Moon Walking
Triads coordinate an assisted vertical jump where two side spotters support a jumper's forearms to produce a slow, buoyant lift.
Choose this exercise
Purpose: Practice physical coordination and synchronized timing in triads.
Use it when: Use during active physical warmups when participants have consented to light physical contact and seek an energetic cooperative drill.
Skip it when: Skip when participants have back, arm, wrist, or joint concerns, when floors are slippery, or when physical contact is unwelcome.
Group arrangement: Triads (teams of three). If the room total is not divisible by three, assign remaining individuals (one or two) as cadence callers and safety spotters alongside existing triads.
Timing: UWT suggested 10-minute plan fitting the Playmeo 5 to 15 minute band.
Materials and tools
- No special materials.
Before participants arrive
- Ensure a clear, level, non-slip floor with at least two meters of clearance around each triad.
Say this to open
We are going to do a movement stunt called Moon Walking. In groups of three, two people will assist a partner to jump with extended hang time. Taking the jump or spotter role is entirely optional, and anyone can choose to act as cadence caller instead.
How to run it
Demonstrate grip and verbal count 3 minutes
Form triads. Assign any extra participants as cadence callers. Demonstrate with two volunteers. The jumper places hands on their hips. Each spotter grips one of the jumper's lower forearms with two hands. Call 'Ready, set, jump.' On 'jump,' the center person springs upward while spotters smoothly lift upward along the vertical line and guide a soft, two-foot landing.
Practice low initial jumps 3 minutes
Triads choose an initial jumper. Triads practice one low test jump using the verbal cadence 'Ready, set, jump.' Side assistants must lift straight along the jumper's vertical line without pulling outward or yanking upward. Run two or three practice jumps with this initial jumper.
Rotate roles across partners 2 minutes
Prompt triads to swap positions so a second person takes the jumper role if they wish. Run two jumps. Swap once more so the third partner can jump or opt to pass. Ensure assistants bend their knees to absorb and guide the descent.
Debrief the coordination 2 minutes
Gather the room in a circle. Ask two reflection questions. Take two or three brief observations from volunteers to conclude.
Debrief questions
- What specific cue helped your triad match the jump and the lift?
- What physical adjustment did spotters make between the first attempt and subsequent attempts?
Finished output: Completion of synchronized assisted jumps or active spotter participation across all triads.
Remote
Moon Walking cannot be run online because it relies entirely on physical lifting and manual spotting. A different non-physical rhythm game must be substituted for fully remote groups.
Hybrid
Moon Walking cannot be run as a unified hybrid activity. In-person participants can complete the physical jumps in room triads, but remote attendees cannot participate in or duplicate this stunt.
Access and participation choices
- Participants may choose the non-contact cadence caller or safety observer role instead of jumping or lifting.
- Anyone may release grip or step away from a jump at any moment without providing an explanation.
If the session gets stuck
- Spotters lift unevenly or pull outwards, causing the jumper to tilt.
- Pause the group. Direct spotters to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the jumper and push straight upward along the vertical line.
- A participant prefers not to jump or receive physical touch.
- Immediately assign them to direct the count, call the cadence, and observe floor clearance for their team.
Terms used here
- Hang time: The brief feeling of buoyant suspension at the peak of an assisted jump.
- Ready, set, jump: The standardized verbal countdown used to synchronize the jumper's leap with the assistants' upward lift.
