How To Count Average Ape Index: Сalculate Easily

A greater part of people on our planet has an average ape index equal to 1 or 0 subject to the method of calculation. Are you one of them? Is it really important, and can you gain anything from your ape index? Let’s find out together.

Average Ape Index – a new term for the old notion

The ape or gorilla index is also identified as the ape factor. Itis an arm span-to-height ratio. It can be measured either in inches or centimeters, whatever you prefer (the same measurement unit for both values).

A bit of history

Back in the 1st century BC, an ancient Roman creator, Vitruvius considered the wingspan equal to the height as a perfect proportion for a human body. Later in 1492, Leonardo da Vinci, inspired by Vitruvius’s writings, created his renowned Vitruvian man.

So since the time of Vitruvius and Leonardo da Vinci, a normal ape index has shown equality of a human height and arm span.

The term though appeared much later and originated from climbing.

Estimate your own ape index

You can either use a ready-to-go ape index calculator or easily count it yourself.

For that purpose, determine your height and arm span (just spread your arms to the sides and measure the distance from the fingertips of one hand to the fingertips of the other one).

With this, calculate your ape index using one of the following methods:

Ratio

Divide the arm span by the height.

E.g.: A well-known climber Adam Ondra measures an arm span of 187 cm (73,6 in) and a height of 186 cm (73,2 in). Let’s find his ape factor

187 cm / 186 cm = 1,01 or

73,6 in / 73,2 in = 1,01

We’ve got Adam Ondra’s ape index: 1,01. Mind, it is the same for different measurement units.

For this method: a positive ape index is above 1, a negative one is less than 1, a neutral ape index, also known as average, is 1 sharp (when you measure your arm span as big as your height).

Subtraction

The ape index equals arm span minus height.

E.g.: using the same data from above, we calculate

187 cm – 186 cm = 1 cm or

73,6 in – 73,2 in = 0,4 in

Note that we get different results for various units of measurement: Adam Ondra’s ape index is +1 cm or +0,4 in.

For this method: positive will be an ape index greater than 0, a negative one is below 0 and a neutral ape index equals 0. The latter implies that your height and your arm span are identical, and you are a perfect Vitruvian man.

In which scope does your ape index work?

The ape index is at play in some sports.

Climbing

The ape index is relevant in rock climbing. It’s quite natural that climbers with higher ape indexes reach holds that are further away and thus have a brighter climbing ability. Many professional climbers measure their indices ratio above 1.

table: Famous climbers and their ape indices

• Name, wingspan, height, ape index ratio, ape index
• Alex Puccio, 165,1 cm /65 in, 160 cm /63 in/, 1,03, +5,1 cm /+2″
• Alex Honnold, 188 cm /74 in, 180 cm /70,9 in, 1,04, +8 cm /+3,1″
• Shauna Coxsey, 171,5 cm /67,5 in/, 163 cm /64,2 in, 1,05, +8,5 cm /+3,3″
• Daniel Woods, 182,9 cm /72 in, 172,7 cm /68 in, 1,06, +10,2 cm /+4″
• Matt Fultz, 195,6 cm /77 in, 180,3 cm /71 in, 1,08, +15,2 cm /+6″
• Kai Lightner, 208 cm /82 in, 190,5 cm /75 in, 1,09, +17,5 cm /+7″

Impressed? But other climbers dismiss this opinion. Using the ape index calculator (above), we estimated that a climbing and bouldering champion Adam Ondra owns a slightly positive ape index and ape index ratio ( + 1 cm (+0,4 in) and 1,005 correspondingly). Meanwhile, Adam Ondra is one of the foremost living elite climbers.

Two other famous climbers are Lynn Hill and Alex Megos.

Lynn Hill measures a height and arm span equal to 157,5 cm (62 in). The ape index ratio of hers is 1 and the ape index is 0. This, however, didn’t balk her to complete the first free ascent from The Nose on El Cap and a show of a fantastic climbing performance.

Alex Megos (wingspan & height 173 cm or 68,1 in) has the ape index identical to Lynn Hill. He was the first climber to onsight a 9a graded route and became well-known in rock climbing.

