Tuck, Pike and Straddle Jumps
How to Perform the Three Basic Shapes on a Trampoline
© Kim Ford
Jul 13, 2009
Once a beginner has mastered bouncing and stopping they will be keen to start learning new skills. The first skills to be taught are the tucks, pikes and straddles. While a tuck or pike is most common, the three body shapes form the basis of all of the advanced moves a top trampolinist can perform. Somersaults can be tucked, piked or straight and front and back drops can be tucked or piked.
Often the participant will be shown the basic shapes while sitting or lying on the floor before trying to recreate them once on the trampoline. This makes it easier to understand the shape they are trying to achieve.
Tuck Jumps
A tuck jump requires the trampolinist to bring both knees to the chest and to touch the shins with each respective hand. The move is completed at the top of the bounce and the knees and feet are kept close together with the toes pointed.
At first the participant may only be able to raise their knees slightly but with practice they will be able to bring their knees higher. Many people tend to drop their shoulders in an attempt to achieve the ball shape but this will lead to problems later on. It is important to keep the shoulders lifted and bring the legs up to the chest.
Once the basic tuck jump can be performed it can be tidied up by involving the arms in a stretch-touch-stretch motion. The arms will reach upwards during the upwards bounce, the first ‘stretch’. As the knees come up to the chest the hands will quickly move downwards to ‘touch’ the knees before ‘stretching’ upwards again with the downwards movement of the bounce. This is a very fast exchange and often takes a little practice to get the timings right. Once this arm movement has been perfected it should also be applied to straddle and pike jumps.
Straddle Jumps
A straddle jump is best learnt whilst the participant is sitting on the floor. The legs are opened to at least a 90° angle, more if the participant is flexible, and toes pointed. The hands then reach towards the toes and the back is kept straight. Once on the trampoline the participant will recreate the shape at the top of their bounce.
The participant should make an effort to maintain their balance during their take off and landing as the momentum of lifting the legs both upwards and forwards can cause a few wobbles.
Pike Jumps
The pike jump is also best learnt on the floor before attempting on the trampoline. This time the participant will sit with the legs straight out in front and their toes pointed. The hands should slide as far as they can down the shins to produce an angle of 90° or less between the legs and body.
When recreating the shape in the air the trampolinist should remember to lift their legs upwards rather than allowing their upper body to drop resulting in a downwards pointing pike jump. As with the straddle jump, balance is the key when perfecting this move.
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