Some Basic Breakfalls

I had a refresher on several breakfalls tonight. To help me remember them, I'm going to jot down some notes about them.

The easiest one is where you start by sitting on your butt with your knees by your chest. Tuck in your chin and form a diamond with your hands above your head. The hands are slightly cupped rather than flat. Fall onto your back, simultaneously slapping the ground on each side with your hands and allowing your legs to swing freely up.

Another one starts with you sitting up on your knees. Your arms are in front of you as if you are surrenduring but lower, almost in front of your face. Allow yourself to fall forward with your neck tucked upwards, facing the sky, and break your fall with your two arms to the front. Sort of like a drop pushup.

A full breakfall has you starting in a climbing stance. You simply rollover your front leg side shoulder to hip fashion. You should land not solidly on your back but half-way between that and on your side. The back leg from the initial front stance should be almost straight and helping to break the fall using the side of the foot. Your initial front leg should be bent and breaking the fall with the sole. The front side arm is the one that slaps the ground.