Comparison of vertical jump performance between the Maasai, track and field athletes, and non-athletes: a cross-sectional study

The Maasai are known for their unique customs, including dancing, singing, and jumping. The tribe’s traditional jumping rituals, performed by young warriors called ‘Morani,’ demonstrate their strength and skill through repetitive hops, often lasting several hours. These jumps are comparable to the countermovement jumps (CMJ) of elite Western athletes. This study compared different types of jumps (CMJ), squat jump (SJ) and repetitive hops) among three groups: (a) Maasai (n = 30), (b) Slovenian high-jump athletes and sprinters (n = 20), and (c) non-athletes in Slovenia (n = 20). Participants were male, aged 16–35. The My Jump 2 app was used to measure jump height. Results showed that during CMJ, the Maasai averaged 38.1 cm ± 7.3 cm; athletes 52.46 cm ± 9.07 cm; non-athletes 33.72 cm ± 7.22 cm. In the SJ, the Maasai averaged 35.87 cm ± 6.59 cm; athletes 49.74 cm ± 7.3 cm; non-athletes 32.57 cm ± 6.21 cm. For repetitive hops, the Maasai averaged 36.2 cm ± 7.75 cm; athletes 35.93 cm ± 5.98 cm; non-athletes 20.98 cm ± 7.07 cm. Athletes showed higher jump heights in CMJ and SJ compared to the Maasai (p < 0.001, d = 1.28; p < 0.001, d = 2.00) and non-athletes (p < 0.001, d = 2.29; p < 0.001, d = 2.53). However, in repetitive hops, the Maasai performed similarly to athletes (p = 0.991, d = 0.04), while non-athletes had significantly lower results (p < 0.001, d = 2.05). These findings suggest that the Maasai’s cultural practices enhance musculoskeletal adaptation from an early age, emphasizing that proficiency is greatest in regularly practiced tasks, such as repetitive jumps and hops.