Getting started

01What is wall trampoline?

It is a mix of trampoline and wall. A flat, vertical wall stands right next to a trampoline. You land on your back, use the rebound to put your feet on the wall and "walk" up it, or drop from the top of the wall into a trick. It is also called trampwall, wall trampoline or wall running (see the Glossary).

How it differs from regular trampolining

• On a regular trampoline you mostly bounce on your feet. In trampwall, the back drop (landing on your back) is the foundation. The rebound from your back carries your feet to the wall. ^[1][2]
• The wall is a solid surface, so you can push off it to turn and twist. It also means you can hit the wall or its corners.
• Some tricks start from the top of the wall, so you fall from higher up than on a regular trampoline.

Where it came from

Trampwall is said to come from the circus world, but nobody knows for sure who did it first.

• In the 1980s, circus students in Montreal, Canada reportedly piled mats next to a trampoline and bounced off their backs towards a wall. ^[3]
• In the 1990s it became widely known through Cirque du Soleil shows such as La Nouba and Dralion. ^[4] One coach says it started with Mystère in Las Vegas. ^[5]
• Brazilian acrobat Wellington Lima, who performed with Cirque du Soleil for more than 25 years, is described as one of the original artists who created the act. ^[6]
• Later, trampoline parks began installing trampolines with walls, so anyone could try it.

Where you can do it

• Trampoline parks: Leisure venues. Many have one or more trampolines with a wall, often in an area called "Performance Wall" or "The Wall". ^[2][7]
• Circus schools: Teach it properly as a stage act. Walls can be 5–10 m high. ^[4]
• Gymnastics and acrobatics clubs: Some use a wall as the next step after trampoline training.
• Find a place near you on our Facility Map.

Competitions

There are still few competitions, and there are no shared international rules.

• Japan: JP WALL BATTLE (since 2019, with events such as freestyle and big air). ^[8][9]
• USA: Trampwall Tribe Competition (Las Vegas; 30-second runs judged on creativity, difficulty and execution). ^[10] The 2018 Off Axis Trampwall Games called itself "the first trampwall competition in the world". ^[11]
• See upcoming competitions in our Event Calendar.

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02How old do you need to be?

There is no single age limit. It varies a lot between facilities and classes. Some examples:

What public bodies say

• The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the UK's RoSPA advise that children under 6 should not use full-size trampolines. ^[20][21][22]
• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes that children aged 5 and under appear to be at higher risk of fractures and dislocations. ^[23]

Rule of thumb

Most wall classes start at around 7–8 years old (a summary of the examples above, not an official standard). Many facilities care more about whether you can do a solid back drop than about your age. ^[2][17][1] Younger children can start with an age-appropriate trampoline class.

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03What to wear and bring

Clothing

• Comfortable, stretchy clothes such as track pants and a T-shirt.
• You will land on your back many times, so choose clothes with no buttons, zips or decorations on the back.
• Remove clothes with metal parts, and belts. ^[24] Hoodies and long drawstrings can catch, and some venues ban them. ^[2]

Grip socks

• Almost every facility requires grip socks (socks with non-slip soles). Most sell them on site. ^{[2][7][25][26]}
• Example prices: about ¥350–500 in Japan, about $3 in the USA, about €3.50 in Germany and 45 kr in Sweden. ^{[25][27][28][29][26]} You can reuse them next time.

Take off and leave behind

• Empty your pockets. No keys, phones or coins on the trampoline. ^[2][28][24]
• Remove jewellery (earrings, necklaces, rings, watches). ^[2][28]
• Nothing in your mouth (gum, sweets). ^[2]
• Tie long hair back tightly (ponytail or braid). ^[2]

Glasses

Rules vary. A major US chain says eyewear must be secure and impact-resistant. ^[2] Ask the facility or your coach what to do.

What to bring

• Water (for breaks), a towel and a change of clothes
• Your booking confirmation and, where required, a waiver (signed online, or printed and brought along; Mr.JUMP, for example, asks you to print it and bring it) ^[18]

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04How much does it cost?

Prices vary a lot by facility, day and time. These are rounded examples from our research in November 2026, in local currency. Check the facility's website before you go.

General admission (free jump), adult, 1 hour

Classes and practice sessions, per session

Some facilities charge a separate fee for wall sessions; others include them in the entry ticket.

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05Safety

This section summarises what public bodies and facilities advise. It is not medical advice. If you have health concerns, talk to a doctor.

Common injuries (figures for trampolines in general)

The figures below are for trampolines in general, not wall trampoline alone. We have not found a large study on trampwall itself.

