How to Breakfall Safely and Not Get Hurt

If you can't breakfall safely, then you can't do Aikido.

I know this is probably the last piece of advice most beginners want to hear, but it's perfectly true.

You want to do those cool Aikido throws and locks you've seen Steven Seagal do in the movies. But even Steven Seagal had to learn how to breakfall safely (perform Ukemi) when he was first starting out.

It's these basic building-blocks of Aikido which keep you safe. (Being able to fall down safely was a skill the stunt actors had to have to play the part of the baddies in his movies.)

The same applies to most martial arts films. The guys who get thrown by the hero have to know how to breakfall safely ... otherwise they'd be stretcher cases.

Steven Seagal had to learn basic Aikido moves before he became a senior student (Sempai). And eventually (after more years of very hard work) he became a teacher (Sensei) of Aikido.

He's a very skilled Sensei, even if the image he presents through his movies is more aggressive than necessary. (Remember, the aim in Aikido is to do minimum damage!) Learning to fall safely means you have to do some serious training.

I'm talking months of hard work just to break-fall well.

You can't gain tumbling skills in a crash-course lasting a few days. And it takes many years of really dedicated work to reach teacher status.

Just consider... You can't learn Aikido without having training partners. And you'll run out of partners pretty darn fast if they don't know how to breakfall safely (do Ukemi).

Since you and your training partner(s) have to take turns to throw each other - that's how we all practise fairly - you are going to take turns to be thrown too.

• Back breakfalls are your first step in learning Aikido.
  
  Back breakfalls keep you from cracking your skull on the ground or breaking other bones. It's a vital
• Side Breakfalls are the next step after learning backward breakfalls.
  
  With side breakfalls, you don't have two arms free to slap the mat. Sometimes you won't slap at all.
• How To Do Rolling Breakfalls (forward rolls)
  
  Train with a friend to do rolling breakfalls, so you can fall or be thrown without injury.
• Kotegaeshi Breakfalls - or why you need to jump over your own arm quickly.
  
  Kotegaeshi Breakfalls are an advanced version of an Aikido Side Breakfall. You do them by leaping over your own arm while being thrown. It saves your arm from getting broken.