The Herkie is a cheerleading

Cheerleading

Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...

 jump named after Lawrence Herkimer

Lawrence Herkimer

Lawrence Herkimer is an American innovator in the field of cheerleading. He created the Herkie cheerleading jump, which was named for him, and received a patent for the pom-pon...

, the founder of the National Cheerleaders Association

National Cheerleaders Association

The National Cheerleaders Association was established as a way to bring cheerleaders together to learn new skills. From 1949 on the NCA held summer camps, and is credited with the invention of the herkie jump, the pom pon and being the first uniform manufacturer-History:The NCA was founded in 1948...

 and former cheerleader at Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...

. This jump is similar to a side-hurdler and to the abstract (double hook), except instead of the bent leg's knee

Knee

The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...

 being pointed downward, it should be flat while the other leg is straight out to the side of the jumper.

The jump was invented accidentally, because Herkimer wasn't able to do an actual side-hurdler. Common misspellings include: Hurky, Herky.

Jump Position

In a left herkie, the jumper has the left leg straight out to the side and the right leg bent flat beneath them. In a right herkie, it is the opposite. When used as a "signature" at the end of an organized cheer, the jumper typically bends their weaker leg

Human leg

The human leg is the entire lower extremity or limb of the human body, including the foot, thigh and even the hip or gluteal region; however, the precise definition in human anatomy refers only to the section of the lower limb extending from the knee to the ankle.Legs are used for standing,...

.

Arm Positions

When you do a Herkie, the arm positions depend on how your legs are. If you were to do a left Herkie, then you right leg would be straight up in a High V motion, and your right arm would be on your hip. If your were doing a right Herkie, it would be the opposite.