Jump rope for fun and fitness, a new community rises in Chennai

On Sunday morning, around two dozen individuals — a spirited mix of children, adults, and seniors — gathered at Dr. Natesan Park on Venkatanarayana Road in T. Nagar with one common goal: to jump-start their day with fun and fitness. Armed with colourful jump ropes, they quickly began swinging them and jumping in rhythm. On the other side stood the instructor, G. Aravindaakshan — a self-taught jump rope enthusiast and founder of Chennai Jumps — guiding the group through the nuances of rope jumping.

Over the past few months, Chennai Jumps has hosted several workshops, including activities at Chitlapakkam Lake and Anna Nagar Tower Park, among others. “Jump rope is a tool that is under rated and which is not spoken about. It has a lot of health benefits too,” Mr. Aravindaakshan said.

He began skipping during the Covid pandemic and gradually discovered that this simple tool offered much more — with a variety of techniques and possibilities to explore. “I learnt a lot of techniques from YouTube and Instagram and practiced regularly. This helps individuals physically and mentally. When you jump, your full focus shifts to yourself — where your hands need to be and how you need to jump,” he says.

According to Mr. Aravindaakshan, jump rope is a highly accessible activity that can be done anytime, anywhere. “All you need is a little space to jump,” he says. “It’s also budget-friendly — your only real investment is the rope itself.”

Currently, Chennai Jumps includes participants in age ranging from just 5 years old to 66. In the coming months, Aravindaakshan plans to bring this activity to more public spaces and schools across the city. He intends to create a professional academy for jump rope.

Mr. Aravindaakshan charges a nominal fee of ₹100 from those joining his community. “My goal is to create awareness,” he says, “but I also need to cover the cost of the ropes, so I charge this small amount.”