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Help me prepare and run the exercise below. First ask for my participant count, time, setting, access needs and intended result. Check these against the stated limits. Use the supplied rules and materials. Explain any proposed changes before using them, and label them as adaptations. Do not invent source claims or require personal disclosure. Give me one step at a time when I say start. I manage the people, physical activity and clock; do not claim to observe the room. Ask me what happened before choosing a next step. Reference revision: ec590911745aabb7ce4c6a54923100136d192cccf7247c598166e945b09b6326 # Moon Walking Triads coordinate an assisted vertical jump where two side spotters support a jumper's forearms to produce a slow, buoyant lift. **Time:** 10 minutes. UWT suggested 10-minute plan fitting the Playmeo 5 to 15 minute band. **People:** 6 to 24. Triads (teams of three). If the room total is not divisible by three, assign remaining individuals (one or two) as cadence callers and safety spotters alongside existing triads. ## Choose this exercise **Purpose:** Practice physical coordination and synchronized timing in triads. **Use it when:** Use during active physical warmups when participants have consented to light physical contact and seek an energetic cooperative drill. **Skip it when:** Skip when participants have back, arm, wrist, or joint concerns, when floors are slippery, or when physical contact is unwelcome. ## Materials and tools - No special materials. ## Before participants arrive 1. Ensure a clear, level, non-slip floor with at least two meters of clearance around each triad. ## Say this to open We are going to do a movement stunt called Moon Walking. In groups of three, two people will assist a partner to jump with extended hang time. Taking the jump or spotter role is entirely optional, and anyone can choose to act as cadence caller instead. ## How to run it ### 1. Demonstrate grip and verbal count (3 minutes) Form triads. Assign any extra participants as cadence callers. Demonstrate with two volunteers. The jumper places hands on their hips. Each spotter grips one of the jumper's lower forearms with two hands. Call 'Ready, set, jump.' On 'jump,' the center person springs upward while spotters smoothly lift upward along the vertical line and guide a soft, two-foot landing. ### 2. Practice low initial jumps (3 minutes) Triads choose an initial jumper. Triads practice one low test jump using the verbal cadence 'Ready, set, jump.' Side assistants must lift straight along the jumper's vertical line without pulling outward or yanking upward. Run two or three practice jumps with this initial jumper. ### 3. Rotate roles across partners (2 minutes) Prompt triads to swap positions so a second person takes the jumper role if they wish. Run two jumps. Swap once more so the third partner can jump or opt to pass. Ensure assistants bend their knees to absorb and guide the descent. ### 4. Debrief the coordination (2 minutes) Gather the room in a circle. Ask two reflection questions. Take two or three brief observations from volunteers to conclude. ## Debrief questions - What specific cue helped your triad match the jump and the lift? - What physical adjustment did spotters make between the first attempt and subsequent attempts? **Finished output:** Completion of synchronized assisted jumps or active spotter participation across all triads. ## Remote Moon Walking cannot be run online because it relies entirely on physical lifting and manual spotting. A different non-physical rhythm game must be substituted for fully remote groups. ## Hybrid Moon Walking cannot be run as a unified hybrid activity. In-person participants can complete the physical jumps in room triads, but remote attendees cannot participate in or duplicate this stunt. ## Access and participation choices - Participants may choose the non-contact cadence caller or safety observer role instead of jumping or lifting. - Anyone may release grip or step away from a jump at any moment without providing an explanation. ## If the session gets stuck **Spotters lift unevenly or pull outwards, causing the jumper to tilt.** Pause the group. Direct spotters to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the jumper and push straight upward along the vertical line. **A participant prefers not to jump or receive physical touch.** Immediately assign them to direct the count, call the cadence, and observe floor clearance for their team. ## Terms used here - Hang time: The brief feeling of buoyant suspension at the peak of an assisted jump. - Ready, set, jump: The standardized verbal countdown used to synchronize the jumper's leap with the assistants' upward lift. ## Sources and adaptation Observed on Playmeo, where Mark Collard is credited with the activity entry. Retained the three-person forearm-assisted jump mechanic from Playmeo. UWT structured the 10-minute timeline, concise step instructions, explicit verbal count, arithmetic handling for groups not divisible by three, non-contact observer roles, and consent boundaries. [Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/energizer-warm-up-games/moon-walking/) [Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/energizer-warm-up-games/moon-walking) Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/fun-group-stunt-for-building-trust-teamwork-moon-walking/
Sources and adaptation
Observed on Playmeo, where Mark Collard is credited with the activity entry.
Retained the three-person forearm-assisted jump mechanic from Playmeo. UWT structured the 10-minute timeline, concise step instructions, explicit verbal count, arithmetic handling for groups not divisible by three, non-contact observer roles, and consent boundaries.
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