Jump Rope

Go on vacation and come back in better shape than when you left? It happened to me last year when I went to northern Spain -- with a jump-rope. Packing more luggage-friendly fitness-per-ounce than any other exercise, skipping rope obliterates calories, rocks your heart rate and does wonders for your agility, posture, balance, reflexes and upper-to-lower body coordination.

Margaret O'Brien  was the reigning child star on the MGM lot in the 1940s. Diminutive and adorable with big brown eyes and the ability to cry at the drop of a hat, she received acclaim at age 5 as an orphan in 1942's "Journey for Margaret" and later received a juvenile Oscar for her performance as the spirited Tootie, the baby sister of Esther (Judy Garland), in Vincente Minnelli's beloved 1944 Technicolor musical "Meet Me in St. Louis. " FOR THE RECORD: Margaret O'Brien: An interview with Margaret O'Brien in the July 25 Calendar section said that the actress makes her home in Westlake.

Although the participants were a little young for romance, it was still a Valentine's Day dedicated to the heart at Noble Avenue School. About 1,000 students from the North Hills elementary school participated Friday in the American Heart Assn.'s "Jump Rope for Heart" fund-raiser, an event geared toward physical rather than emotional fitness.

Apparently nothing can distract the Oklahoma City Thunder from its goal of winning an NBA title, not even supermodel Kate Upton. In a new ad for headphones, Upton follows Harden and Durant during "bring a supermodel to work day" as they shoot, jump rope and get attention from a trainer while she plagues them with annoying questions. As they shoot, Upton says, "How long are we going to be here?" While they jump rope, she asks, "Are you guys racing?" The Thunder players don't  bat an eye as she strolls around in a tight orange blouse, a purple skirt and black stilettos, showing off their steely postseason focus.

Someone told me that jumping rope is the best cardio exercise you can do -- and that it burns more calories than even running. I started jumping rope, but could do it only for a few minutes before I had to stop. Can you give me any suggestions for doing it more effectively, and for building my stamina so I can do it for a longer period of time? Amy Venice Beach Jumping rope is an outstanding cardiovascular activity and, because it's portable, can be done almost anywhere.

Children jumping rope--in pairs, in groups or by themselves--filled the playground at Lupin Hill Elementary School on Monday. Pupils exercised as part of "Jump Rope for Heart," which raises money for the American Heart Assn. The festive scene included thumping music and balloons as 830 students took turns jumping for as long as 30 minutes at a time. Participants got sponsors to donate funds.

Ben Lopez, 32, has a simple game plan for creating understanding between African American and Latino youths. He wants them to play. Lopez--a security director for a tony fashion boutique and graduate of the Riordan Volunteer Leadership Development Program--has developed a special jump-roping project for black and Latino elementary schoolchildren in the Watts area.

One of the world's best exercise devices costs less than $15, fits in your briefcase and is easy enough for a child to use. In fact, jump ropes have long been considered "kid stuff"--but that's changing. Professional athletes in a variety of sports, particularly tennis and basketball, are adding rope jumping to their training for the same reason boxers have "skipped it" for years.

"Our mission," says Jim McCleary, "is to promote physical fitness, not to jump fancy." McCleary is delivering a prepractice pep talk to about 20 members of Kangaroo Kids, a precision jump-rope team he has coached since 1983. His fitness message rings a little off-key. The team members, ranging in age from 9 to 20, are in undeniably good shape (and should be because most practice at least four days a week virtually year-round).

It's before sunrise at Gold's Gym in Hollywood and there's an unusual sound coming from the second floor -- a rhythmic tap, tap, tap. Inside a glass-walled workout room, half a dozen people are jumping rope. I am one of them. And let's just say "tired" has a new name. Amid the high-tech gadgetry of urban fitness, some people still prefer simplicity. The jump rope, companion to schoolyard youngsters and pro boxers alike, provides one of the best cardiovascular workouts going.

