| Now I know athletes over a range of sports are trying | | | | the body resulting in a higher vertical leap. This |
| to find new ways to add inches to their vertical. Every | | | | because the posterior chain consists of 3 major |
| athlete is and for some reason it has grown into | | | | muscles and 1 major muscle group; |
| athletes head's that their is some sort of "secret" | | | | -the lower back, |
| formula for learning how to increase vertical leap. Well I | | | | -hamstring, |
| am here to tell you there is no "secret" in raw | | | | -gluets and |
| mathematical formula vertical leap = strength x speed | | | | -calves. |
| or as I like to summarize it VL= St x Sp. | | | | These 4 areas are essential to develop when learning |
| Strength is the maximum amount of weight you can | | | | how to increase vertical leap. A bonus of also |
| squat in one rep this type of strength is known as limit | | | | developing the posterior chain is it helps to prevent |
| or absolute strength. Speed is how quickly you can get | | | | injury on landing and also helps the core muscles |
| muscles to react at maximum force. Now their is all | | | | maintain balance, stability and absorb shock through |
| the hype going around about plyometric or shock | | | | the body from the feet. |
| training in which the muscles are subject to reactive | | | | As athletes begin to learn how to increase vertical |
| and explosive strength which are both vital for when | | | | leap it is essential to get a personal trainer or workout |
| learning how to increase vertical leap. | | | | in the gym so a professional is able to critique and give |
| The main problem I see with many athletes is not the | | | | directions on proper techniques. If you don't you could |
| strength x speed ratio, but the jumping technique. I first | | | | possibly be decreasing your vertical leap and not |
| learned the correct jumping technique from a friend of | | | | increasing it and also causing sever damage to muscle |
| mine who does parkour (art of jumping off buildings | | | | tissue. When you are learning how to increase vertical |
| and over walls). One of the major problems I had with | | | | leap it's about quality not quantity. |
| my jumping technique was I would hardly bend my | | | | Last but not least my favorite hyped up subject I |
| knees to utilizing the spring like power in my legs. | | | | wanted to talk about related to the how to increase |
| Another problem many athletes have when learning | | | | vertical leap question is the slow twitch to fast twitch |
| how to increase vertical leap is they think that working | | | | muscle fibers ratio debate. Honestly I believe this is |
| only on their legs will give them insane gains. Yet again | | | | highly over-rated as to what really overall helps you |
| unfortunately athletes have been misinformed about | | | | increase vertical leap. I would suggest maybe, just |
| focusing on the calves as they are the most visual | | | | maybe spend 10% not even that of your effort and |
| muscle to show gains instead athletes should be | | | | thought about trying to convert slow twitch fibers to |
| focusing on the posterior chain when they are learning | | | | fast twitch fibers. When beginning to learn how to |
| how to increase vertical as this is what will help a | | | | increase vertical leap it is more beneficial to focus on |
| majority of athlete to make the most gains. (Not all | | | | these 3 categories of strength. Absolute, reactive and |
| athletes will benefit greatly from posterior chain training | | | | explosive strength. worry about fast twitch and slow |
| as every athlete is an individual). | | | | twitch muscle fibers when you get to a vertical of 40+ |
| The posterior chain is what allows an athlete to | | | | when focusing on those areas actually makes some |
| transfer the force applied from the ground, up through | | | | differences. |