7 Jump Rope HIIT Workouts – Maximum Results in Minimum Time

Bored with your regular jump rope routine? Let’s talk about high-intensity interval training, also known as HIIT.

As the name implies HIIT workouts are done in intervals and alternate between bouts of intense anaerobic exercise with periods of rest or recovery. Although sprints are one of the most popular forms of interval training, HIIT can be done with any kind of movement, including jump rope.

When we talk about high intensity, we usually mean max effort or giving your fastest performance possible; during the period of work athletes tend to go as fast, and for as many reps, as possible. Due to all-out effort, HIIT is done in shorter time period and usually lasts no longer than 20 minutes. If you really give your best, you are pretty much done after a few intervals.

What are some of the benefits of HIIT workouts?

HIIT has been praised among fitness enthusiasts for its fat shredding effects. It can boost our metabolism and burns maximum amount of calories in minimum time. Of course, we all know the fat burning benefits start and end in the kitchen.

Endurance athletes have long been using interval training to implement anaerobic training into their conditioning routines. HIIT helps them develop speed and strength endurance they need for long distance events.

Some people find HIIT training more interesting as exercises, length and challenges vary with each workout. Low pace aerobic activities take time and consistent tempo, while HIIT workouts spice things up.

Lastly, HIIT takes less time than all other workouts and fits well into a busy schedule. Career focused business peeps that care about their fitness love using it as their morning workout routine: HIIT can be done quickly, and efficiently, before going to work.

How to start with HIIT workouts?

First, leave your comfort zone at home. The goal of interval training is to hit you hard and push you to your limits. Well, kind off.

Although HIIT training should be intense, put common sense first. At all times, form and proper movement are important. So if you are a beginner or someone who has just started to learn about functional fitness, slow down your pace and focus more on execution of the exercises.

If you need some ideas on how to start, we came up with a few jump rope HIIT workouts you can tackle on at home, on your garden, at the gym or at even the nearby park.

Test your skipping skills: 7 jump rope HIIT workouts

Jump rope is a great conditioning tool and a perfect movement to begin with and progressively train your body for more demanding, and higher intensity, workouts.

Trying out my new rope from my sponsor @velitessport #crossfit #crossfitopen #17.5 #velitessport

A post shared by Helena "SKY" Falk (@helena.falk) on Mar 24, 2017 at 7:57am PDT

1. Jump rope Tabata

A very basic HIIT training with a jump rope would be a tabata style workout. Tabata was invented by a Japanese physician and researcher Dr. Izumi Tabata who was examining the effects of a 4-minute interval based training, done in 8 rounds of 20 seconds of work and 10 seconds of rest.

Jump rope Tabata: beginners
8 intervals of:
20 seconds: single-unders
10 seconds: rest

Jump rope Tabata: intermediate
8 intervals with each leg:
20 seconds: one legged single-unders
10 seconds: rest

Jump rope Tabata: advanced
8 intervals of:
20 seconds: double-unders
10 seconds: rest
Every time you broke a set of DUs, perform one burpee.  

2. Jump rope & Sprints

For decades sprinting has been the most popular form of interval training. Sprint is maximum effort running, performed at the highest speed possible. That said, if you are a beginner whose body is just getting adjusted to training, skip the sprinting and perform fast running or uphill walking instead.

5 intervals of max effort:
50 double-unders
Sprint until failure
rest: 3 minutes

For beginners: 30 single-unders and 200 meters of fast running.

3. Jump rope & Burpees

Running can be easily swapped for other exercises. Burpees are easy to learn and simple to perform but can get pretty challenging when put into a jump rope HIIT workout.

7 intervals of:
10 burpees
30 double-unders or backwards skipping  
rest: 1 minute

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Those kinds of jump rope HIIT workouts can be easily modified. For example, do less burpees and perform 20 single-unders only.

4. Jump rope & Weights: the legs burner

Jump rope is a great addition to interval training. But so are the weights or various weightlifting exercises. Perform 5 intervals and take 2 minutes of rest between each set.

5 intervals of:
10 alt lunges (60/35 kg)
5 back squats (60/35 kg)
10 back squat jumps (empty barbell or body weight only)
50 double- or single-unders.
Rest for 2 minutes

Scale the workout if needed. Increase or decrease the weight, and choose the form of skipping which challenges you.

5. Jump rope & Weights: the arms burner

The beauty of jump rope is that arms have to work equally as legs in order to perform the movement correctly. In most cases the smaller muscle groups, arms in this case, will burn out way before the legs. The following jump rope HIIT workout will even initiate that.

5 intervals of:
18 push ups (or handstand push ups, but do them strict)
15 pull ups
12 shoulder presses
70 double-unders
Rest 3 minutes.

For beginners:
5 intervals of:
18 wall or knee supported push ups
15 ring rows (legs on the ground)
12 shoulder presses
40 single-unders
Rest 3 minutes.

6. Jump rope & Intensity

Jump rope can be paired up with similar movements, such as different forms of skipping and jumping, for example jumping jacks, burpees, broad and box jumps…

Here’s an awesome no-equipment AMRAP workout you can do absolutely anywhere in partnership with one of my favorite protein sources, @allwhites_eggwhites! 💥 Here’s what you’re going to do: set a timer to count down from 12 minutes, then complete as many rounds as possible before the timer beeps: 10 candlestick jump ups 10 push up in/outs 10 burpee lateral jumps 20 jump lunges 10 superman raises 10 split leg v up combo Work as hard as you can! 🔥 #sponsored #workoutanywhere #HIIT #12minuteathlete

A post shared by Krista Stryker (@12minuteathlete) on Apr 11, 2017 at 6:15pm PDT

While it might feel like the workout is a leg burner, your lungs will actually suffer the most.

6 intervals of:
70 jump rope double-unders
10 box jumps
10 broad jumps
10 burpees over the bar or box
Rest: 1 minute

For beginners: 
6 intervals of:
50 jump rope single-unders
10 (lower) box jumps
10 broad jumps
10 burpees and step overs the box
Rest: 2 minutes

7. Jump rope only HIIT workout

The following jump rope HIIT routine is appropriate for anyone who enjoys intense workouts which demand coordination, speed and some skipping rope skills.

Comba #velites de competición #vrope Fire 2.0. He comenzado hace tres días con ella y, por fin, ya he dado más de 100 saltos seguidos. Pretendo llegar a 1000. #nevergiveup #dontstop #followyourheart #spartanrace #findeperfecto

A post shared by Miguel Romero (@one_further) on Mar 5, 2017 at 1:10pm PST

All movements are done with a jump rope.
10 intervals of:
20 single-unders
10 one legged jumps: left
10 one legged jumps: right
20 alternating leg jumps
20 double-unders
Rest: 1 minute

Workouts with a jump rope can be performed practically anywhere and at any time. Leave your excuses, and your comfort zone, behind and try one of our workouts. Try to improve your jump rope HIIT results.