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When first learning how to perform a sideways jitsu roll, a student will typically start off learning a kneeling version of the
roll. This allows the student to get a feel for the roll and to learn to perfect the form before moving up to
falling from standing height.
As well as the traditional 'static' sideways roll there is also a
travelling sideways roll ... for those on the move a little more.
Standard sideways rolls are included as part of every ukemi kata, and to many people
it looks quite funny to see people rolling around on what looks like their backs. But upon closer examination and
particularly upon demonstration of standing versions it soon becomes evident that this fall proves very useful.
Kneeling
The Starting Position
All kneeling breakfalls begin and end in the same formal kneeling position. This kneeling position is described on the
forwards roll page - since forwards rolls are typically taught first.
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From the kneeling position, the leg that is up (i.e. the knee is not on the floor) is slid directly across in front of
the body. This is normally done by trying to slide the foot and at the same time using the opposite side hand on the
outside of the knee to assist in pushing the foot across. This is quite difficult to do and to maintain one's
balance. However that is entirely the point. The body is being put into a position where the natural course is to
topple to one side.
In the photograph the jitsuka has slid his right foot across in front of his body (having used his left hand to help the
knee and foot across). As the passes the centre line of his body he begins to lose his balance. In preparation for
the fall he continues to swing his left arm out of the way from what would be under his knee when he falls. At the same
time his right hand comes across in front of the body - this will be used to break the fall.
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Breaking the Fall
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For a sideways fall, the jitsuka should attempt to fall directly on his side. The impact of the fall should be taken
predominantly on the large muscles down the side of the body (e.g. thigh) rather than on the back. The leg that was
being pushed through should end up straight and bottom most.
Note that the foot is turned up. This in combination with tensing the calf muscle protects the ankle from impact
against the ground.
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The arm nearest the ground strikes the ground at a roughly 45° angle to the body and should break the fall with
the whole arm as the shoulder makes contact. The hand should be cupped with fingers tight together to create the
air cushion effect under the palm of the hand. At all times the head should be tipped up away from the mat to avoid
it being struck against the floor. Finally the leg that was originally kneeling should slide naturally into a tucked
position behind the knee of the bottom leg; with the ball of the foot being the only part in contact with the ground.
Rolling Up
Once the fall has been broken, all that remains to do is to return back to the original kneeling position. In order
to do this in a stylish and smooth manner, the roll must be continued. From the break fall position, the arm that
did not break the fall drops down behind the jitsuka to provide a firm base - the two arms should aim to form two
sides of a triangle, though the upper shoulder should not be allowed to drop to the floor as this would turn the roll
into a backwards roll.
The jitsuka must now attempt to generate enough movement to carry the straight leg up in a big arc from one side of
the head to the other. At no point does the jitsuka's head touch the ground. Instead he must try to twist his body
and head as he rolls and instead roll across his shoulders.
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This is usually quite tricky to get the hang of - particularly when there is no momentum behind the roll.
Ideally the arc that the foot follows should be exactly on a line that the jitsuka's head and foot formed when in the
broken fall position. This will ensure that the jitsuka is not rolling slightly forwards or slightly backwards - a
common flaw to sideways rolls even for many of the more senior grades.
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Rolled Over
As the foot touches down on the other side, the jitsuka should be in a relatively stable position. From here the
jitsuka must return to the original kneeling position. Fortunately for
this breakfall, it's only to the 'stance' and not to the actual spot from which the roll was started (not so lucky
for the standing version). Thus it is a relatively simple matter to keep the body coming up
in the direction of the roll and to draw the straight leg back in towards the body. Thus the kneeling position is
achieved once more.
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The Descent
Standing sideways rolls are the next logical progression from kneeling sideways rolls. The fall this time begins from
a kiba dachi position. The jitsuka then takes a small step in the opposite direction that he wishes to fall in.
This should align him so that by sliding his foot across he descends in a controlled manner down to the mat, his hips
landing at a point directly below where his belt knot would have been when stood in kiba dachi. Upon landing,
the fall continues as before with the break right through to the
rolled over position.
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The Step Back
Once the roll over is complete, the jitsuka should look back along the line on which he rolled for the spot he
started from. This is the point he must return back to. By drawing the straight leg back across in front of the
body, the starting position for that foot should be in reach. With a bit of a push and the momentum of stepping
across, the jitsuka should be able to plant the other foot back exactly where it started and sink into a firm
kiba dachi stance.
It's often useful to practice this using the lines of the mat tessellations as a guide, and the intersections as a
start/finish point. Its also important in terms of style to roll along the line and not off it forwards or
backwards. Whilst it may be easy to recover from this, the aim is to control the roll and make it as linear as
possible.
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Travelling sideways rolls are always accomplished from a standing position. Instead of starting in a static position
and sliding a leg in front, the leg goes behind. Thus a static sideways fall stepping with the left leg in front would
result in a left-sided fall. A travelling sideways fall stepping behind with the left leg would result in a right
sided fall - after all its the same as stepping in front with the right, you just got there by moving the opposite foot.
From there, the fall continues as normal, but instead of coming up into kiba dachi, the jitsuka sweeps his
back foot around as though for a forwards roll, and ends up in a stance
with his hips pointing in the opposite direction to that which they started in - thus setting up the jitsuka to
begin another travelling sideways breakfall on the other side.
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