• According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the most common trampoline injury is an ankle sprain, and the legs account for 34–50% of injuries. ^[23]
• In data from Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency, fractures were the most common injury: 12 of 34 cases where the injury was known. 32% of accidents needed more than a month of treatment. ^[41] Serious cases such as fractures and nerve damage have also been reported. ^[42]
• An Australian study of about 500 children treated in emergency departments after trampoline park injuries found 47% had fractures, 32% sprains or strains, 11.5% spinal injuries and 9.8% head injuries. ^[43]
• Failed flips and falls can injure the neck or spine, and these injuries tend to be severe. ^[23][20]
• About three-quarters of trampoline injuries are reported to happen when more than one person is on the trampoline, and smaller jumpers are hurt more often. ^[23]

Wall-specific risks

• The wall can be hard. At some facilities the wall surface and surrounding parts are acrylic or steel, not padding. ^[19] Take care not to hit the wall or its corners with your head or body.
• Coming down from the top of the wall: check that nobody is on the trampoline below, call out that you are coming, land on your bottom or back rather than feet first, and never jump from the wall to the floor. Several facilities set rules like these. ^[2][28][7]
• Don't climb with your hands: walk up the wall with your feet. If you can't get up yet, work on other skills first. ^[28][7]
• Start low: some facilities require first-timers to begin on the lowest wall. ^[2][28]

One jumper at a time

• One person per trampoline. Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency and National Consumer Affairs Center, the US CPSC and AAP, and trampoline parks all say the same. ^{[44][42][23][20][7]}
• Never jump onto a trampoline someone else is using. ^[24]

Start with a coached session

• The AAP only supports trampoline use as part of a structured training program with coaching, supervision and safety measures, and says new skills, especially flips, should follow a step-by-step progression with coaching and spotting. ^[23]
• Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency asks first-timers not to jump high or try flips right away. ^[44][45]
• Some facilities state in their waiver that staff do not teach tricks. ^[19] If you want instruction, choose a class or session with a coach.

Learn in order, starting with the back drop

Trampwall is usually learned in this order, although the order and names can differ between coaches. Move on only when the previous step is solid.

1. 01Back drop (landing on your back): the foundation of everything. One Japanese facility calls it "a must, first of all". ^[1]
2. 02Back bounce (bouncing repeatedly on your back; called "cat" in Japan): builds height from your back. ^[1]
3. 03Wall run (using the bounce to take about two steps up the wall, then returning to your back) ^[18]
4. 04Only then move on to the pop, drop in, swan dive and more.

Major US chains also say wall trampolines are for guests who are confident in their back drop and have mastered the basics, not for first-time visitors. ^[2][28]

Health, alcohol and more

• Some facilities do not let you jump under the influence of alcohol or drugs. ^[2][28][7]
• Some facilities do not allow pregnant or injured people, or guests wearing a cast, to jump. ^[2][7]
• Some waivers note that your health, skill and tiredness strongly affect the risk of an accident. ^[19] Rest when you are tired, and don't push yourself when something feels scary.
• The AAP says any neck pain after using a trampoline should be checked by a doctor promptly. ^[23]

Follow the facility's rules

• Read the facility's terms, safety notes and list of banned actions, and follow the rules and staff instructions. ^[44][42]
• If you feel the facility is unsafe or poorly managed, stop jumping and tell the staff. ^[44]
• The industry association IATP advises: don't jump without a court monitor, read the posted rules, and get a safety briefing. ^[46]

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06Practice sessions vs. general admission

Trampoline facilities usually offer two kinds of time: general admission (free jump) and classes or practice sessions.

At some facilities, the wall is closed during general admission

• Since March 2026, Mr.JUMP (Japan) only allows a simple wall run during regular hours. Other wall tricks are limited to each branch's "Acrobat Time" and need a branch-specific consent form. ^[18]
• O-Volt (Canada) requires you to pass a paid instructor check before entering the wall area. ^[48]
• BOUNCE (Australia) describes its wall as for advanced jumpers. ^[7]

First-timers should look for classes or sessions that say beginners can join. Our practice session finder lists them by day of the week.

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07How to choose a facility

Check these points on the facility's website, or call them.

• Wall height: in Japan, 1.5–2.5 m is common, and some walls are 4 m. ^[33][49][50] A low wall is reassuring for beginners. ^[2]
• Coaching: does the class or session have a coach? Some are self-guided practice. ^[47]
• Session days and times: see our practice session finder or the weekly board on each facility page.
• Beginner entry: some require a back drop or other skills first. ^[17]
• Waiver: is one needed, and how do you sign it (online, printed and brought along, or at the desk)? Minors usually need a parent's signature. ^[2][18]
• Booking: most sessions require booking.
• Supervision: are court monitors present and actually watching? ^[44][46]
• Safety briefing: is there a briefing at the start? ^[46]

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08Your first session, step by step

Details vary by facility, but it usually goes like this.

1. 01Book: most classes and sessions need booking. Say it's your first time and give your age and experience.
2. 02Prepare the waiver: sign online, print and bring it, or sign at the desk. Minors need a parent's signature. ^[2][18]
3. 03Check in: confirm your booking, pay and buy grip socks. Put pocket items and jewellery in a locker.
4. 04Warm up: loosen up your whole body.
5. 05Safety briefing: one person per trampoline, how to use the top of the wall, signals and so on. ^[46]
6. 06Back drop practice: first on a regular trampoline, practise landing on your back. Then keep bouncing on your back (back bounce). ^[1]
7. 07Try a wall run: on your coach's signal, starting on a low wall. Use the bounce to bring your feet to the wall, take about two steps and return to your back. ^[2]
8. 08Rest and review: take breaks before you get tired, and ask your coach what to practise next.

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09For parents (FAQ)

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