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Izzy Daniels, a star boxer in Brooklyn, steps into an exhibition match against his classmate Rodney Tyler. He wins by applying strategic movement and focused pressure, showing that his boxing skills can shine beyond the gym. The crowd is surprised by how calculated he appears in the ring.

Izzy attends the Double Dutch regional competition with Mary Thomas and the Joy Jumpers. The team places fourth, barely qualifying for the city finals, and Yolanda Brooks leaves to join their main rivals. Izzy teases the Dutch Dragons, while Mary challenges him to try jumping rope.

The Joy Jumpers convince Izzy to stand in as a temporary replacement for the injured member. He secretly practices with the group after school at his father's gym, quickly picking up their choreography. His dual life begins to interfere with his boxing schedule and punctuality.

Izzy's talent for Double Dutch grows quickly, and the team starts to benefit from his new skills. His boxing training and punctuality suffer as a result, drawing concern from Tammy Lewis who later pledges to keep his secret if he stops teasing her. The dynamic within the gym starts to shift.

Izzy accepts the invitation to join the Joy Jumpers permanently and suggests renaming the team to Hot Chili Steppers, a change Mary agrees to. The group solidifies their new identity as they plan to perform together at a regional exhibition. The bond between Izzy and the team deepens despite lingering tensions.

On the day planned for a Double Dutch exhibition, Izzy's father Kenneth shows up with tickets to a boxing match. Feeling torn, Izzy goes with his dad and misses the group’s performance, causing Mary to kick him off the team. The rift tests their budding camaraderie.

Rodney escalates the rivalry, demanding a rematch and then discovers Izzy's secret life with the Joy Jumpers. He posts pictures around the school exposing Izzy and ridiculing him, turning his friends against him. The revelation shakes Izzy and heightens the tension between him and Mary.

Kenneth confronts Izzy about the circulated photos, pressing him to be honest. Izzy confesses that he hasn't told his father about his struggles because his late mother’s memory has always kept boxing at the center of their world. He reveals that his mother died, and boxing became his link to her memory.

That night, Tammy reminds Izzy that she too has faced teasing and has still become Brooklyn's top girl boxer. Her words encourage him to reconsider his choices, and Izzy ultimately apologizes to the team for his earlier actions. The mood shifts toward reconciliation.

Rodney again appears with a large crowd, demanding a rematch. In the ring, Izzy uses cool, analytical fighting to outwit Rodney's taunts, but chooses not to finish him once he has him on the ropes. He walks away, and Rodney follows but trips, signaling a new, non-violent resolve between them.

The Hot Chili Steppers arrive at the city finals with an imperfect roster until Izzy arrives to join them. Mary forgives him, and together they surprise the field with a strong compulsory routine that earns first place for the Steppers. The momentum also reveals their growing chemistry as a team.

In the freestyle, the Steppers compete for the title while the Dutch Dragons lead in other disciplines. Kenneth and Karin return to support Izzy, and the two finally reconcile, with Kenneth expressing pride in his son. Rodney attends and hints at a budding respect, setting a stage for truce.

The results declare the Dutch Dragons in second place, while the story shifts to a montage where Rodney narrates that the Hot Chili Steppers would go to state the next year. He reveals that Mary and Izzy remain together, hinting at their continued partnership beyond the finals. The audience sees hope for a bigger win in the future.

In a final credits scene, the Hot Chili Steppers and Karin teach Kenneth how to Double Dutch, tying back to the film’s central bond between family and sport. The playful moment underscores their shared love of the rhythm and teamwork they’ve built. It closes on a note of community and growth.