The importance of jumps

Our ancestors were forced to jump over various obstacles when they were hunting or looking for food.  Jumps also appeared in the ancient Greeks’ dances. At the antiques competitive games jumping and landing on two feet, leaping and depth jumps were popular. Even at the ancient Olympic Games long-jump was part of the competitions. In the middle ages several versions and types of jumps were known and practiced. Nowadays at the Olympic Games jumps are as important as the other events. The different techniques of jumping are such forms of locomotion and movement which are naturally used and practised. Jumps that are used in athletics, for example, long and triple jump, high jump, pole vault consist of harmonising complicated movements. The essence of jumping is when an organism propels itself through the air along a ballistic trajectory. Athletes push themselves off a surface into the air or spring clear of the ground by a sudden effort as high as they can. Naturally it can be done if individuals are fit enough. The achievement of maximum height will depend on the power and speed of running as well as the increasing acceleration of jump. It is advantageous if the jumper has excellent running skills and abilities. When jumping our whole body is involved actively thus it is evident that these sports develop all our muscles proportionally, strength and agility proportionally. It is also a good means of developing mentally as athletes have to concentrate on many movements to finish their jump successfully (Koltai, 1975).