The jump rope toad variation is a wonderful addition to your freestyle arsenal. It’s basically an under the leg cross and in my opinion fairly easy to learn. Next to that it’s a trick that is easy to combine with a lot of other freestyle variation including releases, crosses and even multiples!
In this blog I will break down exactly: How to Jump Rope Toad – Fast & Easy!
To make it somewhat more digestable I’ve broken it down in steps.
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Key Takeaway:
The jump rope toad is a flashy intermediate trick that combines agility, coordination, and timing. It’s a unique variation of the cross jump, where you cross one arm under your opposite leg as you jump through the rope. While challenging, it’s a great way to level up your jump rope skills and impress onlookers.
What is the Jump Rope Toad?
In the toad, one arm crosses under a leg (e.g., your left arm under your left leg) while the other arm rotates the rope. The move requires precise timing and body positioning to ensure smooth execution. When done right, it looks effortless and dynamic.
Why Learn the Jump Rope Toad?
- Improves Flexibility: It requires mobility in your hips, hamstrings, and shoulders.
- Enhances Coordination: Synchronizing the cross-arm motion with your jump develops advanced motor skills.
- Adds Style: The toad is a crowd-pleaser, making it a favorite among freestyle jumpers.
General Step-by-Step Guide to Perform the Jump Rope Toad
1. Master the Basics
Ensure you can comfortably perform standard cross jumps and side swings. These are foundational skills needed to build confidence before attempting the toad.
2. Stretch and Warm-Up
Focus on dynamic stretches for your hamstrings, hips, and shoulders. Exercises like lunges and arm circles are perfect to prepare your body for the movement.
3. Practice the Leg Positioning
- Stand on one foot and lift your opposite leg to a 90-degree angle.
- Cross your arm under the raised leg as if preparing to grab the rope handle.
- Practice this motion without the rope until it feels natural.
4. Add the Rope
- Start with the rope behind you. Swing it overhead as you jump.
- As the rope passes under your feet, cross one arm under your lifted leg.
- The other arm remains in its standard position, helping to rotate the rope smoothly.
5. Timing is Key
- Aim for a fluid motion where the arm crosses under the leg mid-jump.
- Keep your jumps small and controlled to reduce unnecessary movement.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Jumping too high: Focus on efficiency.
- Losing balance: Keep your core engaged for stability.
- Poor timing: Practice with a slower rope until you get the rhythm right.
5 Specific Steps on How to Perform the Jump Rope Toad
Step 1: Criss-Cross (Jump Rope Crossovers)
The first step of mastering the toad, is mastering the normal criss cross. The toad is basically a criss cross under your leg. When crossing try to point your handles backwards and make a ‘spoon like’ movement to avoid tripping over the rope. After you’ve mastered the criss cross you can move onto step 2.
Step 2: Mechanics
Now for the next steps we’re going to focus on the mechanics to make sure you use the right technique when learning the toad.
2. 1 Find your dominant hand
First of all it’s important to find your dominant side. Remember the criss-cross from the last step?
Find out which arm is crossing underneath your other arm. This is your dominant arm and thus the one we’re going to put through our leg on the other side.
In the video on the bottom of this blog, you can see it’s my right arm which is crossing underneath my left leg.
2.2 Put your hand all the way through
When doing so, make sure your hands go all the way through to give the rope enough space to pass around your body.
2.3 Twist your leg in
Next off, try to twist you leg in a bit to make up for some extra space for the rope to pass around.
2. 4 Don’t bend over
Finally, try not to bend over but keep your back straight. If you’re having a hard time putting your arm all the way through your leg while not bending over, try pulling your leg up higher, rather than bending over.
Now when you’ve masted this, it’s time for step 3.
Step 3: Toad (No Jumping)
So in step 3, we’re doing everything from step 2, without jumping over the rope. This step is here to have you get used to getting the toad form right. Try to catch the rope with a toe catch. That way you’re sure the rope is traveling the path is supposed to travel to jump over it in the next steps.
Try to toe catch about 10 times before progressing to the next step.
Step 4: Toad (No Jumping)
Now for step 4 we’re going to do a single under toad. Catching the rope again with a toe catch on the second rotation.
We are doing this to get used to keeping your balance while keeping one leg up in the air.
Once you’ve mastered this, it’s time to move on to the next and final step.
Step 5: How to Jump Rope Toad
Now for the toad we’re doing everything we did before and simply add the final jump.
Remember to make sure your hands go all the way through your leg, try to twist your leg in a bit and try not to bend over.
Also, don’t drop your lifted leg to the ground too fast. Rather try to keep it up in the air, and on the last open jump try to land with both feet on the ground.
This trick is one of my personal favourites and in my opinion a must have in your freestyle arsenal!
I suggest you watch the video tutorial below closely, to really understand what’s happening, take a few minutes every session to practice your toad and you’ll get it very soon!
How to Jump Rope Toad Video:
Video summary:
- Step 1: Normal Cross 1:48
- Step 2: Mechanics 2:09
- Step 3: Toad (No jump) 3:14
- Step 4: Toad Single under open toe catch (Leg lifted) 03:50
- Step 5: Toad 4:25
Jump Rope Toad Pro Tips for Mastery
- Use a Lightweight Rope: This helps with control as you focus on technique.
- Break it Down: Practice the jump, arm, and rope motions separately before combining them.
- Record Yourself: Watching your movements can reveal timing or posture issues.
- Stay Relaxed: Tension in your body can disrupt the flow of the trick.
How to Incorporate the Toad into Freestyle
Once mastered, the jump rope toad can be combined with other tricks for freestyle routines:
- Alternate with standard crosses for variety.
- Transition into side swings or double unders for added flair.
- Use it as a highlight move in your combinations.
Final Thoughts
Learning the jump rope toad requires patience, but the payoff is worth it. With consistent practice and proper technique, you’ll soon add this stylish trick to your repertoire. Take it step by step, stay persistent, and enjoy the journey of mastering this fun skill.