Phillips Idowu Triple Jump Workout For Stability And Power

Phillips Idowu triple jump workout
(Image credit: Unknown)
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This article was first published in 2011. The format was updated in 2022 following a website migration.

Every time his feet hit the runway during the hop, step and jump phases of the triple jump, world and European champion Phillips Idowu has to absorb up to 12 times his own bodyweight. He then has to propel himself up and forwards as far as he can. His world-class performances require rock-solid core strength and a spring-like ability to generate explosive power. "In the triple jump you hit the runway at speed and take off on one leg, so you have to cope with a lot of force," says Europe's top triple jumper. "If your back muscles aren’t strong enough to hold your spine in place you’ll pick up a lot of injuries."
 
That’s why so much of Phillips Idowu’s training is focused on building a strong core. "I’ve stopped doing anything involving extreme rotations because they give me back problems. Now I do a lot more stability work and spend time strengthening the small stabilising muscles. This also helps to improve my running efficiency – you’ll rotate your hips less and you’ll rock less as you move. You’ll also have more mobility, so these workouts are useful even if you’re not going to do the triple jump".
 
Once he has created a solid base, Idowu adds moves that give him the ability to generate distance in each of the three phases. "A lot of my training is based on building explosive power and speed off the ground," he says.
 
You'll find his workouts for running and jumping stability and power below.

Workout For Running And Jumping Stability

Front hurdle step-over

Front hurdle step-over

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Sets 3  Reps 5 each side

  • Stand facing a series of hurdles.
  • Lift one knee and send your foot over the hurdle, keeping your toes up and your back leg straight.

Front hurdle step-over

Front hurdle step-over

(Image credit: Unknown)
  • Land on the ball of your foot, then lift your back leg so it goes out to the side and over the hurdle.
  • Plant the trailing foot alongside your leading foot.
  • Keep your upper body as still as possible.

Idowu's tip: "This drill improves your hip mobility to increases your range of movement, helping you jump further."

Resistance band twist

Resistance band twist

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Sets 3  Reps 6 each side

  • Start with your feet shoulder-width apart.
  • Secure the band at waist height and hold it to one side with your arms extended.

Resistance band twist

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  • Rotate your torso, keeping your arms straight.
  • Increase the resistance as you get stronger.

Idowu's tip: "When you jump you need to stabilise your back muscles quickly. This move is particularly good for activating your back and core muscles."

Static lunge medicine ball throw

Static lunge medicine ball throw

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Sets 3  Reps 5 each side

  • Start with your front foot flat on the ground and your knee bent at 90°.
  • Keep the ball of your back foot on the floor and your back leg fairly straight.
  • Hold the medicine ball out in front of you.

Static lunge medicine ball throw

Static lunge medicine ball throw

(Image credit: Unknown)
  • Rotate your hips and torso away from your front leg and throw the ball at a wall or to your partner.

Idowu's tip: "Doing the medicine ball throw in a lunge position gives you strength in an unstable stance."

Workout For Running And Jumping Power

Hang snatch

Hang snatch

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Sets 3  Reps 8

  • Start by holding the bar at your thighs with your knees bent.

Hang snatch

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  • Lift the bar powerfully, keeping a natural arch in your back and duck under the bar to "catch" it with straight arms before standing up straight.

Hang snatch

(Image credit: Unknown)

Idowu's tip: "This is a quick way to boost power. It uses less momentum than lifting from the ground so you have to generate more force."

Single leg decline squat

Single leg decline squat

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Sets 3  Reps 6 each side

  • Stand with a barbell on your shoulders with one foot on a declining surface and the other off the floor.

Single leg decline squat

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  • Keeping your knee in line with your foot, sink down as low as you can go without wobbling or rounding your shoulders.
  • Start with a shallow decline and build up as you get stronger.

Idowu's tip: "This move really strengthens the stabilisers around your knee, which is important because of the forces you absorb when jumping."

Cable knee raise

Cable knee raise

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Sets 3  Reps 5 each side

  • Secure a cable around your ankle and hold it off the ground behind your standing leg with your toes up.
  • Keeping your upper body still, raise your knee as high as possible.

Cable knee raise

(Image credit: Unknown)
  • Control the working leg as it returns to the start without letting it touch the ground.

Idowu's tip: "Producing power going forward is vital in triple jumping. Start off doing this move slowly and progress by increasing the speed."

Dumbbell roll-out

Dumbbell roll-out

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Sets 3  Reps 8

  • Start with your back straight and the dumbbells beneath your shoulders.

Dumbbell roll-out

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  • Keeping your back and arms straight, roll the dumbbells out as far as you can without breaking form.

Dumbbell roll-out

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  • Roll one of the dumbbells in to your chest, then roll it back out and repeat on the other side to complete one rep.

Idowu's tip: "This move is great for developing core stability. Using dumbbells rather than a bar is a progression because it forces you to stabilise yourself more."

Jon Lipsey

Jon Lipsey worked for Men’s Fitness UK, which predated, and then shared a website with, Coach. Jon was deputy editor and editor from 2007 to 2013. He returned as editor-in-chief from 2016 to 2019. He also co-founded IronLife Media and the New Body Plan