Tuck Jump

• The tuck jump is among the more popular moves and a good start for beginners. Stand straight and bring your arms above your head in a V shape. In one fluid motion, swing your arms down and across each other in front of you. You will snap them at a level, V position. You have the option of having them parallel to the floor, or in a high V slightly forward from your face. Use the momentum to pull you as you push off of the floor with your feet; your knees will slightly bend as you push off. Bring your knees as close to your chest as possible and leave your arms in V position. Snap your legs down and bend them slightly as you land. Stand up straight following the landing.
  
  

Pike Jump

• In this jump you will leap with your legs together out in front of you, parallel to the ground. Pose your arms similar to the tuck jump method, with your arms in a high V, slightly in front of your face. Use your momentum to bring your legs straight out in front of you. Height is important, as it will take you longer to snap your legs down in front of you to land. Your stomach muscles are key: they are largely responsible for lifting your legs in front of you and off of the ground. Your arms will be in a V position when the jump is complete.
  
  

Hurdler

• Another basic jump, the hurdler can be quickly learned and performed with either leg as the lead leg. The lead leg will be straight out and to the side of your body. Once you've mastered the jump, you will want to work on inverting this leg so it is behind your arm as opposed to level with it. Inverting means raising the leg so that it rises higher than your arms' V in front of you. With the secondary leg, place it so that it is bent at the knee and flat or level with the other leg. Your knee should point out, not down.
  
  

Toe Touch

• The toe touch, while common, looks impressive on the floor and in stunts. Being widely used, it is usually among the first jumps a cheerleader learns. As you jump, your legs should be spread in front of you, in a V position. Your arms should appear as if they are reaching to touch your toes. This jump, again, is largely dependent on your stomach muscles to pull your legs up toward your waist. This is another jump that you can learn to invert, as inverted toe touches look more impressive and are more safe for stunts. Once accomplished, an inverted toe touch looks as though your legs are raised higher than your arms in the V position, which are parallel to the floor.