by Lori Kaye

Created on: August 18, 2009   Last Updated: December 19, 2009

A cheerleading Herkie is one of the basic jumps that a cheerleader should know. In fact, this is the classic jump that's been used for years. While there are variations, they all begin with the same essential jump. Here are some tips to help you perform a Herkie.

1. First you should stretch so you can train your hip joints to flex into the Herkie position. Sit on the floor with your legs stretched out to the sides as far as they will go. Bend forward, stretch your arms to the sides, and reach for your toes. Don't allow your knees to bend during the stretch.

2. Practice on the floor first. Stretch one leg over as you did in the straddle. Bend the other leg behind you. Keep in mind that your legs should flex into a deeper stretch when in the air. As you progress, you can train your legs and hips for this deeper flex by placing a rolled towel around your foot and holding it in both hands. Pull the towel up slightly as you stretch toward your toes so your heel rises off the ground.

3. You should practice each of the following arm positions. Make sure that you ball your hands up into fists for a strong, clean look. 1) Raise your arms up to form a high V. 2) Hold your arms out to form a T. 3) Place one arm on your hip, and raise the other in a touchdown position above your head. This is the classic position. After practicing these, you can choose to use the one that feels most natural to you.

4. To begin the jump, stand on your toes and raise your arms into the high V. Circle your arms down as you bend your knees. Use the momentum to your arms to help your legs push you into the jump.

5. As you jump into the air, stretch your legs into the position you practiced on the floor. As you get better, try to kick the front leg even higher into the air. Keep your back leg up as high as you can, something like a hurdler going over a fence. If you can actually kick yourself in the behind, your jump will look better.

6. Complete the jump by landing with your legs together. Bend your knees a bit so you don't injure them. Remain in balance, and don't take a step as you land. Keep in mind that a good landing makes the whole jump look flawless!

A well-performed Herkie is the center piece of any cheerleader's routine. With practice, you'll achieve the flexibility and skill to execute a perfect Herkie.

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