THE PRINCIPLES
OF CROSSES
The principles of crosses can be split into four parts: categories, manipulation, anchoring and sequencing.
categories
Using the nine hand placements that exist, there are roughly 50 possible foundational crosses which are divided into three basic categories.
Getting started: foundationally, crosses are grouped based on where around the jumper’s body the hands cross.
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Body crosses include all skills where both hands cross around the jumper’s torso whilst standing upright.
These include:
Cross
EB
TS
Neck Cross
Neck EB
Double Neck Cross -
Leg crosses include all skills where one or more hands cross around one of the jumper’s legs whilst jumping on the other leg.
These include:
Toad
Inverse Toad
Elephant
Leg Over (also known as Crougar)
Inverse Leg Over
EB Toad
Inverse EB Toad
Neck Toad
Inverse Neck Toad -
Ground crosses include all skills where one or both hands cross around the jumper’s knees whilst crouching down close to the floor.
These include:
AS
CL
Caboose
Open Caboose
Inverse Caboose
AS Toad (also known as Weave)
Inverse AS Toad
Neck AS
Manipulation
The skills in these three categories can be manipulated to create other more advanced types of crosses.
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Gogo crosses include all skills where one hand crosses through two placements, usually only achievable by entering via the standard version of that cross. Body, leg and ground crosses can become gogo crosses.
These include:
Cross Gogo
EB Gogo
Toad Gogo
Inverse Toad Gogo
Leg Over Gogo
EB Leg Over Gogo
AS Gogo -
Tucked crosses include all skills where the top hand is tucked underneath the bottom hand. Body, leg and ground crosses can become tucked crosses.
These include:
Tucked EB
T-Toad
Inverse T-Toad
Tucked AS (also known as Tummy Tuck) -
Knot crosses include all skills where the bottom hand is on top of the bottom hand. Body, leg and ground crosses can become knot crosses.
These include:
EB Knot
Toad Knot
Inverse Toad Knot
AS Knot
EB Toad Knot
Inverse EB Toad Knot
AS Toad Knot
Inverse AS Toad Knot -
Switch crosses include combos where two alternate crosses (left to right, or vice versa) are performed immediately after one another without an Open between. There are two types, perfect and imperfect.
Perfect switch crosses are those which alternate between two identical crosses. These include:
Switch Cross
Switch TS
Switch Toad
Switch Leg Over
Switch AS
Switch CLImperfect switch crosses are those which alternate between any two crosses. These Include:
EB Switch Cross
Cross Switch Toad
Toad Switch Cross
Toad Switch Leg Over -
Step-Throughs are swing-like movements where the jumper steps through the loop of the rope instead of jumping over it. Only leg crosses can be performed as step-throughs.
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Inverse bounding is where a jumper alters the natural bounding mechanics of a leg or ground cross.
Leg crosses can be performed with both feet on the ground.
Leg crosses can be performed by jumping on the opposite leg.
Ground crosses can be performed by jumping on only one leg.
A common combo which utilises inverse bounding is Rocker crosses.
Anchoring
We can treat any cross as an anchor point around which we can transition to and from, or hold that cross.
Top tip: anchoring is one of the most useful principles for mastering crosses. Try implements drills focused around each of the aspects below.
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Almost any cross can be jumped consecutively, where the jumper holds the placement and repeatedly jumps that cross without any Swings or Opens in between.
Drilling consecutively can help improve wrist control in restricted positions as well as form the basic for more advanced skills such as tucked crosses or wraps.
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Every cross can be entered by at least one type of Swing - some can be entered by multiple types of a Swings.
For example:
Cross can be entered by a Box Swing
Toad can be entered by a Box Swing or a Toad SwingDrilling swings into crosses can help better prepare for skills such as multiples which usually begin with a swing before the cross.
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Every cross can be exited by at least one type of Swing.
Drilling swings out of crosses can improve our combo building by enabling us to explore than many ways ways out of one cross (which can lead into others).
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Swings can connect crosses together. This can be either two identical crosses, or two crosses which share a hand placement.
For example:
Leg Over, Leg Over Swing to Leg Over
EB Toad, EB Swing to EB
Toad, Toad Swing to ElephantDrilling swings between crosses can improve our combo building ability by enabling us to explore more ways into and out of different, especially those that share one hand placement.
Sequencing
All crosses can be defined as one of three types, based on where the hands cross around our body. Understanding which type any given cross is, is the starting point for learning the art of combo building and the principles of skill sequencing.
Top tip: it's best to think of a jump roper from directly above, as if looking down upon them, rather than the stereotypical front-facing view.
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Front crosses are all skills where both hands cross in front of our body, such that we could bring the rope into a toe catch without ever needing to jump the loop of the rope first.
Examples: Cross, Leg Over, and Caboose
All front crosses can be entered immediately without any Swings or Opens before them.
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Half crosses are skills where one hand is in front of the body and the other is behind it. These skills all typically require a Swing to enter into.
Examples: EB, EB Toad, and AS Toad
All half crosses can be entered by performing one Swing or an Open before them.
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Back crosses are all skills where both hands cross behind our body, such that we must jump the loop of the rope first to enter them.
Examples: TS, AS and CL
All back crosses can be entered by performing two Swings or an Open before them.
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Combo building comprises the fundamental rules which describe the relationships between all crosses.
Rule 1-3 describe how to enter any cross:
Front crosses: no prior steps needed
Half crosses: 1 Swing or 1 Open
Back crosses: 2 Swings or 1 OpenRule 4 describes how any cross can be exited to any cross that’s closer to the anterior of the body with no swings in between:
Back cross: any half or front cross
Half cross: any front crossTop tip: it is usually easier to swing between these crosses anyway, but not necessary.
Rule 5 describes how for all three types of crosses, a jumper can enter a second cross of the same type as the first cross without any Swing or Open between them. For example:
Front crosses: Cross to Toad (and vice versa)
Half crosses: EB Toad to Weave (and vice versa)
Back crosses: AS to TS (and vice versa)Learn more.
