This Coach Wants You To Finally Give Jumping Rope A Try!

Jumping rope—a lot of us shy away from it from fear of appearing uncoordinated, or some even consider it a kiddie activity. But did you know that jumping rope is one of the easiest, most efficient workouts you can do today? Apart from being cost-efficient (you will simply have to invest in a good quality rope), you reap a host of health benefits too. 

To help us understand more, we spoke to Aira Franco-Capistrano, a Filipina jump rope coach, about how she got into it, the must-not-miss benefits of this workout, and why you too should finally give it a try! 

Metro.Style (MS): Tell us about how you got into coaching jump rope. How long have you been into this, what got you into it, and what makes this practice so special? 

Aira Franco-Capistrano (AFC): I started jumping in May 2020 because of home sickness. I got “stuck” in Vietnam when the borders closed due to the pandemic, and going to the gym and running alone were becoming too monotonous. Influenced by a friend who lost so much weight due to jumping, I decided to give it a try and got hooked. Learning this new skill gave me a few hours daily of pure concentration and disconnect from wanting to go back to Manila. Being able to do such a high impact activity was also a feat for me, as I never thought that being in my late 30s will allow me to have the strength and patience for it. 

I know that the Lord has allowed me to get better in jumprope for a purpose, and I felt that it was to share my love and passion for it.

I decided to start coaching in August 2021 because many people were inquiring about it. I know that the Lord has allowed me to get better in jumprope for a purpose, and I felt that it was to share my love and passion for it. So I thought, “Won’t coaching be the best way to share these blessings?” I haven’t stopped coaching since. 

MS: Most of us think of jumping rope as a kiddie activity. What can you say about how your practice of jump rope is different, and how can adults benefit from it? 

AFC: I used to think that jumprope was literally just bouncing up and down with a rope, until I got hooked and I discovered that there are so many more fun and challenging ways to “jump the rope”. The particular style I really enjoy is one that incorporates dance, so I do a lot of sequences to different musical genres (I have even used classical music!) I love doing combinations of different jumprope styles but more than focusing on speed and difficulty, I am very particular about making them look graceful. 

Jumprope is an efficient cardio workout, which can improve coordination, agility, and overall heart and body strength. All you need is a rope and 10-15 minutes of your day and you will get a significant amount of calorie burn (10-16 calories per minute.) It’s also cheap and accessible. No need for expensive gear or gym memberships, as you can literally jump anywhere.

Personally, I encourage everyone to try jumping because of what it does to your mind. Not only is it fun but it also allows an escape from “reality” as learning jump skills requires a lot of focus. It’s the best kind of “me time”, which also comes with so many physical benefits. 

MS: Are there different ways of doing jump rope? What do you call the techniques?  

AFC: There are various ways to use the jumprope—power skills, wraps and releases, freestyle, footwork, speed, and multiples. 

MS: You do one-on-one coaching. How can one avail of your services? Can you describe what a typical coaching session is like? How much are your services? 

AFC: Yes! Just DM me on Instagram to schedule online coaching or face-to-face, while I’m still here in Manila. A session is customized to the current skill set and jumprope goals of the student. It usually starts with a review of fundamental tricks to ensure that she/he has mastered the basics, as this is very important to build progression. For more experienced jumpers, I usually make a routine for the student to do and we break it down, trick by trick, during the session. Aside from the tricks and routine, I also teach the student different drills to do so she/he can become more comfortable with the new tricks. 

One hour of coaching is P600 and comes with trick tutorials, which I send after the session. 

MS: Is there a special type of jump rope that you use? What are the different kinds? Is there a specific type of training shoes one should use? 

AFC: There are three kinds of ropes that I use in daily rotation - the beaded rope, PVC, and 4mm PVC. There are also weighted ropes available, which I don’t use often, but can be used by those whose goal include strength training.

The beaded rope, which is heavier and slower, is what I use when I’m trying to learn new tricks and routines. Because of its weight, it allows me to control the rope more. The PVC rope is lighter and faster. This I use when I’m doing double unders and footwork. Lastly, I use my lightest and fastest rope —the 4mm PVC rope when I do triples.

Any running shoes are okay for jumprope. But, given that I’m already 40, I need extra cushion for my knees and for ankle support. Among all brands I’ve tried, what works for me is the HOKA brand.

MS:  Any other advice/words of wisdom you'd like to share?

AFC: “You’ll never know unless you try” So try. Get that rope and try. Most people would say “oh, I’m too heavy”, “I’m too old”, “I’m not coordinated”. I was all that but I tried. So should you. 

For inquiries, follow Aira on Instagram @airajumps