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Several years ago in the days before YouTube, there was a viral video of Ato Boldon (now on YouTube) 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) on YouTube, 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.
And finally, we have 6′ 1″ Jordan Kilganon breaking the Running Box Jump record (or is it world best?) of 73 inches on YouTube last month.
Note that Jordan is listed at 73 inches tall, and when he stands besides the box, he is about an inch taller than the 73 inches tape measure… because of his shoes. Just being picky here, not taking anything away from this incredible feat!
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 OVER 6 feet!
Disclaimer: please consult your coach before attempting these jumps higher than 36” or 1 meter.
Jimson Lee
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If I have a 1 metre high box, how many should I be doing and how often? Also should this be on a weights day?