[waterrob]

Hi all,
I just started playing judo this week, although I have a background in jiu jitsu and wrestling, as well as some other martial arts. We spent most of last night practicing breakfalls, before moving to newaza. I seem to have a "muscle memory" problem with my front fall generated from years of wrestling sprawls. I hit fine from kneeling and squatting, but instinctively overbalance to the front (read: faceplant on mat) from a standing position. I think the problem is that I am used to hitting on my hands/feet only, which takes a balance biased to the front, but when using the hands AND forearms, I am definitely NOT correct upon landing. Anyone else experience this, or have any suggestions on how to better transition weight to stay more level?
Thanks!

[bythesea]

This doesn't answer your specific questions, but it covers some of it:

http://JudoForum.com...w...st&p=199027

[waterrob]

Thanks for the link - good thread. So, to clarify, it isn't going into a roll that I struggle with - the drill we were doing is basically kicking your legs out behind you while falling forward, with the goal being to land on your palms and forearms and feet only, with your hands directly in front of your face. Thanks for the input!

[RoswellJudoClub]

waterrob, on Mar 12 2010, 03:08 PM, said:

Hi all,
I just started playing judo this week, although I have a background in jiu jitsu and wrestling, as well as some other martial arts. We spent most of last night practicing breakfalls, before moving to newaza. I seem to have a "muscle memory" problem with my front fall generated from years of wrestling sprawls. I hit fine from kneeling and squatting, but instinctively overbalance to the front (read: faceplant on mat) from a standing position. I think the problem is that I am used to hitting on my hands/feet only, which takes a balance biased to the front, but when using the hands AND forearms, I am definitely NOT correct upon landing. Anyone else experience this, or have any suggestions on how to better transition weight to stay more level?
Thanks!

Are you talking about shoulder rolls?

Standard front fall, not shoulder rolls:
I asked PTNippon that same thing and his response was to spread your feet very wide. The more comfortable and ably you can do these, the closer your feet should be.

This post has been edited by RoswellJudoClub: 12 March 2010 - 10:48 PM

[Still learning]

waterrob, on Mar 12 2010, 10:33 PM, said:

Thanks for the link - good thread. So, to clarify, it isn't going into a roll that I struggle with - the drill we were doing is basically kicking your legs out behind you while falling forward, with the goal being to land on your palms and forearms and feet only, with your hands directly in front of your face. Thanks for the input!

I know the breakfall you refer to, I found the best way was to be confident and jump up slightly before your legs go back. That way you have a moment to control your body balance momentarily in the air before you actually breakfall. When confidence and ability match it can actually be done from quite a height, remembering you must allow your shoulders to absorb the fall, and crutially turning your head to the side to avoid a broken nose.

[odujjudo]

A lot of people have troble with those. However oddly enough, I cannot do it with my legs spread, takes too long.

Only way I can do it is by kicking my feet out behind me so I land parrallel.

I don't know how to make it easier, practice really. To me I find those break falls slightly archaic although sometimes useful. If being really mean with ushiro goshi moohaha.

[bythesea]

waterrob, on Mar 12 2010, 02:33 PM, said:

Thanks for the link - good thread. So, to clarify, it isn't going into a roll that I struggle with - the drill we were doing is basically kicking your legs out behind you while falling forward, with the goal being to land on your palms and forearms and feet only, with your hands directly in front of your face. Thanks for the input!

Oh, are you talking about a front fall (as opposed to forward roll)?

[waterrob]

bythesea, on 12 March 2010 - 04:31 PM, said:

Oh, are you talking about a front fall (as opposed to forward roll)?

Yep, bythesea nails it with that clip. I think it is just going to be breaking the muscle memory of sprawls, where you kick your feet and legs up much higher, and end up with your weight forward. I can do a few of them with the right balance now, but start to go forward again after starting to speed them up.

[Nic]

Try working on them from your knees first, then move to standing. It's also a little easier if you give a little jump into the fall, instead of just toppling over forwards. The little jump helps you get your back in alignment in prep for the fall. Plus remember you want to land hand and forearms at the same time as your toes, nothing else should hit the floor, so you land in a plank position. With a sprawl where you lead with your hips, in these falls you want to keep you hips and lower back tight.

[Emanuele]

Mae ukemi is a lot used in Japanese Ju jitsu.

[Judo Jeep]

Learning a front fall from standing in the first week at Judo is a bit odd ... but not wrong. It is a little more advanced than what most judo beginners are learning. HOWEVER ... as Dr. Kano said, "The only thing you can do wrong in Judo is not go to practice". I'm betting he said it in Japanese though:)

[bythesea]

Nic, on 15 March 2010 - 01:38 PM, said:

Try working on them from your knees first, then move to standing. It's also a little easier if you give a little jump into the fall, instead of just toppling over forwards. The little jump helps you get your back in alignment in prep for the fall. Plus remember you want to land hand and forearms at the same time as your toes, nothing else should hit the floor, so you land in a plank position. With a sprawl where you lead with your hips, in these falls you want to keep you hips and lower back tight.

+1

And, not many people like front falls, so you're not in the minority, lol.