What is Double Dutch?
Double Dutch is a rope skipping game that is played when two people twirl two ropes in opposite directions like an eggbeater. A person or a team of people jump inside of these ropes, usually using a lot of fancy footwork, gymnastic moves and break-dancing elements. In other parts of the world, this jump rope game is called “Double French” or “Double Irish.” According to David A. Walker, the man credited with turning Double Dutch into a sport in America, the probable origins of Double Dutch activities lie with the ancient Chinese, Egyptian and Phoenician rope makers. These tradesmen would twirl bunches of hemp in the air and spin them into a rope. Their runners had to hop these twirling ropes to bring the rope makers more supplies. This inspired others to jump ropes as a leisure activity and the exercise was passed down from generation to generation until it traveled to America in the 1600s with the children of Dutch settlers. There are several theories behind the origin of the term “Do
