Are Jumping Jacks Good Cardio?

[ColoSpgs]

Considering how bad the weather has been in Colorado this year, I have been doing a lot of indoor cardio oer the last few months, including jumping jacks. Typically I'll do 1,000 jumping jacks and suprsetting with sets of 25 crunches.

My question is whether any of you find jumping jacks beneficial, or if I'm just wasting my time... They seem to be an alright workout, but I'd really like to hear everyone's opinion.

Thanks!!!

 

[Revok]

Nnno. Jumping jacks barely qualify as a warmup in my book. Ever tried complexes? Jump rope? Burpees? DB swings? Heavy bag rounds? Wrestling a sandbag? Those should be your shitty weather exercises.

 

[Standard]

I would listen to revok, jumping jacks do nothing for me either and i get winded eating lunch

 

[Leviathan333]

It's a good warmup..

 

[Maluco]

It's not bad, but I find jumping ropes better.

 

[Jubacat]

Do burpees, not jumping-jacks.

 

[Centaur]

One of Ross' workouts have JJ's at the end of a 4 part circuit (after 15 burpees). I think it's more for time and footwork/coordination then for actual conditioning.

 

[AZ BJJ]

Jumping jacks aren't bad for warming up or cooling down, but definitely not as a workout in and of itself. We used to do these before PT in the military, as a warm-up, but that was it. I think you're wasting your time with 1,000. I wouldn't do over 50-75 for a warm-up or cool-down either.

 

[Bamaispriceless]

Burpees, jumping rope, rowing machine, bodyweight circuit, weight circuit, complexes, high rep oly lifts (snatches/swings/cleans/etc) arw a much better indoor conditioning option.

 

[deadlyshaolin]

Jumping jacks (the REALLY fast kind) warm me up faster than jogging does or pretty much anything else.

 

[Brian Tellis]

no jumpin jacks are not good cardio

 

[Deioces]

what are burpees?

 

[kwmma]

Ross Enamait said himself in a thread about JJs that they are what you make of them. He says they can be good cardio if you do them quickly and with some challenge. Ross does them in his cardio routine, and what Ross does, I trust.

I think they are AWESOME to throw in a circuit, but don't just do them straight.

Try this circuit that incorporates jumping jacks. Do six times and rest 1 min between circuits. Remember, use your arms when you do jumping jacks, and go fast for more of a cardio impact.

30 Secs. squat thrusts
30 secs. jump jacks
30 secs. mountain climbers
20 secs. jump squats

 

[PussInBoots]

what are burpees?

think a squat thrust (the things they used to make you do in gym class) but instead of just standing up jumping and tucking your legs.

 

[JesySpringield]

do them fast and add in some head-shoulders-knees and toes in set of 10. youl have a decent warm up and decent cardio before you start too train, and some head too toes make your legs flexable with out even trying......in the long run

 

[skza]

add them to the end of a circuit.

 

[greyberry]

Are you talking about Star jumps..?

the only jumping jacks I know you squat then jump up bring your knees to your chest then put your legs down and repeat....

 

[U.S. Soldier]

They are a good warm up

 

[greyberry]

think a squat thrust (the things they used to make you do in gym class) but instead of just standing up jumping and tucking your legs.

Thats what we call a jumping jack in Tasmania... Strange

 

[Tre_me]

think a squat thrust (the things they used to make you do in gym class) but instead of just standing up jumping and tucking your legs.

thats not a burpee. A burpee goes like this-
-Start in a squated position
-slide your legs back into a pushup position
-do one
-go back into a squated position
-jump
-repeat

(do this in one motion pretty much)