What is Jelqing?
If you've never heard of jelqinq, then pull up a chair because this is a fun one — and not only because jelqing tantalizes the tongue when it's said out loud. Jelqing is a penis stretching exercise that's supposed to increase penile size, in both length and girth, leading to longer erections.
Jelqinq vs. Jelq
What's the difference? Jelqing is the action, while jelq is the exercise is the exercise in itself as in, "That was my last jelq of this jelqing session." The proper pronunciation of jelqing is to take the "J" sound from "jelly," and then combine it with "king," as in royalty.
Since the dawn of humankind, penis owners have been intrigued by the size of their below-the-belt appendage. Even those who are perfectly happy with their penis still tend to be somewhat fascinated by the prospect of making it bigger, so it's only natural that an exercise to do so was invented. Jelqing is thought to have its roots in Ancient Arabia because "jelqing" is derived from the Farsi term "jalq zadan," which loosely translates to "to masturbate" [then] "to strike or throb."
Jelqing is performed on a halfway erect penis with the penis owner's hands. One hand grips the base of the shaft, while the other slowly strokes the penis with a fair amount of pressure in a pulling manner from the base to the corona. Each pull should take a few seconds and the movement is repeated 30 to 50 times, or up to 20 minutes a day.
Does Jelqing Work?
Fantastic question! What's happening during jelqing is that micro-tears are being created by the movement. As the tears heal, they become engorged with blood, as all bodily wounds do, which can make the penis look ever-so-slightly bigger. But when I saw "micro," I mean micro as in the tears are invisible to the naked eye. However, when all of them are trying to heal at the same time with the congestion of blood, naturally there will be an overall visible swelling. Which, in turn, can make the penis look, again, ever-so-slightly larger.
What's the purpose of jelqing?
If done correctly and regularly, jelqing supposedly results in longer and girthier penises. It's also supposed to extend erection time, thereby making the penis owner dynamite in bed. Or at least this is the thought behind jelqing.
Does it work?
Not really, but let me explain. Yes, a penis can look bigger after creating those aforementioned micro-tears, but any other part of the body can look bigger when it's been damaged and is healing. There is anecdotal evidence, or what some might call the placebo effect, that "proves" it works but as far as evidence, however, is in the fact that jelqing can cause scarring (those micro-tears don't just disappear), as well as pain and even possible disfigurement according to the Mayo Clinic.
Jelqing Exercises for Beginners
If you're going to take on the world of jelqing, you don't want to just jump into it. In addition to being aware of the possible damage it can cause — especially if you do it too much — you also want to follow these tips.
Preparation
1. Warm-up!
Whether you choose a hot shower or a warm compress, you absolutely don't want to go into jelqing cold. Warming up the area will promote blood flow which will get your penis to the necessary semi-erect state that it needs to be in so you can properly jelq.
2. Grab some lube.
When it comes to stroking a penis, lube is necessary. It doesn't matter if you're circumcised or uncircumcised, lube should always be part of the equation. This is most definitely the case when jelqing since there is so much stroking — and pulling — involved and for a prolonged period of time. Although micro-tears are inevitable, lube can help prevent pain and inflammation. Grab your favorite lube, be it a warming sensation lube or even a coconut oil lube, and use it liberally with each jelq!
3. Don't get fully erect.
Jelqing needs to be performed on a penis that's only at half-mast, so to speak. If you're fully erect, when you stroke you won't have the ability to pull and lengthen the penis. Instead, you'll essentially just be masturbating. There needs to be some wiggle room in your penis' flexibility to do the exercise.
Jelqing techniques
Although there's more than one way to try to enlarge your penis, when it comes to jelqing there's a standard movement.
1. Create the grip.
When jelqing, grip is everything. Of course, technically, you can grip your penis how you choose as long as you get the movement right, but for this lesson, we're not going to stray from a standard jelq. So, put your thumb and index finger together in an O-shape. It should look like you're giving someone (your penis?) the "OK" signal.
