About
My name is Tim Haft and I’m the founder of Punk Rope.
I created Punk Rope in 2004 because:
1) I believed people needed to move more, play more, and connect more.
2) Jump rope is the closest thing we have to the Fountain of Youth. It’s fun, varied, social, and has unparalleled health and fitness benefits. It improves cardio, bone density, strength, coordination, agility, speed, mobility, rhythm, timing, and your waistline.
Punk Rope—the class—blends jump rope, bodyweight training, and fitness games, and is designed for all ages and fitness levels.
Although learning to jump rope can be intimidating at first, a good coach will set you at ease and put you on the path to success. You might find our YouTube tutorials and Jump Rope Manual to be helpful.
In addition to Punk Rope classes, we offer:
• a jump rope instructor certification
• jump rope clinics, seminars, and workshops
• jump rope lessons and personal training
• the annual Punk Rope Games
For more information about the above, email me or call 646-263-9128.
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If you’re in New York City on a Wednesday night, join us for a Punk Rope class. During the warmer months, we hold outdoor classes around the city.
In case you’re curious, here’s a bit of my “back” story:
My first encounter with back pain occurred at the age of 16 when 150-pound me tried—and failed—to lift a 220-pound heavyweight I was grappling with. I remember hearing a pop and feeling a jolt of pain around my lumbar spine, but I was 16 so I didn’t think it was a big deal.
Over the next decade, more back injuries ensued by lifting objects that were way too heavy for me, and, embarrassingly, by doing an ill-advised Russian split on the dance floor at Limelight.
I’ll never forget the staff meetings at NYU Career Services when I told my boss the only way I could attend was by lying supine on the floor and putting my feet up on the table; or the mornings when I would lay in bed because I couldn’t stand up; or the frequent back spasms accompanied by searing pain shooting down my legs that would strike when least expected.
Ultimately an MRI revealed three herniated discs and spinal stenosis so to some extent that explained my pain, but in a way, not really. I would later learn that a significant percentage of the population have disc herniations but no pain and another significant chunk of the population has pain but no herniations.
In the late 1990s I saw a highly recommended orthopedist who told me I’d never run or play sports again. He suggested I take up swimming. That was the turning point. I was so angry that I told him to eff off (in my head not out loud) and I decided I would run a marathon to prove him wrong.
By a stroke of luck I found a highly skilled physical therapist and massage therapist at Corinthian Physical Therapy and began working hard on training my core and my mind. Dr Sarno’s writings also played an important role in my recovery as did overcoming my fear of exercise and my tendency to catastrophize. Jumping rope was a big part of my rehab once I was stable.
Prior to assembling my dream team, I had been treated by physical therapists, acupuncturists, herbalists, osteopaths, orthopedists, massage therapists, a percussion therapist, and even a neurosurgeon.
Thanks to my healthcare team and training regimen, I gradually regained my strength and my life. I ran three marathons in 2000-2001, started Punk Rope in 2004, and joined the Twin Towers Wrestling Club in 2010. Although I no longer run or wrestle, I plan to jump rope until the day I die.
Jump Ropes
Our 5mm PVC jump ropes with 5-inch smooth-turning handles are rated 5 out of 5 stars by the American Council on Exercise and Jump Rope Veteran.
The 5mm cord is hefty enough to provide good sensory feedback, but light enough for you to generate some serious speed.
Our jump ropes are available in 5 sizes to accommodate jumpers up to 6’ 4”, but can be easily shortened via the included snap lock. They’re appropriate for all skill levels.
Order 10 ropes or more and get 25% off with the code BULKDISCOUNT.
”In the early days of the pandemic lockdown, I happily purchased my first Punk Rope jump ropes. I learned how to jump using these ropes. The Punk Rope videos taught me the basic steps and, eventually, the double under. Jumping completely changed my body. I jumped for a few years and then thought I was so advanced that I needed professional grade ropes. I splurged and purchased a Crossrope set. I jumped for a year with these ropes and have the scars to prove it—on my knuckles, back, and legs. When I jumped with these expensive ropes, my hands hurt and I stopped doing crosses and double unders. Some of the early joy of jumping rope was gone and I stopped jumping every day. I recently decided to buy a Punk Rope jump rope again, this time in a bright color that screamed fun. My first session with that rope brought back the joy I had lost. Now I’m back to jumping on a daily basis and couldn’t be happier.” — N. Cooper
Certification
There are more than 1,300 Punk Rope-certified Jump Rope Instructors in 33 countries.
The Jump Rope Instructor Certification is the ideal credential if you want to launch a jump rope class, offer private jump rope lessons, boost your fitness resume, or level up your own jump rope game.
Through the certification, you’ll learn how to teach all the basics of jump rope including proper grip, timing, turning mechanics, injury prevention, rope sizing and selection, plus how to perform 15 of the most effective jump rope steps to improve fitness.
We offer a home study option ($129) and an in-person option ($199).
Both options include CEUs from NASM (.9) and AFAA (9), as well as a free listing on the Punk Rope website.
There are no certification renewal requirements or certification maintenance fees.
The in-person option, led by Punk Rope creators, Tim Haft and Shana Brady, includes five hours of instruction plus a master class. Each participant receives a jump rope and a wrist trainer. Attendees will leave with the knowledge necessary to launch their own Punk Rope class. For information on hosting an in-person certification, contact Tim Haft at 646-263-9128 or punkrope@gmail.com.
Our Team
Tim Haft
Tim is the founder and president of Punk Rope. He’s certified as a personal trainer by the American Council on Exercise and holds additional certifications from Precision Nutrition, USA Track & Field, USAFIT, TRX, ISCA (kettlebells), and Resist-A-Ball. Since 1998, Tim has been offering one-on-one and group fitness training to clients of all ages and fitness levels.
Shana Brady
Punk Rope's director of training since 2005, Shana holds a BS degree in exercise physiology plus certifications from the American Council on Exercise, the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and Functional Movement Systems (FMS). She has extensive experience training active older adults well into their 80s.
Big thanks to:
• Heather Wagner for graphic design
• Tom Egan for photography
• The Source Unlimited for printing
• Cheapest Buttons for pins
• Econo Graphics for t-shirts
Support Punk Rope
For 20+ years we've offered free jump rope classes, clinics, and workshops to support numerous nonprofit organizations including the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, DOVE, HealthCorps, the Huairou Commission, the International Rescue Committee, lost n found, Morrisania WIC, Mothers Across America, myFace, New Orleans Bulldog Rescue, Sustainable South Bronx, TEAL, and Willie Mae Rock Camp. Your contributions make this work possible. Thank you for considering supporting us by leaving a Google review or through Patreon.
