Rolls - Falls E-Book

NINJITSU ROLLS AND FALLS
 

Rolls have proven to be extremely practical in self-defense and self-protection. 
 

Self-Defense: Protection when someone is attacking you.
 

Self-Protection: Defense when the ground is attacking you. 
 

These are the two most important reasons to learn your rolls and falls.  A better understanding of how the body works and an increased control of the body in all movements will enable the ninja to get the most out of their ninja training applications.  Once one has become familiar with the techniques, try performing them from each of the stances. For example: cat stance then reverse roll or horse stance then side roll etc.
 

Stunt Training

People are always asking me "how is it, that with all the seemingly dangerous movements and stunts we do in the Martial Science (just take a look at my Grand Canyon Jump), that we don't get seriously injured on a regular basis?"  Well, the best way to answer this is by saying, "We are really good at hitting the ground."  We practice crashing so often, that we actually experts at it. We don't “freak out” like the average person would when a crisis arises. So if someone ever was to throw you to the ground, you could handle it.  Most efficient martial artists and all the Martial Science practitioners are great stunt men and women. 

Here is something to remember: "Learn the stunt or stunt your growth."  The reason I say, "learn the stunt" is that when training with your partner you will need to learn how to go with the flow. This isn't always understood and the exact reasons you need to learn your rolls and falls.  For example, if your partner is performing a takedown and you don't know how to take a fall, you could seriously injure yourself. Since bone breaking is an advanced skill, we will stick to basics when learning our rolls and falls. 

When you work with techniques, you will need to know the limits of your body.  A throw can be used to damage your opponent’s spine, but you don't try to do this in a training session. If you or your partner resist too much, you could end up meeting the reality of a technique.  You have to play a stuntman when training - at least at some level you do. 

For example, let's say that your partner is working a basic defense against a wrist grab.  You grab the wrist and he defends with a finger strike to the eyes and a knee to the groin, followed by another strike and then a takedown.  Let me ask you this: Would you like your partner to really scratch out your eyes? Would you like a full knee to the groin? How about having your head smashed into the ground when you fall?  So naturally we can’t practice as if every situation is real or your partner would be sent to the hospital every night.  But your partner does need to act as if it was real.  If you don't learn the stunt, it will stunt your growth.  So learn to go with your opponent by reacting as if your eyes were scratched and learn how to fall so you don't break your neck.   

Naturally there is a required level of balance here.  Nothing irritates an advanced student more than a beginner rolling over like a rag doll. Offer enough resistance to train your partner and develop their skills and at the same time creating a level of safety for you both.  

In the beginning  

I remember my first day learning to grapple.  The instructor paired us up and said "wrestle."  Well, I had never wrestled before and had no idea where to start. My opponent wasn't any more educated than I was.  We didn't know how to stand, where to begin or what to do when we hit the ground.  So we just rolled around the mat feeling like a couple of idiots.  Although our instructor had his reasons for starting us out like this, (maybe it was to show us what we didn't know), it really felt awkward.  The same thing applies in the martial arts.  Knowing how to stand and fall will help you not only fit in with the program, but also keep you from making mistakes in combat, as well as in practice.  

Okay, let’s review the basic rolls and falls taught in the Martial Science:

           

FORWARD ROLL 

These are basic movements you will start off with in your Ninja / Ninjitsu training. Designed to protect against the ground while falling forward and/or create distance between oneself and an attacker.  

Step forward, place lead arm down with elbow near leading foot (arm may touch surface).  

Tuck the head (looking back) push off with the rear

leg.
Allow your body to rock forward into the roll across from shoulder to the hip.  

Keep the feet tucked during the roll.  

Come out of the roll hands up turning to face the

direction the roll was begun.

  

BACK ROLL 

Designed for falling backward and/or broadening the distance between oneself and an attacker.

Lift the lead leg forward and sit straight down onto the heel of your rear leg.

Lower your head arching your back, eyes focused

in front of you.

Keep the feet tucked during the roll coming up into a defensive position.

  

FLAT FALL FORWARD

An exercise developed to teach students how to fall forward and land with minimum injury.  

balls of the feet.  

The forearms break the fall palms down in the shape of a triangle.  

Knees are off the ground and the head is turned  sideways.  

Bring one knee up and roll   forward coming into a protective stance.

                                               

FLAT FALL BACK 

An exercise developed to teach the student to fall backward landing with minimum injury.  

Extend one leg sitting on the rear heel.  

Naturally rock back keep the head up slap both arms down to break the fall.  

Cross the arms above the face and bring the rear foot against the leading thigh.  

Apply kicks then proceed with a reverse roll coming up in a protective stance.

  

SIDE FLAT FALL

An exercise developed for dropping sideways and landing with minimum injury.

Facing the falling surface sideways, slide the lead leg up and to the left.

Lower your weight straight down onto the heel of the ground leg.

Fall to the right and slap the ground with the right arm breaking the fall.

Enter a protective position and apply a side kick.
 

Safety First

All falling techniques are designed to minimize shock or injury whether falling, being thrown or just practicing techniques with a partner.  In the beginning, the rolls and falls can be learned by lowering yourself closer to the surface.
 

Advanced rolls and falls in this manual require a safer, more direct instruction. You can't get this from a book or manual.  These skills can be dangerous and may cause serious injury if not performed properly. Even the rolls and falls can be dangerous, but you will most likely only receive a few bumps and bruises. 
 

It is not unusual for a student to easily break their collar bone during a diving roll or to damage the elbow on an air fall.  These skills require proper training in order to save yourself from injury.  Remember, these skills are designed to protect you, not injure you. 
 

"Perfect Practice makes perfect"
 

Rolls and falls are often called "breakfalls."  Depending on your training, you will either "break the fall" or you will "break on the fall."
 

Once you have mastered the basic rolls and falls, the advanced, more difficult skills, will be much easier to learn and perform.  Think of this as three steps. 
 

1.  Learn the basic stances, rolls and falls.     

2.  Master these basics.

3.  Begin to train on one advanced skill.
 

Repeat step 3 until all advanced skills are learned.   

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