Getting Light?

[Solfire]

Hey guys, I was just wondering if there are some exercises to make you feel light. Light in the sense that you can jump and land quietly without having to put any effort behind "trying" to land quietly. Hahaha, it's an awkward question, but if you guys have any ideas, post it. XD

[Steve]

Wtf? Do squats and deadlifts for power, then lose weight.

[Solfire]

Yeah like, I'm not worried about weight. It's the muscle that feels heavy kind of thing. So when I'm jumping, I feel like there's a lot of weight in my legs weighing me down.

[Psychostick]

You don't have much leg strength and aren't used to jumping are the probably the main problems.

[chicanerous]

You're talking about your ability to absorb force.

Besides strengthening your muscles, actually practicing the skill will help -- these are called shock jumps. Step off a low platform and land on the balls of your feet, attempting to land as lightly as possible and absorb the force. They're usually used in conjunction with depth jumps to train your plyometric capability.

In your case, I wouldn't recommend these. It sounds like you need to strengthen your legs overall. Use squats and hip-dominant movements.

[TETSUJINX3]

yo man you need to do plyometrics when you finish a session of sqaut jumps with ankle weights then take them off it feels like your legs are so light .
I would advise you to try a plyometric routine about 2-3 tiems a week.The great thing is you only need to do plyometric excercises for like 10-15 mins per day and you will yeild great results .Try them with ankle weights I add about 5-7 kgs of weight to each leg

[chicanerous]

Don't use ankle weights. Increase the height you step off of to increase the intensity of the exercise.

A normal starting box height is about 12". Research suggests that about 18" is optimal for a low occurence of injury vs. effectiveness.

Plyometrics are very hard on the joints and should be used sparingly or in 1-2 short 4-6 week blocks within the year. Their efficacy is quickly maximized.

[Psychostick]

Beat me to it.

Edit: I'm going to expand on it, he only needs to start doing plyometrics once he has some actual leg strength.

[Steve]

Yeah like, I'm not worried about weight. It's the muscle that feels heavy kind of thing. So when I'm jumping, I feel like there's a lot of weight in my legs weighing me down.

Well I think the problem is you have no idea what the fuck you're talking about.

[anfeyd]

http://www.higher-faster-sports.com/reactiveability.html

[compleks]

haha, Ninja in training.

[Ashtar]

Ankle weights warm my cold ankles up.

[notregan]

Hey guys, I was just wondering if there are some exercises to make you feel light. Light in the sense that you can jump and land quietly without having to put any effort behind "trying" to land quietly. Hahaha, it's an awkward question, but if you guys have any ideas, post it. XD

Why don't you want to put in effort?

Anyway, strength and technique. Do plyometrics, like squat jumps and bounding (not depth jumps), and put some effort into landing to absorb the shock. Pointing your toes helps a ton.

[Solfire]

No effort in the sense that I remember just having legs that felt like a day with ankle weights on. That's what I'm trying to go for.

[chicanerous]

No effort in the sense that I remember just having legs that felt like a day with ankle weights on. That's what I'm trying to go for.
That's not realistic. The sensation of lightness is largely psychological and only part physiological, resulting from having activated an increased number of motor units.

You can temporarily simulate the feeling by pulling a maximum deadlift, clean, snatch, or doing a walk-out over your squat maximum and then immediately performing a jump.

Same type of thing as described here: http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=635888

[Steve]

Sometimes I feel pretty light, like I went to the coast a few days ago and jumped over a fence, haha. It was like a video game or something.

[Kitosho]

It's a neuromuscular thing. Practice jumping more. Also, squats and deadlifts. Also, eat a tablespoon of pure lye every day.

[OhDuKwon]

Take a crap...

[DeeJay]

Sometimes I feel pretty light, like I went to the coast a few days ago and jumped over a fence, haha. It was like a video game or something.

Once on a night on the town I jumped up a wall that was 6ft high to say hello to a friend.

[Lobo]

Why don't you want to put in effort?
Because effort is hard, Regan.

[Solfire]

Because effort is hard, Regan.

Well said. :juji:

[Jimnast]

Do lots of skipping, makes you feel light on your feet.

[NightHunter]

Or shin splints and calf overdevelopment. To each their own.