
Chinese jump rope, also known as French skipping, jumpsies, or double Dutch skipping, is a simple game played around the world. It is played with a minimum of three players and a rope that is approximately 16 feet (5 m) in length tied into a circle. The two ends of the rope are held by the holders, who stand facing each other with the rope looped around their ankles. The third player, the jumper, stands between the holders and jumps over the rope, attempting to complete a series of increasingly difficult moves without making an error. The basic moves include In, where the jumper's feet land inside the rope, and Out, where the jumper's feet land on one side of the rope. The game can be made more challenging by raising the rope higher or having the holders stand on one foot to narrow the space between them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of game | Simple game with infinite variations and ways to play |
| Rope | Loop made of rubber or stretchy material, around 16 feet (5 m) in length |
| Number of players | Minimum of 3 players, 2 holders and 1 jumper |
| Holder's stance | Face each other, feet shoulder-width apart, inch back to make the rope taut |
| Jumper's moves | In, Out, Right, Left, On, Turn, Straddle |
| Pattern | Chanted by holders and jumper, can be simple or advanced |
| Difficulty | Raise the rope after each successful pattern, make the inner rope area smaller |
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What You'll Learn

Basic moves: 'In', 'Out', 'Right', 'Left', 'On'
Chinese jump rope, also known as French skipping, is a simple game that originated in 7th-century China and is now played all over the world. It is typically played in a group of at least three players with a rope that is approximately 16 feet (5 m) in length tied into a circle.
The basic moves of the game are as follows:
In
The jumper's feet land inside the rope.
Out
The jumper's feet land on one side of the rope. This move may also be thought of as "straddling".
Right
The jumper's right foot lands inside the rope.
Left
The jumper's left foot lands inside the rope.
On
The jumper's feet land on the rope.
These basic moves can be combined in any order or combination to create more complex jump patterns. The jumper must perform the designated series of moves without making an error or pausing. The other participants chant the names of the moves ("In", "Out", "Right", "Left", "On") as the jumper executes them.
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Choose a pattern
Chinese jump rope is a simple game with infinite variations and ways to play. The rope stays still while the players jump over it. The basic moves include "In", where the jumper's feet land inside the rope; "Out", where the jumper's feet land on one side of the rope; "Right", where the jumper's right foot lands inside the rope; "Left", where the jumper's left foot lands inside the rope; "On", where the jumper's feet land on the rope; "Turn", where the jumper spins in mid-air to face the opposite direction; and "Straddle", where the jumper's feet land on either side of the rope.
To play, you will need to come up with a pattern for the holders to call out as the jumper jumps. The pattern can be as short or as long as you want, but keep in mind that the longer the pattern, the more difficult it will be. You can make up your own jump patterns and chants, or try the classics. Start simple, with hopscotch-type jump patterns. Some sample patterns include Out, on the rope, go to the right, in, out, on the rope, go to the left, then in. You can also raise the rope higher if the jumper completes the pattern without touching it. Then, the jumper must complete the same pattern at this new height. Keep raising the rope until the jumper touches it or makes a mistake. Start out with the rope around the holders' ankles, then move it up to their knees, and then their waists.
Some other moves involve manipulating the rope. A "pull" is when the jumper carries a side of the rope with their foot or feet, generally crossing it over the other side. Crossing the ropes with one's legs in between them is "diamonds". One of these moves, called "scissors", is executed by starting with both feet outside the rope and then crossing the legs, with the ropes in tow, so that a formation resembling a pair of scissors is formed. Sometimes the rope is crisscrossed so that it makes an X, and the player must move their feet into different sections of the X in some pattern. Instead of simply raising the rope, some players create a procession of "levels", similar to a video game, that the player must complete before winning the game. These levels often have specific names, such as the "roller coaster", which is a crisscrossed rope that is higher at one end than the other. There is a pattern known as American and one known as the Name Game.
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Chant the pattern
Chanting the pattern is an important part of the Chinese jump rope game. This is sometimes called the "first level". The jumper tries to complete the chosen pattern, and the holders and the jumper chant the pattern together while the jumper jumps. The chant helps the jumper keep track of their progress and maintain their rhythm as they jump.