Another climber, Babsi Zangerl is a good example of how a person with a negative ape factor can show strong climbing performance. Babsi Zangerl’s index ratio is only 0,99.

A recognized British Journal of Sports Medicine released the results of M. Mermier’s et al. (2000) study detecting elements that affect climbing performance.

With more than 40 climbers involved, the project backed the decisive role of trainable factors.

Another research issued in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (Watts et al. (2003)) couldn’t spot close links between the ape factor and the climbing ability of young rock climbers. Although, this might be because of a low variability of participants’ ape indices.

Ozimek et al. (2017) compared the performance of elite climbers and other climbers and didn’t discover any positive correlation with the ape factor.

The only examination supported a possible role of the index when comparing the rock climbing ability of male and female climbers (Moss et al. (2001)). But it is quite disputable, as there are lots of other factors explaining performance differences.

Many climbers (including elite climbers) have a positive wingspan-to-height ratio. But neither neutral nor even negative value is a perceived disadvantage.

Swimming

Swimming is mostly arms work. So you’d say arm length (or wingspan) matters for the performance. Some research suggests that swimmers with a positive ape index show better results in shorter races. And the owners of a negative ape index are upper in endurance swims.

Have you heard of “the Baltimore Bullet” Michael Phelps? He earned as many as 82 medals in major international competitions. Michael Phelps can boast a 203 cm (80″) arm span and a 193 cm (6’4″) height. To calculate his ape index, we simply subtract 203 – 193 = 10 or divide 203 / 193 = 1,052.

Another outstanding swimmer is Caeleb Dressel, an Olympic medalist and a world record-breaker. The ape index calculator estimates his ape index ratio as 1,01 or +2 cm only. Dressel’s wingspan is 193 cm (6’4″), and his height is 191 cm (6’3″).

No doubt, a higher ape index is a head start, but not a necessity for a swimmer. Longer arms significantly help to propel your body through the water. Still, there are many other factors, like cadence, style, type of strokes, etc. Wendy Mader, a triathlon coach, says the ape index only helps to determine a swimmer’s physical abilities and based on that, choose a proper technique.

Boxing

Statistically, a boxer’s reach in the mean is 2,5″ longer than that of a usual man of the same height. Following this, most boxers boast of a +2,5″ ape index.

An interesting fact

Legend has it that the undefeatable Irish champion Dan Donnelly, a pioneer of professional boxing, had the longest arms in the history of the gloves. He could reach his knees even without leaning.

Below is the list of champions with the most stunning reach and ape indices.

TABLE: Height, reach, and ape indices of boxing champions

• Name, Height, Reach, Ape index
• Larry Holmes, 6’3″, 81″, +6,0″
• Primo Carnera, 6’6″, 85″, +7,0″
• Lennox Lewis, 6’5″, 84″, +7,0″
• Steve Cunningham, 6’3″, 82″, +7,0″
• Sam Langford, 5’6,5″, 74″, +7,5″
• James Douglas, 6’3,5″, 83″, +7,5″
• Hasim Rahman, 6’2,5″, 82″, +7,5″
• Sonny Liston, 6’1″, 84″, +11,0″

Many boxing champions possess an ape index higher than normal. Their longer arms relative to their height is a big advantage. However, this is not always the case. Here is the list of boxers with negative ape indices.

TABLE: Height, reach and ape index

• Roberto Duran, 5’7″, 66″, -1,0″
• Kid Chocolate, 5’6″, 65″, -1,0″
• Vasyl Lomachenko, 5’7″, 65,5″, -1,5″
• Johnny Dundee, 5’4,5″, 63″, -1,5″
• Enzo Maccarinelli, 6’4″, 74,5″, -1,5″
• Rocky Marciano, 5’10,5″, 68″, -2,5″
• Carl Frampton, 5’5″, 62″, -3,0″

Evidently, long reach and a bigger ape index provide a competitive advantage in boxing. However, a boxer must be able to properly use this advantage, and this is another issue.

