In thinking back to jump roping, the memory takes me back to the school yard and the oddly amusing rhymes that were chanted to help maintain the beat. Of course, more advanced jumpers (not me) moved on to Double Dutch rope jumping, where a person would jump inside two ropes. Kid stuff, right?

Meet Death Valley, Switchblade, and Venomiss. Otherwise known as Double Dutchess, together these ladies form the only professional Double Dutch group of its kind in the San Francisco Bay Area. As longtime friends, their group was formed in 2002 after they wanted to try break dancing, but felt out of shape. When the ladies (then a quartet) decided that jumping rope would be a good way to help get them conditioned, they started doing it just for fun. The team discovered what set it apart from other sports. It’s physically and mentally challenging. It’s like figuring out a puzzle, and as the jumper, you always have to be one step (or jump!) ahead. So immediately, the jumpers were hooked, and decided to train seriously. After practicing for a few months, a friend suggested that they try performing publicly, so they signed up to do a show. After some great feedback, the group began performing in various venues all over the country, and even at the famous Apollo Theatre in New York. After taking a year off, the team (now a trio) decided to take up teaching the sport. Just recently marking their one-year anniversary, the ladies offer adult-only classes that meet once a week for six weeks. They have taught the sport to hundreds of locals from all walks of life, from mothers to 9-5 professionals.

Since words and pictures can only describe so much, you definitely should check out their YouTube video and if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, you should consider signing up for their six week class at SFC Double Dutch Don’t think you can’t learn because they have a 100% success rate. As the Double Dutchesses say, “If you can jump up, then you can Double Dutch.”

-Ashley Ceaser