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[edit] Forward Roll

When thrown forward, uke may roll from their forward hand up their forward arm to their forward shoulder, then diagonally over their back to the opposite hip.

[edit] Tips

• As with all breakfalls, the head and neck must never touch the ground. Looking at the knot of one's belt can help position the head safely.
• To avoid one's arm collapsing, a common problem, it is important to move one's center past one's hand as quickly as possible; it is difficult to support one's entire weight with the hand.
• Also to avoid collapse, one should be sure not to begin with a bent arm. A wheel-like circular feeling is important for the whole body, including the arm, which should have a subtle natural bend.
• To slow down a roll, one may extend his or her back leg, and just before landing quickly retract it (expanding and then contracting moment of inertia, "as a spinning figure-skater").
• From the beginning, front hand should touch down farther ahead than the foot; it should never slide back past the foot, or else the roll becomes more akward, abrupt, and dangerous.
• Thus the hand should be placed down reasonably far forward, and remain planted once it touches.
• Advanced students should practice placing the hand very far forward.
• The back arm is not necessary for a basic forward roll, though beginners may place their hands together to improve confidence in the strength of the "wheel" shape. Beginners can progress towards holding their belt with their back hand.
• A more advanced breakfall extends the back arm behind the body, palm towards the ceiling, so that it will slap the mat before the body touches. (This is known as "forward roll #2" in Yoshinkai and Yoshokai aikido.)
• The back leg may also remain extended and slap along with the arm. (This is known as "forward roll #2" in Yoshinkai and Yoshokai aikido.)
• When performing a slap with the back foot, one should be sure to turn enough to that side so that the side of the foot naturally impacts; it is dangerous to impact against the heel. One should also "energize" the foot and curl the toes up to avoid injury. In the case of such a roll, the order of impact should be hand, then foot. It is easy to stand directly up from this position, with adequate momentum.
• A Yoshinkai- or Yoshokai-style frontbreakfall may be effected by performing a "forward roll #3" with a straighter body, and by flipping over without touching the front arm to the mat. The landing is the same as forward roll #3. When flipping, one should think about flipping one's legs towards the ceiling, rather than flipping one's head above the mat. Keeping the back hand behind the body, so that it impacts first and absorbs the initial momentum, is crucial.