Read about the many health benefits of jumping rope from the following interview with Punk Rope founder and exercise innovator, Tim Haft!

Tim Haft is an ACE-certified personal trainer, USA Track & Field coach, and member of USA Jump Rope and the NYC Coalition for Food and Fitness. After years of providing one-on-one training, Tim wanted to reach a larger audience so creating a group class seemed to be the logical next step.. In 2024, Punk Rope, a unique blend of recess and boot camp, was born. The class is offered at two New York City YMCAs as well as at community centers around the nation.

Q: Why rope-jumping?

A: The fitness benefits for the time invested are unparalleled. Benefits include increased aerobic capacity, increased bone density (important for avoiding osteoporosis), improved body composition (burns an awful lot of calories!), a total body workout (upper and lower body), improved coordination, timing, and rhythm. Plus, rope jumping can be challenging for both the beginner and the competitive athlete. In addition, the risk of injury when compared to an activity like running is much less since jumpers only leave the ground by a few inches and generally land on both feet which helps to absorb shock. Rope jumping is also very efficient - you don't need a great deal of time to get significant benefits. Additionally, it is very inexpensive and portable most importantly, it's fun! What makes rope jumping really unique is that you can do it individually, in pairs, and in groups. There is a misperception that rope jumping is just for little kids or professional boxers, but we're doing our best to educate the public that it's really for everybody.

Q: What if I'm not too fit or good at jump-roping? Will I be able to do it?

A: We give a handout to every new student so that people know what to expect. The first thing is that people shouldn't be hard on themselves when they try a new activity. The most important thing is to have fun. With every new activity there is a learning curve, but with rope jumping, it's usually not too steep. The basics can be learned in just a few sessions.

To contact Tim Haft, you can email him at tim@punkrope.com, or visit www.punkrope.com for more information.

Read more from Tim Haft by clicking the links below:

• Punk Rope
• More Punk Rope!

Harlem Word is a series of interviews with Harlem health experts, written and reviewed by our Health Advisory Board.