The box jump, like the rope swing or the tire flip, is an exercise not popular with masses. To lug a rarely used box from the corner of the gym and launch yourself onto it, repeatedly, is an act of defiance that speaks of a high-performance mindset. That, or the leg press is busy. Either way, box jumps aren’t just a good way to draw attention to yourself: done right, they activate the nervous system for gains in strength and size. While box jumps alone aren’t going to give you legs like Chris Hoy, performing them regularly – and even as a warm-up exercise before you get into your heavy lifting – will fire up your nervous system and stimulate the fast-twitch muscles neglected with lowintensity weightlifting. The result? You’ll not only be able to lift more, you will also stimulate more muscle growth.
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