[Onaipian]

Hey guys!

Really off-topic, but I'm having troubles with my high jump. I passed through the district meet and I am going to regionals in about 2 weeks. I jumped 131cm, which isn't great, but it got me 4th (the juniors never get too high). But anyways, the problem, is that I don't arch my back when I jump. My friend, and my coach both say that if I did, I could get way higher. But no matter what they tell me to do, I keep "sitting" in the air...

Arching itself isn't hard for me. I can bend backwards 'til I nearly touch the ground and then come back up... on the ground. I just can't do it in the air..

Does anybody have some tips on getting myself to arch my back? There must be some people that remember track and field from their high-school days..

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Well, never done athletics as such (other than those required in school) but I do know a thing or two on body control from martial arts.

Since you can arch your back standing, you need to figure out whats different when you are in the air. My bet would be your head position. When you jump, try hard to look over one of your shoulders or try "look at your neck", not possible, but it will bend your head in the right direction, and this would automatically bend your back backwards and over. Head position have a lot to say with regards to body position. Try look to your left when bicycling, and you will weer to the left, and so forth. If one turns the head enough, at some point the shoulders have to give and rotate with it, or it will snap. Same goes for your back / neck when you bend your heads backwards.

Hope this might help you

Regards

[Abydos]

Well, never done athletics as such (other than those required in school) but I do know a thing or two on body control from martial arts.

Since you can arch your back standing, you need to figure out whats different when you are in the air. My bet would be your head position. When you jump, try hard to look over one of your shoulders or try "look at your neck", not possible, but it will bend your head in the right direction, and this would automatically bend your back backwards and over. Head position have a lot to say with regards to body position. Try look to your left when bicycling, and you will weer to the left, and so forth. If one turns the head enough, at some point the shoulders have to give and rotate with it, or it will snap. Same goes for your back / neck when you bend your heads backwards.

Hope this might help you

Regards

[Onaipian]

Alright thanks.. I just got back from a practise and you are right.. I am trying to look at the bar as I go over it, and that makes my hips fall, collapsing my arch. But I just can't not look at it.

My coach said that my arch is better, but I need to lift my rear up. So I'm still back with the head thing, because I need the hips up and the head back..

Next time, I'm going to swing my arms more, and try looking at what's behind the mats.

My friend closes her eyes when she jumps, so that she doesn't try to look at it... I get too scared to do that..

Thanks though!

[Onaipian]

Alright. I've been working on my arch. (*My coach is getting really annoyed with it*)

But, even though I've improved my arch, I'm still not arching enough. I have 2-3 days practise before the next meet, and I really want to nail it with 140cm. I think I can get that, because coach says that my shoulders make it over easily and then the rest is just arch...

More tips, please?

[BHowett]

I don't really have any good tips other then keep trying, but I wanted to say good luck on your next meet

[Onaipian]

Thanks.

I just found out today, that I will be up against 13 other people! But I was up against 10 the last time, so this isn't bad.. My arch didn't get any better. But I made it through last time not arching.

I guess I'll try my best not to come in last. I think that not wanting to come in last is a good technique for me. It calms my nerves to know that my goal is easier if I think about it that way. I thought it like that last time and I made it through to the next one, so it must be a good way!

I'll let you guys know how it turns out!

[Troy]

You could try this technique instead... If it's not too late.

http://www.youtube.c...feature=related

[Onaipian]

Sorry, but it is too late...

I got crushed by the giants with long legs ... But, one of them finally got me to arch!!


Unfortunately, I came 17\22 anyway...

[Troy]

You're missing the important bits... What height did you jump? Did you do your best?

Great work on the arching! I miss my athletics days, it's great fun. My event was Triple Jump, so much fun. Other than that, I used to do okay in the long distance running, but I probably wouldn't do very well now!

*Troy needs to start exercising once again...

[Onaipian]

I got all nervous and hit 125cm... That's really bad.

I didn't really try my best. I felt like I was going to throw up, and I just wanted it to be over.


I love triple jump. I tried it out at districts and I'm not too bad! But I don't think I'm competing next year, because I will be in the next age group, and I want a year to get better before.