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Old 01-11-2013, 10:40 AM   #8
Robert Cowham
Dojo: East Sheen Aikido and Kashima No Tachi
Location: London, UK
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 289
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Re: Knocking off the rust

A good method in my experience is to get people to do a backwards roll from sitting on the mat, and then to play with reversing the backwards roll at various points during it so that you ultimately becomes a forwards roll.

E.g. roll backwards half way and then forwards, repeat a few times. Roll backwards until your feet start to touch the mat, then forwards, repeat a few times. Finally roll backwards fully so that you are upright again (on your knees), and now reverse it into a forwards roll. This shows them how to get the shoulder down on to the mat.

Backwards rolls are very unthreatening!
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