Several years ago in the days before YouTube, there was a viral video of Ato Boldon doing a 60 inch or 1.50m box jump (approximately). Obviously, people confused this with the vertical jump or vertical leap test, but it is a good indication of explosiveness. And bravery.
I am a firm believer in plyometrics, and I will choose plyos over weight training any day. Tom Tellez, Carl Lewis and Daley Thompson all share the same sentiments. Of course, you should try to incorporate BOTH in your training routine.
I came across Dwain Chambers doing a 68 inch box jump (approximately), and this was jumping onto those flimsy plastic “Aerobic Step” steps. Dwain is 5 feet 11 inches or 1.80 meters tall, and you can see in the video the relative height when he stands next to it.
The video was taken sideways from an amateur digital camera, but you get the idea.
As Charlie Francis would say, it’s better to jump 7 feet once, than to do 7 one-foot jumps. In this case, it’s almost 6 feet!
Disclaimer: please consult your coach before attempting these jumps higher than 36” or 1 meter.
Dwain Chambers Box Jump on YouTube
Ato Boldon Box Jump on YouTube
Jimson Lee
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Justin Darlington setting a World Best 68.5 inches box jump at Claude Robillard Centre in Montreal, Quebec:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvqs7-0QeZI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp3gFmA1EUs