Actually this technique is based on a physics concept called center of mass.A center of mass is a point not necessarily inside the body-where the whole mass of the object is concentrated.We human have a center of mass, when stand up the center of mass is around the belly. It moves all the time according to how our body is positioned even it can be outside our bodies.The jumper runs very fast so he can divert his horizontal velocity to vertical velocity and jump.When he jumps backward above the bar his center of mass becomes below his body.If he was not jumping backward he has to apply more force to lift not only his body but also his center of mass.
The Earth has its own magnetic field , it acts like there is huge bar magnet buried inside,but this bar magnet is not on the earth rotational axis it is shifted by some angle.The south of the bar magnet is on the magnetic north and the south polarity is on the magnetic north(image).As opposite polarities attract the magnetic needle (north) is attracted to the south polarity in the magnetic north.That’s why the needle always points north.If you want to know “why earth has magnetic field?”go to letter E.