Not your playground's jump rope: These jumpers from West Seattle compete around the world Brooklyn Jamerson-Flowers August 18, 2025 / 12:26 pm

On a 90-degree July afternoon inside a karate studio in West Seattle, there was no AC, just a handful of struggling box fans. That wasn't slowing down the 44 kids, aged 7 to 17, who whipped ropes around as turners and jumpers focused on sharpening their Double Dutch skills.

This wasn't your playground jump rope.

The jumpers were working out the kinks in their routines in preparation for the International Jump Rope Union's World Championships in Kawasaki, Japan. The competition included 30 countries and 2,000 athletes. Nine athletes with Rain City Ropeworks, a jump rope team from Seattle, qualified for this year’s event held in early August

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