You don't need a gym or pricey fitness machines to get a great workout. Here Jackie Warner (www.jackiewarner.com), star of Bravo's fitness reality show "Work Out," and author of the new book "10 Pounds in 10 Days," demonstrates a close-to-wide squat. All you need is a flat surface and some way to demark a circle. A jump rope works just fine. Why you should do it: "It really focuses on the glute - that's the butt - big time," Warner says. What to do: Place the jump rope in a circle around you. Stand within the circle, hands clasped together at chest level, squat down to sitting position, then jump up. Land with your legs now outside of the circle, lowering into a squat again.

The Valentine's Day Google Doodle is pure sweetness. A one-minute animation, drawn with childlike innocence, it depicts a little boy trying to figure out what to get for his heart's desire - a little girl who jumps rope. He buys her flowers, and chocolates (via Google, of course), but she pays no attention. He tries clothes, and balloons, a pie and a television, a top hat, an old-fashioned submarine helmet, and still she continues to jump rope, oblivious to his overtures. As a last-ditch effort he walks over to her with his own jump rope clutched in his hands and starts to jump rope alongside her. And then -- she stops jumping.

It's still two weeks to Christmas, and there are those among us who have already finished their holiday shopping. Admirable people. Enviable people. But suppose, just suppose, you're not one of them. Right about now, you might be in dire need of some cool stuff for the stockings on your list. Well, fear not. Piece of cake. (And not some dry, tasteless piece of fruit cake either.) You can find something for everyone at your neighborhood drugstore - something not just inexpensive but healthful to boot.

Someone told me that jumping rope is the best cardio exercise you can do -- and that it burns more calories than even running. I started jumping rope, but could do it only for a few minutes before I had to stop. Can you give me any suggestions for doing it more effectively, and for building my stamina so I can do it for a longer period of time? Amy Venice Beach Jumping rope is an outstanding cardiovascular activity and, because it's portable, can be done almost anywhere.

I enjoyed the article about the varieties of jump-ropes available ["Gear: Have Jump-Rope, Will Travel," Oct. 22]. Our local jump-rope team, the Palpitating Panthers, has traveled to the AAU Junior Olympic Games and the USAJRF Nationals for Jump Rope competitions. It has been in existence for 17 years. Based in La Canada, we currently have 16 team members ranging in age from 7 to 16. Jumping rope is indeed an amazing way to keep fit. Our team works hard to increase speed and power.

Go on vacation and come back in better shape than when you left? It happened to me last year when I went to northern Spain -- with a jump-rope. Packing more luggage-friendly fitness-per-ounce than any other exercise, skipping rope obliterates calories, rocks your heart rate and does wonders for your agility, posture, balance, reflexes and upper-to-lower body coordination.

Don't be intimidated by boxers and 8-year-old girls. Skipping rope is a great calorie burner, cardiovascular workout and body toner that anyone can do by following two rules: Vary your jumps often to prevent muscle fatigue, and know the ropes. Light or heavy, fast or slow, one of the four below should suit your needs. * Handles weights too Harbinger 2-Pound Weighted Rope: Hollow, plastic handles each hold up to 1 pound of steel weights.

Fourth-grader Angela Gallagher had just finished her jump-rope routine for a downtown lunch crowd on Courthouse Square in a swirl of legs, arms and rope that could have passed for a martial-arts demonstration. "Oh, that's just double-unders and crisscrosses," she said matter-of-factly, not noticing that her audience was a bit stunned.

"Our mission," says Jim McCleary, "is to promote physical fitness, not to jump fancy." McCleary is delivering a prepractice pep talk to about 20 members of Kangaroo Kids, a precision jump-rope team he has coached since 1983. His fitness message rings a little off-key. The team members, ranging in age from 9 to 20, are in undeniably good shape (and should be because most practice at least four days a week virtually year-round).

Don't be intimidated by boxers and 8-year-old girls. Skipping rope is a great calorie burner, cardiovascular workout and body toner that anyone can do by following two rules: Vary your jumps often to prevent muscle fatigue, and know the ropes. Light or heavy, fast or slow, one of the four below should suit your needs. * Handles weights too Harbinger 2-Pound Weighted Rope: Hollow, plastic handles each hold up to 1 pound of steel weights.