1. Can we trust the claim that jump rope started in ancient Egypt?
English Wikipedia and other sources state that the oldest origin of jump rope is unknown. It is said that a stone carving from the Han Dynasty in ancient China depicts jump rope, and that Egyptian art shows children jumping over vines. [1] However, these are general encyclopedia descriptions, and they do not specify exactly which stone carvings or paintings are being referred to.
Another theory suggests that the game began when rope makers jumped while twisting ropes. A page from a university in New York writes cautiously that the game may have developed from the rope-making techniques of Phoenicians, Egyptians, and Chinese. [2] The Strong Museum, which runs the National Toy Hall of Fame, introduces the idea that Dutch settlers brought jump rope to the United States in the 17th century. [4] Yet, folklorist Berzin calls this a "story" and believes jump rope might be even older. [4]
In short, neither the time nor the place of its beginning is clear. So, when did jump rope first appear in records, and whose game was it?
2. Was jump rope originally a game for boys?
In Europe, records from the 16th and 17th centuries suggest that jump rope was primarily a boys' game. It began to stand out as a girls' game around the 18th century, and by the second half of the 19th century, it had become centered on girls among urban children. [3]
Why was it initially a boys' game? One explanation is that in the past, it was considered improper for girls to show their ankles while jumping. [3] This means that the customs of the time determined who could jump.
The dates mentioned here are rough estimates, and there are differences depending on the country and region. Still, multiple sources agree on the general trend: jump rope shifted from a boys' game to a girls' game. [3] What changes happened to the game when girls became the main players?
3. Why did songs become part of girls' jump rope games?
In girls' jump rope games, two people became "turners" who rotated the rope, while other children took turns jumping in. The songs sung during this play were called rhymes. It is said that songs were used to match the rhythm of the rope and to manage the order of turns. [3]
The oldest records of these rhymes date to the 1880s. In the first half of the 20th century, folklorists wrote down and studied many of them. [3] This means that girls' songs had been written down more than 140 years ago.
In games where two people turn the rope and others jump in turn, the turners and jumpers must coordinate their breathing. It is thought that songs served as signals for this coordination. However, this is an interpretation derived from how the game is played, not a reason explicitly stated in the sources. So, when and how did jump rope enter Japan?
4. When did jump rope enter Japanese schools?
In Japan, jump rope is said to have been introduced during the Meiji era as a tool for gymnastics and school materials. It is also said that the invitation of teachers from Europe and America to the Gymnastics Training Institute (the predecessor of the current University of Tsukuba) in 1878 (Meiji 11) marked the beginning of its introduction. [6] However, this explanation uses the phrase "it is also said," so it is not stated as a definite fact.
What can be stated clearly is that jump rope was introduced to Japan during the Meiji era not just as an "old children's game," but also as a physical education tool for schools. [6] Outside of school, what forms did jump rope take as a game?
5. How did Double Dutch, the two-rope sport, emerge in the United States?
Double Dutch, which uses two ropes, is said to have taken shape as a competitive sport in the 1940s and 1950s. It began when girls in Black communities in US cities played with laundry lines instead of ropes. [5] [5]
In the early 1970s, police officers named Williams and Walker from the New York City Police Department are said to have established the rules. The first tournament was held in February 1974. [2] [5] However, in some sources, the citation for the names of the people who established the rules is not provided.
There are theories about the origin of the name "Double Dutch." Besides the theory that it came from the Dutch influence, there is an explanation that it comes from an English slang term meaning "gibberish" or "nonsense." [5] It cannot be determined which is correct.
Today, jump rope competitions have grown to include world championships. The International Jump Rope Union (IJRU) held its world championship in the United States in 2023 and in Kawasaki, Japan, in 2025. [1] In 2000, jump rope was also selected for the US "National Toy Hall of Fame." [4] A game with an unknown beginning now continues in world championships.
6. What do we know about the oldest jump rope songs, and what can you ask people near you?
The oldest written records of jump rope songs date to the 1880s. From the sources, we cannot know what children sang before that time. [3]
Try asking adults close to you, "Did you sing any songs when you jumped rope as a child?" Even in the same town, songs might differ depending on the era or school. If you write down the songs you hear, they will become a small record of that region.
If you have the chance to have two people turn the rope, you can compare jumping with a song and jumping without one to see if the ease of keeping rhythm changes. However, please do this in a wide space with no people or objects around you.
Because the sources mentioned in this article are mostly in English, materials on Japanese jump rope songs might be found by looking for folklore or play books in libraries.