The chant can be as simple or as complex as desired, but the longer and more intricate the pattern, the more challenging it will be for the jumper to complete. Basic moves include "In" (both feet inside the rope), "Out" (both feet outside the rope), "Right" (right foot inside), "Left" (left foot inside), "On" (both feet on the rope), "Turn" (spin in mid-air to face the opposite direction), and "Straddle" (feet on either side of the rope).
For example, a simple pattern might be "In, In, Out, Out, On, Turn". The holders and jumper would chant this together as the jumper performs the moves. If the jumper completes the pattern successfully, the rope is raised higher, and the jumper must repeat the pattern at this new height. The rope continues to be raised until the jumper touches it or makes a mistake.
The chant can also be accompanied by a song to make it more fun and engaging. The song can be created to fit the rhythm and pace of the jumper's movements. As the game progresses, the patterns can become longer and more intricate, with more challenging moves and combinations.
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Raise the rope
Raising the rope is a key part of Chinese jump rope, which is a game that originated in 7th-century China and is now played all over the world. It is a simple game with infinite variations and ways to play.
To raise the rope, you first need to set up the rope and begin the game. Place the rope on the ground and stretch it out so it looks like a long, skinny rectangle. The rope holders should then step into the ends of the rope so they are facing each other, with their feet about shoulder-width apart. They should inch back a little until the rope is taut.
The jumper must then attempt a series of jumps, landing inside the rope, on the sides, or on the rope itself. If the jumper completes the pattern without touching the rope, the rope holders should raise the rope a little higher, moving it from their ankles to their knees, and then to their waists. The jumper must then complete the same pattern at this new height. Keep raising the rope until the jumper touches it or makes a mistake.
You can make the game harder by having the holders take one foot out of the rope, reducing the space for the jumper to land inside the rope.
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Make it harder
To make the 'chicken's claw' move more challenging in Chinese jump rope, there are several things you can do. Firstly, you can raise the rope after each successful round. Start with the rope around the holders' ankles, then move it up to their knees, and finally to their waists. This will reduce the space for the jumper to manoeuvre their feet.
Another way to increase the difficulty is to have the holders switch to one foot. This makes the inner rope area narrower, making it more challenging for the jumper to get both feet into the rope.
You can also increase the complexity of the jump patterns as the game progresses. Longer and more intricate patterns will challenge the jumper's memory and coordination. Additionally, speeding up the chanting and jumping pace will make it harder for the jumper to keep up.
Remember, Chinese jump rope offers infinite variations and ways to play. You can always experiment with different moves, patterns, and strategies to make the game more challenging and exciting.
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Frequently asked questions
Chinese jump rope, also known as French skipping, jumpsies, or double Dutch skipping, is a simple game played around the world. While easy to learn, it has infinite variations and ways to play. The game is played with a rope made of stretchy material, such as rubber, tied into a circle. The rope is placed on the ground in a rectangular shape with the ends held by two players who stand facing each other. A third player (the jumper) stands in the middle and jumps over the rope according to a chosen pattern.
Chicken's claw is a variation of Chinese jump rope where the jumper attempts to complete a series of increasingly difficult moves without touching the rope or making an error. The basic moves are "In" (both feet land inside the rope), "Out" (both feet land outside the rope), "Right" (right foot lands inside), "Left" (left foot lands inside), "On" (both feet land on the rope), "Turn" (jumper spins in mid-air), and "Straddle" (feet land on either side of the rope). The rope is raised higher after each successful completion of the pattern.
It is important to have enough space to play chicken's claw, with several feet on each side of the rope so that the jumper can run in and out. The rope should be taut and placed at ankle level to start, and then raised to the knees and waist as the jumper progresses. To make the game more challenging, the holders can switch to standing on one foot, reducing the space for the jumper to land inside the rope. Longer and more complicated jump patterns can also be introduced as the game goes on.











































