Falling

[MJS]

Many techniques that are found in the various systems out there, involve taking someone to the ground. This can be done by throwing or sweeping the person.

A beginner to the arts should IMO learn how to fall/land properly before they actually get taken down.

How many schools/instructors out there cover this skill prior to teaching techniques that involve takedowns? How do you go about giving this instruction?

For me, when I'd start teaching the basics, I'd start off by already having the student on the mat, laying down in the proper position. From that point, once they're familiar with how they should be landing, I'd have them start from a squatting position. This method keeps them closer to the ground. From there, they'd work on the backward or forward fall. Once they begin to feel confident, I'd gradually have them increase their height, eventually being able to do this from a standing position.

Mike

[Eternal Beginner]

My karate, kickboxing and BJJ schools all do extensive breakfall practice. Usually we are taught starting from a crouch position to executing front, back or side breakfalls. After we understand how to fall properly and have done these we do them from standing.

Even years into these arts, we still do breakfall drills, it isn't just for beginners.

[Gemini]

We don't practice falls. Because we do practice take downs, we are only able to do them slowly with control. Learning control of course is a good thing, but I'm afraid that it's an accident waiting to happen. I was hurt pretty badly once from falling wrong, and have never forgotten it. It's not uncommon for a bad fall to cause more damage than the strike that caused it.

Kudos to you, Mike.

[The Lorax]

I think most Aikido schools teach falling in the first few classes. No one would come back if we just threw them on their heads without showing them how to roll or backfall. After you get used to that, then they introduce breakfalls.

[Aqua4ever]

We teach breakfalls right from white belt, and even the youngest kids are drilled on it. We start from knees, then a squat, then almost standing, then a full stand. For back breakfalls we will also practice them off a person on the ground on all fours (you sit on their back, and fall backwards) for a good middle height. We start every grappling class with a review (once a week)
And yet still...they are my weakest point. But i'm getting there.

[jgrimm01]

We teach breakfalls right from white belt, and even the youngest kids are drilled on it. We start from knees, then a squat, then almost standing, then a full stand. For back breakfalls we will also practice them off a person on the ground on all fours (you sit on their back, and fall backwards) for a good middle height. We start every grappling class with a review (once a week)
And yet still...they are my weakest point. But i'm getting there.

Ditto here...knowing how to properly fall is imperative...not teaching that and then turning around and teaching takedowns is an accident waiting to happen...broken elbows, dislocations, its all gonna happen sooner or later when you fell someone that doesn't know how to properly protect themselves as they fall...

J

[bushidomartialarts]

breakfall drills aren't important just for class.

think about it. how many times a year do you get in a fight? how many times a year do you trip, stumble, fall, wreck your bike....

[Eternal Beginner]

breakfall drills aren't important just for class.

think about it. how many times a year do you get in a fight? how many times a year do you trip, stumble, fall, wreck your bike....

Too true! I've never used my breakfalls in fights, but I've used them countless times because of ice or wet floors.

[shesulsa]

breakfall drills aren't important just for class.

think about it. how many times a year do you get in a fight? how many times a year do you trip, stumble, fall, wreck your bike....

Yep - took a spill on the bicycle recently and thank goodness I learned how to fall correctly - a bruise and slight scrape could have been much worse.

[karatekid1975]

I started mountain biking, so knowing how to breakfall is a good thing ;) I remember years ago taking a bad spill on a mountain bike on a wet surfice (I didn't know how to fall then). That hurt!

Anyways, in TSD we learned how to fall from the start. We did a lot of take downs. So this was very important. It helped when I took Judo. We did A LOT of breakfall practice. Now in Jujitsu as well. Well, not as much as my teacher normally would, but he knows I can fall, so he does breakfall practice once every two weeks or so (I take JJ once a week). In TKD, there's some that know how to fall (either from other styles or learned on their own, or I taught them). But they don't teach breakfalls like they should. So, I try to show people when I can.

[Blindside]

We run one group class night every two months or so, where all we do is work on falls. In our curriculum, there really aren't any throws until purple so this is minimally adequate.

For those just learning to fall, I teach forward and back falls from the low squat as well as the forward and backward roll. As their comfort level increases, so does the height of their butt. :) I teach the sidefall from a standing position, cross one leg and sit out to that side.

Usually from the first class I can get a student comfortable with the forward roll from a standing position, sidefall from standing, backfall from the squat, and forward fall from the knees.

Lamont

[Miles]

We teach falling from the start because only after a student has had practice falling do we teach throws and take-downs.

Miles

[MJS]

Even years into these arts, we still do breakfall drills, it isn't just for beginners.

Agreed! This is something that benefits everyone, beginner thru advanced. What amazes me, is that I've seen many upper ranked people get taken down, and I hear BANG, as their elbow crashes into the floor, or they just fall like a sack of potatoes.

