Herkie Jumps

From LoveToKnow Cheerleading

Herkie jumps are named after Lawrence Herkimer, a male cheerleader whose nickname was "Herkie". Herkie did much more than simply create this one jump named after him. He played an active role in the development of the sport of cheerleading in the 1940s including founding the National Cheerleader's Association (NCA). He also helped lead the first cheerleading camp. He started a uniform company for cheerleaders, invented pom poms, spirit sticks and, of course, the Herkie jump. There was even a candy bar named after him at one time, the Herkie Bar.

Cheerleaders in action

How Herkie Jumps Were Invented

Lawrence Herkimer actually invented Herkie jumps by accident. While attempting to perform a split jump in high school (side hurdler), he got a bit off track, bent one leg back and the rest is history. The jump was comfortable for Herkie who would naturally swing one arm out as he prepared to jump, so he began adding the jump to all his routines. Since he was a cheerleader at Southern Methodist University during a time when their football team was experiencing extreme popularity, a lot of people saw him perform this new stunt, and it was soon named after him. Soon, other cheerleaders noticed and began copying the visually appealing jump. Although Herkimer is still physically active in his 80s at the time of this writing, he can no longer perform the jump he invented. However, he has passed on a legacy to many other cheerleaders who now perform the jump all across the world.

How to Do a Herkie

The Herkie is sometimes spelled as "Herky" and often misspelled as "Hurkie" or "Hurky". The jump is fairly easy to perform with regular practice. Here are some features of the jump:

  • Position the legs like in a side hurdle, but one leg will come up straight and the other will bend.
  • In the bent leg, the knee should point toward the ground.
  • One arm is straight up over the head. This is the arm on the same side as the bent leg.
  • The other arm is placed on the hip with a bent elbow. This is the arm on the same side as the straight leg.

Right or Left Herkie

Herkie jumps can be performed on either side. In a Right Herkie, the right leg is straight out to the side in the toe touch position, while the left leg is bent. In a Left Herkie, the left leg is straight out to the side in the same position, while the right leg is bent. Generally, the cheerleader will bend his or her weakest leg. This allows the strong leg to stretch out further to the side and makes for a more visually appealing Herkie.

Herkie Tips

There are some things you can do to increase the height and power behind your Herkie jumps.

  • Strengthen Muscles: Strengthen your calf muscles to help add power and height to any jump. This is especially important in a Herkie where so many different elements come into play at one time, and the stronger leg must go to one side in a toe touch move.
  • Stretch: Spend some time every day stretching and getting as far down into the splits as you can. By lengthening and stretching in this way, you'll be better able to repeat the movement while jumping. This will allow you to get your leg further out in the toe touch position and make for a stronger Herkie jump.
  • Practice the Position: Practice the position of the Herkie on the floor before attempting to perform it in a jump. Position the legs as they will be when you are in the air and place your hands in the correct position. Practice this over and over again.

Remember that the more you practice, the more natural the movement of the jump will become. A good Herkie should essentially look effortless with one movement flowing into the next.

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