2. Grip your penis.
Depending on if you're left-handed or right-handed, the hand that isn't in the O-shape should be snuggly at the base of the penis. You want to pull enough back, gathering excess skin and hair so you don't have anything getting in the way when you jelq. Next, you want to take your "O" and slide it from the base of the penis to the corona (base of the glans/head), applying uniform pressure with every stroke.
3. Movement.
Each stroke (or pull) should take you between 3 to 5 seconds to get from the base of the penis to the corona. Every time you reach the corona, put your "O" back at the base and do it again. Repeat this movement for 30 to 50 strokes or up to 20 minutes. If it starts to become painful or you become fully erect, stop. You can do this 4 to 5 times a week.
4. Experiment.
Once you get the hang of the movement, you can implement different intensities of pressure with your O-shape. If your penis is slightly curved, you can try to reduce the curvature by applying pressure in the opposite direction with each movement. You can try dry jelqing, in which you skip the lube, a technique that some men prefer but it should be done with care. When you've mastered the movement, you can practice the one-hand jelq which is — you guessed it — jelqing with one hand.
Jelqing aftercare
When you've reached your desired amount of jelqing, it's time to let your penis relax. As you do at the beginning of your routine, you want to apply heat to your penis either via a warm washcloth or shower. Keep the heat on for the area for five to 10 minutes, allowing your penis to take a breather after its arduous workout. When you feel centered again, go about the rest of your day like you would after any other exercise session.
Jelqing Risks & Safety Measures
Jelqing, if done incorrectly or too often, can have some less-than-pleasant side effects. Because of this, it's important to pay attention to your body and take any pain or irritation seriously.
Pain
Although jelqing shouldn't feel good, per se, it shouldn't hurt. If it's hurting mid-jelqing or after jelqing, then it's time to slow down on how many repetitions you do and how often.
Bruising
When you apply pressure to anything, you run the risk of bruising it and your penis is no different. If you experience bruising, ease up the pressure. Or, even better, take a few days.
Skin irritation
Whether it's an aggressive masturbation session or too much jelqing, the epidermis can only take so much action. Too much jelqing and doing it too hard can cause itchiness, dryness, and even scarring.
Numbness
If your penis goes numb or starts to tingle at any point, stop jelqing. What you're essentially feeling is what is colloquially known as "pins and needles," and is the result of too much pressure being placed on nerves.
If you practice jelqing mindfully, meaning you don't push it and listen to your body, the exercise could possibly have some positive results. It's just important to realize that in most cases those results are short-lived and not necessarily as obvious as you might hope them to be. Jelqing as part of a pre-sex routine can be worth it for some, but if you're looking for long-term results in penis size then you're better off talking to your urologist about possible surgery. But remember: it's more about the motion in the ocean than the size of the boat. Unless you're in the movie Jaws. Then, and only then, is the boat size everything.
Going Beyond Jelqing
If you enjoy jelqing, believe you're seeing results, and want to add a tool (or two) to take your exercise regimen up a notch, there are a couple of options.
Penis pumps
Penis pumps may seem a little daunting in theory, but they're the real deal in reality. Penis pumps like the Bathmate Hydromax5 and Hydromax7 work by temporarily increasing blood flow to the penis so your erection can be, for lack of a better word, fierce. Both Bathmate pumps are easy-to-use and will take your penis to new levels of hardness, making you last longer than you might without them.
Penile traction device
Penile traction devices, also known as penis extenders, have been known to add minimal length to penises. One study published in the British Journal of Urology asked 15 men to use penile extenders for six months, having them gradually increase the traction force during this time. On average, by the end of the study, the men had gained 0.9 inches in length while flaccid.
.
Found this jelqing tutorial useful? Check out our most popular guides for penis owners on cockwarming, edging, precum play, and learn the best method on how to use a vibrator on a penis.
