How to Do the Jumping Jacks

Jumping jacks are a classic full-body cardio move where you jump your feet apart while raising your arms overhead, then jump back together. They raise your heart rate quickly and warm up your shoulders and calves. They suit all levels and need no equipment.

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Muscles worked

Primary

  • Calves
  • Shoulders

Secondary

  • Quads
  • Abs

How to do the Jumping Jacks

  1. 1

    Stand with your feet together and your arms at your sides.

  2. 2

    Jump your feet out wider than shoulder width as your arms rise overhead.

  3. 3

    Land softly on the balls of your feet with slightly bent knees.

  4. 4

    Jump back to the starting position as your arms come down.

  5. 5

    Keep your core braced and your chest tall.

  6. 6

    Maintain a steady, rhythmic pace.

  7. 7

    Continue for your set time or reps.

Form cues to remember

  • Land softly
  • Arms fully overhead
  • Core braced
  • Steady rhythm

Common mistakes

Landing with locked knees

Keep a soft bend in your knees on every landing.

Short arm swings

Reach your arms fully overhead for a full range.

Hunching forward

Keep your chest tall and look ahead.

Going too fast too soon

Start at a steady pace and build as you warm up.

Sets and reps

Conditioning4–6 rounds of 30–45 seconds, with 20–30 seconds rest
Mobility30–60 seconds as part of a warm-up
Endurance3–5 minutes at a steady pace

The repeated impact can bother your knees and ankles, so land softly. If you need a low-impact option, step one foot out at a time.

Superlift for iPhone

Track your Jumping Jacks and watch it go up

Superlift shows what you lifted last time, times your rest, and charts your strength week by week, so you always know what to beat. Every exercise in this library is built in, with the same demos and tutorials.

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Logging sets, reps and weight in SuperliftStrength progression chart in SuperliftExercise instructions and video tutorials in Superlift

Jumping Jacks FAQ

Are jumping jacks a good workout?

They are a quick way to raise your heart rate and warm up. They work best as part of a warm-up or conditioning circuit.

How can I do low-impact jumping jacks?

Step one foot out to the side at a time while raising your arms, then step back. It keeps the same pattern with less impact.

How many jumping jacks should I do?

For a warm-up, 20–30 reps or 30 seconds is enough. In a workout, use timed rounds.

Jumping Jacks alternatives

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