Excellent breakdown! I'm an older guy, and have been doing BJJ for the last three years. I've always struggled with the bankroll over my left shoulder (right shoulder is fine). Looking forward to trying your method. Thank you!
Fantastic video Ilkka. Going to study this and use to teach in class. I agree it is a skill that is essential and largely lacking. How to teach without mats has bugged me for a while so this is really useful.. Thankyou
+Inthe Meantime You're welcome! I think the concepts of transitioning between positions and simply getting comfortable moving on the ground are the most important things. Actual falling in a martial arts context requires just that (I might do another video on pair exercises), but these drills build up confidence and the ability to negotiate with the hard floor.
Hi Ilkka, really a great video! I'm a practicioner of Aikido that are thinking about venturing into HEMA and a lot of our falling techniques are similar to the ones you are teaching in this video, really useful and as you told, can be used in and out of the mat and with sword in hand. Can I recommend an Aikido Master specialized in falling techniques? His name is Donovan Waite, you probably already saw something from him but here is my little contribution to the cause :).
+planetbobful This is a good question, but it may not even be entirely from martial arts. Falling is a very well practiced skill (I guess you could call it an art) in many different fields, and the thing is: the martial arts requirements for falling are just the same as non martial falling. While the clown school by PT Barnum and Bailey was still running, falling classes were taught by instructors with both theatre and martial backgrounds.
+planetbobful A mixture. I am by no means a specialist on falling in the sense some martial artists, stunt actors, gymnasts or extreme athletes may be -- but as an ordinary person I feel these skills and the level is relatively easily attainable by anyone with a little bit of practice. As with everything, the best way to practice something is generally just to do it -- so if you take the time to "fall" a few times every day, it will make a difference. The method presented may make it more interesting and meaningful though. I mention some of the sources for the various rolls in the video, the swastika-position I originally learned from seeing Pete Kautz perform it on an article, and have then seen both dancers and many silat practitioners use it, the method of transitionary positions is my own, though I know other movement systems use something similar. HEMA essentially does not include falling as a separate skill, though many throws in wrestling make it obvious that people had this skill. Various tumbling and ground movement is mentioned by as early as Greek and Roman sources, but these mentions are hardly enough as a source for practical exercises. Curiously arts like wrestling today don't really teach falling skills. They learn it through their strength and mobility exercises, as well as from wrestling itself. I believe falling practice specifically is more important to those who spend little time on the ground and definitely are not used to wrestling. For ordinary folk or martial artists whose styles are dominantly upright and with weapons, these skills can be extremely helpful in many ways.
![“อ.เบียร์ คนตื่นธรรม” มาตามคำเรียกร้อง แหกศาสตร์ฮวงจุ้ย เตือนสติอย่างมงาย | แฉ 7 พ.ย. 67 [1/3]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5fc4S3xBNfc/mqdefault.jpg)
One of the most practical martial art skills in your day to day life. Everyone has slipped and fallen at some point. Good stuff.
Nice to see someone in HEMA finally addressing this in a video.
+Michael-Forest M. fancy helmet you have there. Is it some sort of an armet with mesh or some even more intricate contraption?
Excellent breakdown!
I'm an older guy, and have been doing BJJ for the last three years. I've always struggled with the bankroll over my left shoulder (right shoulder is fine).
Looking forward to trying your method.
Thank you!
Fantastic fundamental skills being taught. Clearly explained, and easy to follow. Bravo sir.
+Anthony Clare Thank you!
Thank you Ilkka! This is great material to get someone started in unarmed styles (like Ringen/Abrazzare in HEMA). I'll put it to good use!
Thank you, for the time and effort in making this vid sir.
+Thitiwut pinsurong You're welcome. :)
Fantastic video Ilkka. Going to study this and use to teach in class. I agree it is a skill that is essential and largely lacking. How to teach without mats has bugged me for a while so this is really useful.. Thankyou
+Inthe Meantime You're welcome! I think the concepts of transitioning between positions and simply getting comfortable moving on the ground are the most important things. Actual falling in a martial arts context requires just that (I might do another video on pair exercises), but these drills build up confidence and the ability to negotiate with the hard floor.
Video is quite long, so see the contents in the description.
+Ilkka Hartikainen Great video, I play youtube videos on the tv in my home gym while working out so the length doesn't bother me
Hi Ilkka, really a great video! I'm a practicioner of Aikido that are thinking about venturing into HEMA and a lot of our falling techniques are similar to the ones you are teaching in this video, really useful and as you told, can be used in and out of the mat and with sword in hand. Can I recommend an Aikido Master specialized in falling techniques? His name is Donovan Waite, you probably already saw something from him but here is my little contribution to the cause :).
Thanks!
Great video, thanks for taking the time!
Question - what sources are you using for this? HEMA? Western? Eastern? Mix?
Thnx!
+planetbobful This is a good question, but it may not even be entirely from martial arts. Falling is a very well practiced skill (I guess you could call it an art) in many different fields, and the thing is: the martial arts requirements for falling are just the same as non martial falling. While the clown school by PT Barnum and Bailey was still running, falling classes were taught by instructors with both theatre and martial backgrounds.
+planetbobful A mixture. I am by no means a specialist on falling in the sense some martial artists, stunt actors, gymnasts or extreme athletes may be -- but as an ordinary person I feel these skills and the level is relatively easily attainable by anyone with a little bit of practice. As with everything, the best way to practice something is generally just to do it -- so if you take the time to "fall" a few times every day, it will make a difference. The method presented may make it more interesting and meaningful though.
I mention some of the sources for the various rolls in the video, the swastika-position I originally learned from seeing Pete Kautz perform it on an article, and have then seen both dancers and many silat practitioners use it, the method of transitionary positions is my own, though I know other movement systems use something similar.
HEMA essentially does not include falling as a separate skill, though many throws in wrestling make it obvious that people had this skill. Various tumbling and ground movement is mentioned by as early as Greek and Roman sources, but these mentions are hardly enough as a source for practical exercises.
Curiously arts like wrestling today don't really teach falling skills. They learn it through their strength and mobility exercises, as well as from wrestling itself. I believe falling practice specifically is more important to those who spend little time on the ground and definitely are not used to wrestling. For ordinary folk or martial artists whose styles are dominantly upright and with weapons, these skills can be extremely helpful in many ways.