What a good fall school makes possible

[AikidoRostock]

A clip from one of our demonstrations on concrete last year. The training also saved my health in a wild bike crash.

 

[drop bear]

Yeah. Falling has saved me a few times.

 

[Buka]

One real cold winter morning I was headed to my car to go to work. I was carrying a Pyrex container filled with spaghetti and meatballs. We lived on a hill. I was walking down to the driveway. The sidewalk was black ice that I didn’t see. Both feet went out from under me, high in the air. The container went up in the air, too.

I successfully broke my fall without hurting myself, bruised my hand a bit from slapping the cold sidewalk, but not badly.

Broke the container and had to clean up the mess. But that was the day that I knew break-fall training was well worth the time.

And learned how much I really like spaghetti and meatballs. I almost cried.

 

[Dirty Dog]

One real cold winter morning I was headed to my car to go to work. I was carrying a Pyrex container filled with spaghetti and meatballs. We lived on a hill. I was walking down to the driveway. The sidewalk was black ice that I didn’t see. Both feet went out from under me, high in the air. The container went up in the air, too.

I successfully broke my fall without hurting myself, bruised my hand a bit from slapping the cold sidewalk, but not badly.

Broke the container and had to clean up the mess. But that was the day that I knew break-fall training was well worth the time.

And learned how much I really like spaghetti and meatballs. I almost cried.

The very first time I jumped out of an airplane, my chute was twisted and only opened about 75% of the way. It was a windless day, as well, so turning into the wind and flaring wasn't happening. I learned just how effective breakfalls can be that day.

 

[Buka]

The very first time I jumped out of an airplane, my chute was twisted and only opened about 75% of the way. It was a windless day, as well, so turning into the wind and flaring wasn't happening. I learned just how effective breakfalls can be that day.

Oh, God, that’s so nuts. I don’t know anything about parachuting. What’s “flaring”
and how hard did you hit the ground?

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

To protect your head is more important than to be able to land comfortably. When your body is rotating in the air, you truly don't know which part of your body will land first. Not to let the back of your head to hit on the hard ground should be your highest priority.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Oh, God, that’s so nuts. I don’t know anything about parachuting. What’s “flaring”
and how hard did you hit the ground?

When you're about 15 feet from the ground, you turn into the wind and pull down both steering toggles. This flattens the rear of the chute and slows you down right before contact. No wind, no real slowing.

I went home sore. I'm pretty sure I'd have broken something if I hadn't known how to breakfall. In the basic class you have to take before your first jump, they actually give a very abbreviated lesson on breakfalls. They had us jump off a wooden box about 2' high.

Just to clarify. I am not an expert. I'm certified, and I've done a few jumps. I got certified because I have a thing about heights. I don't even want to stand on a chair to change a lightbulb. (All our lights are LED, so I'll burn out before they do.) But I don't believe in letting fear control me. So... skydiving.

My first jump was a matter of weeks after I'd finished surgery/chemo/radiation for throat cancer. In hindsight, a bit of a delay to get stronger might have been wise.

 

[Tigerwarrior]

A clip from one of our demonstrations on concrete last year. The training also saved my health in wild bike crash.

I did 9 months of judo when i was younger. The first 3 months I didn't learn how to throw anyone. All I did was learn breakfalls and conditioning. Once I got the falls down I was shown a few techniques and allowed to do randori. I got my butt handed to me but I would safely fall. That was 10 years ago, I fell several months back and my body went into auto pilot and did a break fall.

 

[Stuarto]

I did 9 months of judo when i was younger. The first 3 months I didn't learn how to throw anyone. All I did was learn breakfalls and conditioning. Once I got the falls down I was shown a few techniques and allowed to do randori. I got my butt handed to me but I would safely fall. That was 10 years ago, I fell several months back and my body went into auto pilot and did a break fall.

This reminds me of aikido. We had to learn how to fall correctly before we could get thrown. Through regular practice I got much better at ukemi. Even now while practicing in Kenpo, my small amount aikido shows with my rolls and some wrist twist techniques.

 

[Tigerwarrior]

This reminds me of aikido. We had to learn how to fall correctly before we could get thrown. Through regular practice I got much better at ukemi. Even now while practicing in Kenpo, my small amount aikido shows with my rolls and some wrist twist techniques.

Especially aikido! I think aikido guys need just as much if not more training in breakfalls compared to judo guys. They can have some real hard landings. I trained with a guy once who separated his shoulder from a botched fall in aikido, it's serious stuff. His shoulder was never the same after that. The worst that ever happened to me being thrown was getting the wind knocked out of me. I also saw someone get knocked out from a throw at a judo tournament at a judo school just outside of Boston, they landed on their neck. Everyone at the event was praying for them and there was a Dr who was competing so he was able to give assistance. Getting hit by the ground as you know does way more damage than our fist or kicks. Getting hit by the earth sucks lol

 

[AikidoRostock]

Especially aikido! I think aikido guys need just as much if not more training in breakfalls compared to judo guys. They can have some real hard landings.

Yes, that's a part that some people don't understand. The fall school is about protecting the body, not resisting or avoiding points for the opponent. If you don't fall properly, you will hurt yourself. The technique therefore often seems contrived or even dance-like. There are moments in the technique that are suitable for offering resistance. However, if you miss the moment and your partner does not have the level to compensate for your mistake, he will hurt you.