The Adumu jumping dance (often called the “warrior dance”).
The Maasai are famous for their traditional jumping dance (called adumu or aigus), which is part of their coming-of-age ceremonies.The Maasai are an Indigenous ethnic group living in East Africa, mainly in: Southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania. They are semi-nomadic pastoralists, traditionally known for herding cattle, goats, and sheep across the savannas and rift valleys.
When performing the dance, young men (morans) take turns jumping straight up into the air from a standing position, keeping their bodies very straight and without letting their heels touch the ground. The goal is to show strength, stamina, and grace.
On average, Maasai men can jump about 50–60 cm (20–24 inches) straight up. Maasai men can jump over 50 cm, which is comparable to elite Western athletes. Maasai women jump about 46 cm on average.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s highest jumps - when Air CR7 defied gravity (source: Olympic.com). Ronaldo’s highest jump measures 2.93m, recorded against Manchester United while playing for Real Madrid in the 2012-13 UEFA Champions League. HIs highest recorded vertical leap is approximately 41-42 inches (1.05-1.07 meters).This jump is often cited as the highest in football history. It highlights his incredible athletic ability, even compared to other high-flying athletes.
That’s especially impressive since they jump without running starts, swinging arms, or bending knees much - just vertical power and rhythm.
Jumping performance and muscle–tendon characteristics of Maasai men of East Africa. Scientific Reports volume (source: Nature.com).
The male Maasai of East Africa perform a ritual of repetitive jumping ceremonies and are known anecdotally for outstanding jumping performance. The aim of the present study was to assess vertical jumping ability and anatomical/biomechanical characteristics of Maasai jumpers.
Stein Morten Lund, 26th September 2025
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