The Way To Land In Case You Happen To Be Forced To The Ground - The Breakfall

A Breakfall can be used as a way to land whenever you suddenly go to the floor, typically when your opponent puts you on the floor from a take-down, or more simply, when you are pushed over. They are the base of the roll and must be practiced consistently so that it becomes natural.

The concept of the Breakfall is utilized to spread the weight of a fall upon impact over the greatest number of points of your body as possible so as to reduce the stress taken by each point.

Back Breakfall

When you Breakfall in slow motion, and this is how you should practice it when initially learning, from the standing position you go to a squat, then sit and finally on to your back. As you go from the seated position onto your back your arms splay out along the side of your body, a maximum of a 45 angle away from your torso, one on each side. Your palms pointing to the ground and your elbows are a little bent. Your palms and elbows hit the floor at the same time. Make sure to tuck your chin to your chest to avoid your head from smacking the floor.

As you land, elevate you legs in the air close to your body to assist with energy for a roll out, or, if failing this, it will aid towards a cover up position and allows you to be ready to kick your enemy from the ground. If you know what you're doing, you can even use the energy of the drop to put him 'in your guard'

Side Breakfall

The perfect Breakfall is landing uniformly on both sides, but this is uncommon so you need to know how to land on each side also. A Side Breakfall is more likely to occur due to your stance ie you stand side on, or perhaps if pushed from the side.

Performing a Side Breakfall is essentially the same as a Back Breakfall except you land on your thigh first. Curl your head upward in the opposite direction you're falling on. Your arm and also wing muscle hit the ground simultaneously. This may knock the wind away from you a bit but it is much better than any other way you may land, besides rolling.

Front Breakfall

Once you understand how to roll, you'll rarely use this, unless your legs are bound up eg he tackles you. If landing to your front, make an effort to keep your body straight, you don't want to knock your knees on the floor. Your forearms are held about a foot out in front of you shoulder breadth apart and your open palms are faced out. They cushion your drop. When practicing the front Breakfall, start from your knees. Once capable enough you can go from a standing position but do not forget that you don't go to your knees first. You should avoid smashing your knees on the floor.

To help train in instinctive landing, each time you go to ground in training eg when going to perform sit ups or push-ups or practicing a Grappling technique, make use of the Breakfall.