Cheer Skill Review: How To Perform A Pike Jump

Cheerleading jumps are a basic skill, but they are mandatory for all levels of cheerleading. Jumps are a feature of sideline and elite choreography, and a requirement for most cheerleading tryout routines! Jumps function as a crowd-pleasing move, but they also teach you valuable techniques that will help you pick up advanced moves and choreography at a faster pace. It’s important for a cheerleader to master jump entry before moving on to the full jump. Performing the basic entry steps in repetition will help your body build muscle memory so that the movements needed for jumps become like second nature. Don’t forget to stretch and warm up! How To Perform A Pike Jump for Cheerleading Click above to view larger image Start your jump entry with your feet together, your arms straight down on your side and your hands in fists. Clap your hands and then put your arms into a High V position, and come up onto your toes. Swing your arms down while bending your knees and lowering yourself into a squat. You want to help build momentum for your jump, so put a little power into this move! From your squatting position, you will swing your arms up and use your legs to launch yourself into the air. Once in the air, pull your legs up straight out in front of you at a 90 degree angle, bringing them up to your chest as high as you can. At the same time, lean your upper body forward and reach for your pointed toes, keeping your arms straight. Try to keep your legs and arms parallel to the ground during your jump. Be sure to point your toes! Your legs should be together when your feet hit the ground, and you should bend your knees to absorb the shock. As you are landing, you’ll also start pulling your arms down. After your feet hit the ground and you straighten your legs, you’ll bring your arms straight down by your side, keeping your hands in fists. *While executing these each of these steps, make sure they are down quickly and consecutively of each other, so your jump will be one continual, smooth and powerful motion.