few inches off the ground, lift your arms overhead until your hands are about shoulder width apart.

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3
Extend your legs. As you jump, open your legs wider than shoulder width as you lift your arms overhead. Give or take some space depending on your height and leave a wide amount of space between your feet.
- Slightly bend your joints throughout the entire movement.
- To avoid injury, keep your joints loose. Don’t hold your arms stick-straight, but keep them slightly bent. The same goes for your knees.
4
Land in the starting position. After jumping in the air, gently land in the first position with arms at your sides and feet shoulder width apart.
5
Repeat as needed. You won’t get much benefit out of performing one jumping jack. Use them as a way to warm up before a more intense workout, or as a cardio workout itself. Repeat for 10 to 20 minutes depending on your level of fitness.^{[3]
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- Perform jumping jacks as a quick five minute warm-up if you're new to working out.
- Jump longer to get your heart rate up during a warm-up if you're used to cardio work.
- A jumping jack warm-up may feel like a workout itself if you're not especially fit. That's okay. Keep practicing them daily.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Varying Jumping Jacks

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Perform half jacks. Rotator cuff injuries have been reported from consistently doing jumping jacks over time. To avoid injury, perform half jacks, which are done the same as regular jumping jacks, but don’t bring your arms all the way overhead. Only lift them to shoulder height and bring them back down.
2
Hold dumbbells. To really feel the burn of a jumping jack routine, hold dumbbells while you perform them. Pick weights between 2 to 5 pounds (0.91 to 2.27 kg), because it will be hard to jump holding anything much heavier. Pick a weight that makes your body work harder, while not messing up your jumping jack form.^{[4]
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3
Wear wrist and ankle weights. Make sure you have mastered a proper jumping jack before amping up the intensity with wrist and ankle weights. Keep their weight similar to what you would use for dumbbells and perform jumping jacks slower with them on. ^{[5]
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Increase your speed. To get more out of a jumping jack routine, try to perform them as quickly as possible. As soon as you land back on the ground, jump right back up.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Stretching Afterwards

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Stretch your shoulders. Stretching is important in any exercise to avoid injury. Begin with a light shoulder stretch to gently start cooling down your muscles. Hold your back up straight and bring one arm overhead. Bend this arm down at the elbow and use your other hand to grab this same elbow. Gently pull it towards the opposite side.^{[6]
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- Stretch after you have done jumping jacks, so that your muscles are warmed up. Otherwise you risk injury.
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Open your hips. Your hip flexors are one of the main muscles worked in jumping jacks.^{[7]
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Research source} To open them up before working them, place yourself in a position with hands and knees touching the ground. Slowly move your knees away from each other, while simultaneously walking your hands forward.
- Hold the stretch for 30 seconds at a comfortable point.
- Prop your hands up on pillows or books if you need to.^{[8]
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Stretch your quadriceps. Stretch another important area involved in jumping jacks by loosening up your leg muscle above the knee. Stand up straight and bend one knee backwards towards your butt. With your hand from the same side, grab the bent leg’s ankle or toes and push your foot as close to your butt as possible.^{[9]
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Expert Q&A

Question

How can I include jumping jacks in my exercise routine?

Michele Dolan
Certified Fitness Trainer
Michele Dolan is a BCRPA certified Personal Trainer in British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002.

Michele Dolan

Certified Fitness Trainer

Expert Answer

Try combining 1-3 minute intervals of jumping jacks with lower impact exercises like walking or jogging.
Question

Is jumping rope better than jumping jacks?

Dean Theriot
Personal Trainer
Dean Theriot is a Personal Trainer and the Owner of Timberline Fitness in Houston, Texas. With over 25 years of experience in the fitness industry, Dean specializes in personal, group, and sport-specific training. Dean holds a BS in Exercise Physiology from LSU. Dean combines resistance and cardiovascular training with pilates exercises for comprehensive workouts for his clients. His sport-specific training includes football, basketball, and baseball.

Dean Theriot

Personal Trainer

Expert Answer

In general, jumping rope will likely be a more intense workout than jumping jacks. Try incorporating jumping rope into your workout routine.
Question

Can jumping jacks help lose belly fat?

Michele Dolan
Certified Fitness Trainer
Michele Dolan is a BCRPA certified Personal Trainer in British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002.

Michele Dolan

Certified Fitness Trainer

Expert Answer

Jumping jacks are very intense exercise for the entire body including the heart, so they burn a lot of calories. Burning calories burns fat. Mixing a lower intensity exercise, like walking, with sets of jumping jacks is effective for burning calories and fat.