Experience proves that great punch, good strategy, speed, physical body type, and other factors contribute to the victory as much.

Basketball

In this sport, a player’s wingspan is crucial for both offense and defense. Whatever you are doing – dribbling, dunking, guarding your opponent, or blocking shots – a greater wingspan is always a benefit. Have a look at the list of NBA players with the biggest ape indices.

table: name, wingspan, height, ape index

• Lang James, 7’6″, 6’9″, +9,0″
• Reggie Jackson, 7’0″, 6’3″, +9,0″
• Taylen Horton, 7’1″, 6’4″, +9,0″
• Jason Maxiell, 7’3″, 6’6″, +9,0″
• Mohamed Bamba, 7’10”, 7’0″, +10,0″
• Bruno Caboclo, 7’7″, 6’9″, +10,0″
• Bismack Biyombo, 7’6″, 6’8″, +10,0″
• Manute Bol, 8’6″, 7’7″, +11,0″

Most successful basketball players can boast a high ape index. But not all.

JJ Redick‘s arm span is 191 cm (75,2 in). His height is 193 cm (6 ft 3 in). Engaging the ape index calculator, we find out his index. It is – 2 cm (the index ratio is 0,99).

His colleague Kevin Willis‘s ape index is – 5 cm (the ratio is 0,978) with a wingspan of 208 cm (82 in) and a height of 213 cm (7 ft).

Athletics

Other sports like shot put, javelin, hammer, and discus are associated with throwing motion.

All of them consider extended arms highly advantageous, and so find a positive ape index good.

Long reach allows more time for contact and consequently transfers more speed and more energy to the object.

Where else may a high ape index matter?

The ape index may give a good advantage in other combat sports like kickboxing, MMA, martial arts. Here, arm size and good reach provide you with a better position against your opponent.

Similarly, in ball sports, a high index with long arms allows a further and higher reach, farther and faster throw of a ball, and better defense from your competitors. On average, world-class players are taller than 196 cm (6’5″) and have positive indices.

A higher ape index and long arms present a huge benefit for pommel horse.

In soccer, a high wingspan is quite meaningful for a goalkeeper. A higher ape index can even compensate for some height deficiency. That’s what we find in the famous Jorge Campos and Iker Casillas.

It’s curious

An average height of a soccer goalie is above 185 cm. Jorge Campos being just 170 cm tall, compensated for this with an impressive wingspan as well as some developed physical skills. Campos is one of the top thirty best goalkeepers in soccer history.

Can a lower ape index give precedence?

A lower ape index reaps benefits in some sports.

Weightlifting is the one. There is no official documentation of ape indices for weightlifters. But they often own visibly shorter arms and wisely make use of a negative ape index. Let’s have a look at the world champions Tian Tao, Ivan Ivanov, Simon Martirosyan, Halil Mutlu. -These sportsmen found a great way to put forth their physical abilities and body type.

Short limbs will be a benefit in iron cross.

What you really need here is strength and technique.

A negative ape index plus long legs may assist you in taekwondo. That’s due to the scoring system and close-range punches.

Some fun facts

Here are a few other interesting indices referring mainly to climbing.

The Hobbit index is a proportion of hand and foot length.

The Sloth index is the difference between the length of your leg and arm.

The Beanie index estimates how baller you are at bouldering – the more beanies the better.

The Index index is a correlation of the smallest hold on your route to your fingers width.

The Fist index is the ratio of the fist width to the crack size (for crack climbing).

Conclusion

The conclusion is simple. The majority of people (climbers, swimmers, boxers, athletes, and other sportsmen among them) possess a normal ape index (neutral). This does not prevent them from enjoying all kinds of activities, including sports. Extraordinary high or low indices may offer an advantage in this or that field.

But whatever your index is, keep in mind that age, genetics, speed, power, experience, trainable factors, and tactics always play a key role.

You may calculate your ape index and though you cannot change it, you can turn the result to your account. As for me personally, I perfectly use my mildly positive index to benefit in ball games with my kids.

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