Learning how to safely fall (one interpretation of the Japanese word “ukemi”) — not just on the dojo mat, but on the street, literally on pavement if necessary — is a valuable life skill, not just a martial arts, parkour or free running skill; and it’s more than doing “tricking” or stunts. This video provides a whimsical yet serious overview of what it takes to undertake this aspect of practical, reality-based training. If you’re new to the concept of controlled falling, especially if you …
i used to take judo classes….
no good if the guy your attacking isnt wearing a bath robe
i moved on to taiquondo (spelled right?)
now im freerunning
(that wont help my self defence ): )
Probably better. Based on your age, you’ve got a head start.
If i practice every day. Will i grow up to be as good as you?
Yup. Practice proper form, relaxation, breathing to the point all of the rudimentary falls / rolls are automatic on the mat (and should be automatic when thrown as well).
Some people seem to innately take to ukemi, while others struggle with it for awhile (me, I’d go to the dojo during lunch breaks and take 200 falls to iron out the rough spots in my technique — took awhile for me to get good at it).
Best wishes with your ongoing training.
I’m a white belt and I really hate breakfalls. This video makes them look super cool. Is practise the only way to get better, or is there some kind of serum I can drink? Heeelp!
For anyone reading this comment and the previous one by plalelal, I recommend interpreting learning to fall on mats as practicing ukemi on mats to the point you feel even distribution of impact over your body whenever you fall, and you’ve reached a point that you can just fall without thinking about how to fall.
Even then, injuries are possible. If you find yourself lying on the concrete wishing you’d graduated to something firm but softer first, know that you were warned in advance.
Actually, if you know how to fall on the mat, it is really not that bad in concrete, I tried it many times.
Good to hear, and thanks for sharing!
Agree with your first comment, but respectfully disagree that falling on mats is enough (or I wouldn’t've made the video). Harder surfaces are the litmus test for whether or not “technique is right.” I know many diligent students who didn’t know there were adjustments they needed to make until they at least left the dojo and tried falling on grass (most people at a minimum learn to not slap the ground as hard as they can get away with on the mat).
The odds of a confrontation are quite small. Learning to fall on mats is sufficient. If the technique is right it will work onj the street as well.
Nice technique on concrete, I like it! =D
I totally agree. While I taught martial arts- there were several cases where a student avoided injury from horse riding accidents to slipping on ice in the winter because he or she knew how to land.
So . . . You have a problem with this topic and the documented techniques for addressing it? If so, let’s hear from you what doesn’t qualify as “mierda”
yes…the art of falling
ah se hace mierda xD
That rolling shit aint hard at all.. but pretty bad to fall on the ground without protection tho
lol… Seriously?!?
lol bro real talk
Notice A lot of this rolling and falling that can be very hard on adults, I what kids may do all day every day when they play.
Wish I had started this stuff when i was a little kid…..
It’s been soo much harder to get into shape and get all flexible and stuff now.
Yes, good point regarding practice! I was so frustrated when I started learning ukemi that I’d go to the dojo on lunch breaks and do 200+ reps a day until I got all of the basic rolls and falls right.
As for dizziness, remember to keep breathing / exhaling as you roll (also important in general for executing any martial arts techniques). Can’t guarantee you that you won’t get dizzy after that many rolls, but it should help reduce the amount of dizziness or delay onset of dizziness at least.
When i roll in rapid succession to a sitting possture i start getting dizzy at the 5-6 roll…. so after 10 i have to roll to roll to just laying down for about 10 rolls. Not that there is any practical application to rolling 10 times to sitting, but any suggestions on how to avoid getting dizzy? As like keeping your head level when turning your head quick when kicking. Let it be know my standing forward roll is horrible.
Hi, i’m not skilled enough to be cam worthy…. My form is crude, with experience from breaking shit, i attacked this the same way as breaking…. start out soft, then progress to hard surface…. “all” it takes is a lot of practice… i do 50-100 rolls a day which really isn’t very time consuming when you do it all in rapid succession, in which case it can also count toward your “cardio time”.
I’ve fallen on tile, so I think I know what you mean. Perhaps it’s the non-uniform surface vs. concrete? I’ve fallen on grass that had lots of divots and I felt more hot spots along my body than falling in a parking lot.
In the same way that some people take naturally to breaking / tameshiwari, perhaps other rare folks just have a knack for ukemi regardless of surface.
Hey, if you have video of your ukemi, please post as a video response. Would love to see it.
I’ve been “playing around” on solid tile floor for a little bit… and i swear the pavement feels soft(er)….. wooden floors are cozy and martial art mats feel like tempurpedic. Am I crazy, just imagining it…. or am I really feeling a difference between density of seemingly, ridiculously dense surfaces?
Now THAT’s reality-based training if the cops show up!