Mike

[MJS]

We don't practice falls. Because we do practice take downs, we are only able to do them slowly with control. Learning control of course is a good thing, but I'm afraid that it's an accident waiting to happen. I was hurt pretty badly once from falling wrong, and have never forgotten it. It's not uncommon for a bad fall to cause more damage than the strike that caused it.

Kudos to you, Mike.

May be a good idea to dedicate half a class towards falling drills. In the long run, it may save someone from a potential serious injury.

Mike

[Gemini]

May be a good idea to dedicate half a class towards falling drills. In the long run, it may save someone from a potential serious injury.

Mike

Yea, like me! Unfortunately, it's not my call, but I most certainly agree with all of you and maybe it's time to turn up the heat. Thanks!

[Brandon Fisher]

I start all brand new students with Ukemi from their very first day in the dojo.

[Hand Sword]

I still see falling is taught in the beginning. Question: Has anyone ever used the falling techniques for real, in real encounters? I guess what I'm asking is should falling still be taught? Even in dojo's, if you think about it, do you fall that way? or do you just fall.

[bushidomartialarts]

times i've fallen and avoided (or lessened) injury because of martial arts training:

three bike crashes, a mosh pit, getting shoved in a minor scuffle, tripping on a curb...and that's just what i can think of off the top.

as i mentioned earlier in this thread, breakfalls are one of the most important thing you can learn. normal people fight seldom (if at all), but we all fall down.

[Brandon Fisher]

I have slipped on ice and fallen bad but the good fall prevented injury. Plus I trip on things all the time so it has helped there also.

[still learning]

Hello, For falls/rolls we practice forward and backwards, for beginners start a low squats (judo style) forwards and backward. Then as your skills develop..start from standing position, then running position, then over people who are kneeling down.(one-three). When we can get mats.

We also practice takedown style and cover-up when taking down...

Judo style falling is one of the best things to learn. If your school do not practice this....find someone to teach you....and practice all the time.

We do it on the hard floors of the school cafe. ........Aloha

[MJS]

I still see falling is taught in the beginning. Question: Has anyone ever used the falling techniques for real, in real encounters? I guess what I'm asking is should falling still be taught? Even in dojo's, if you think about it, do you fall that way? or do you just fall.

Not a real life situation as in a fight, but this past winter, while walking my dog, I slipped on some black ice. Executed a nice side fall and still managed to hang onto the leash! :ultracool Got back up, un-injured, and continued on with the walk.

Mike

[Grenadier]

In my dojo, they are taught to perform takedowns with good control. Once they understand how to do the takedowns, then they are taught how to fall correctly.

I'm the unorthodox one out the the instructors, though, since I prefer to let them learn how to fall first, and then work the takedowns.

I'll start by taking the jigsaw mats (made of foam rubber), and lock a bunch of pieces together, and start the students out by having them lie down on their backs, with their feet in the air, chins tucked in.

They start by opening up their palms, and slapping the palms and the forearms on the mat many times, so that they can get used to the idea of maximizing surface area.

Once they're accustomed to that, I'll have them start from a sitting position, and have them roll backwards, with their chins tucked in, and have them spread out their arms, and repeat the above slapping motion, so that they can now apply the concept of spreading out the impact over a larger surface area.

Once they're comfortable with the sitting position, I'll start them out in a squatting position, and then have them learn how to spread out the impact while falling sideways.

Usually, that's more than enough for a first lesson, and the next morning, I get people telling me that they're having a harder time gripping that cup of coffee in the morning (first timers always get the shakes). Still, I haven't had anyone say that they hated the knowledge. :)

Once they're comfortable with all of the above drills, then I'll have them partake in some gentle takedowns, and some gentle throws on the mats, so that they can get the idea of sticking the arm(s) out when they are engaged in a fall.

I always try to partner people with equivalently sized / strength folks, but once in a while, there's that really big fellow, who weighs 280 lbs that I can't let the others try, so of course, I'll be his partner. I don't mind letting him throw other people, since everyone knows him as the gentle giant (and one heck of a good fellow, too), but you do need a certain minimum amount of strength to work safely with him.

[ginshun]

Rolling and breakfalls are some of the first things we do.

[Lisa]

Crucial part of training, IMHO. It was one of the first things I was taught and think it really important for everyone to know and practice. It helps prevent injuries both on the mat in training and in real life.

I think we can all recall times that we have used them outside of the school to save ourselves from injury.

[stone_dragone]

My first school taught breakfalls heavily until yellow belt, and then you practiced them by hitting the floor.

When I teach them, they are part of the warm up any time we might think about doing takedowns, regardless of level.

My personal training in breakfalls (and a LOT of help from my Heavenly Father) saved me when I was in a motorcycle accident. After flying 8 feet into the air and bouncing off of a ford escorts windshield, I landed rather safely...in the other lane. Hopped right back up...kinda had to, cars weren't slowing down nearly as much as I'd hoped they would.