Naming Conventions

Skills are traditionally named after or by the jumper who first landed, invented or popularised them. Beyond that, there are several naming conventions used to make it easier to communicate ideas within freestyle.

Top tip: naming conventions attempt to build consistency amongst the culturally-driven terminology which is a deeply intrinsic aspect of jump rope - without this, skill names can appear confusingly inconsistent.

  • A lot of the most foundational skills, such as the EB, are named so after the initials of the person who first invented or popularised them.

    In some cases, jumper’s names are adapted into the skill such as the Mic release (pronounced Mick), a skill first popularised by Mike Fry in 2004 after inspiring people with a 360 quadruple under variation.

    Examples:
    1) EB = Edith Berry
    2) TJ = Tommy Glenn & John Sparks
    3) Mic = Mike Fry (pronounced Mick)

  • Some skills are named by the jumper as a right of honour.

    The Moneymaker (AKA Kamikaze Frog) was famously first landed by Nick Woodard in 2006 on a $100 bet, hence the name.

    Examples:
    1) Moneymaker
    2) Death Wish
    3) Hummingbird

  • Some skills are "compounds" of two other skills. Each hand placement is borrowed from another skill, which together form a third unique skill. This is one of the most common occurrences in more complex crossing skills.

    For example, the EB Toad borrows its name from the EB (hand crossing behind the back) and the Toad (hand crossing under the opposite leg). This therefore tells us a lot of what we need to know about can be

    Examples:
    1) Inverse Neck Toad
    2) EB Leg Over
    3) AS Toad

  • Some skills, such as multiple unders, will have contracted names. For a skill such a Swing Cross Open Cross quadruple, the skill may be more concisely written as SCOC, so that it is not confused with the four single under sequence Swing, Cross, Open, Cross.

    Examples:
    1) SO (Swing, Open double under)
    2) SC-C (Swing, Cross, Switch Cross triple under)
    3) SCOC (Swing, Cross, Open, Cross quadruple under)

  • Some skills, such as the Toad Wrap Release, will have many steps from start to finish. These skills are written chronologically so they are easier to follow and understand.

    In the case of the Toad Wrap Release, the jumper performs a Toad, then jumps a second time to wrap their leg, and then finally unwraps immediately into a Mic Release.

    Examples:
    1) Toad Wrap Release
    2) Crossed Texan 360
    3) T-Toad Floater Toad

  • Some skills are so longwinded to name conventionally that, due to their popularity, they adopt their own name.

    As a single under sequence, EB Wrap 180 is an acceptable chronological name. However, when performed as a quadruple under, this skill is then called a Hummingbird, named so because of the shape the jumper’s rope and wrapped arm makes as the turn in the air.

    Examples:
    1) Hummingbird (EB Wrap 180 quadruple under)
    2) EBTJ (Swing, EB Toad, Open triple under)
    3) Dragon Roll (stylised Half Turn Texan)