Would anyone out there have any particular method or way of learning/perfecting the forward roll? I've been practicing a few weeks now (Out of a few months of Aikido (Falling! Almost conquered!) But heading back to the dojo after the holidays with the rolling down would be...Great. ^__^ Any methods that worked for you? How long it took? It feels like forever--And it's so fustrating to watch everyone else roll around like no tomorrow. -Grin- Any help would be appreciated!

I nearly killed myself for eleven years trying to learn to do the forward roll without all the creative and painful landings.

Then someone on line wrote me his secret which I quote freely because I cannot find it.

For a right lead:

Kneel in a tripod with you right knee bent up near your right shoulder. Right foot is 10 or 12 inches to the right of and even with the fingers of your left hand. Your left knee is 10-12 inches behind your left hand.
Bend your right elbow so you are looking down at the back of your right hand. Your right hand, palm down, fingers pointing to the rear, is floating just off the floor. Let it float to the rear between your legs. Follow it through with your head and shoulders.

It was the "follow the floating hand" that did it for me. (When I planted my right hand on the floor like sensei said to, disaster happened between my lead knee and lead elbow. Damn, that hurt!)

I practised 50 rolls a day on my kids trampolin. At least it did not have as muc pain.

When I was teaching rolls in AKK, I would have people start on the shoulder they were using for the roll. So for example, right shoulder roll:

Start with right side of head, right shoulder, right knee and ball of right foot touching the ground. Left leg is off the ground in a "chambered" position. Right arm is palm-up, pointing down the body towards your feet.

Slowly push off your right foot, lifting your left leg over and past your shoulders. Keeping your legs tucked in tight, let the left leg fall forward with the right leg following directly. Keep the left leg tucked in as it hits the ground, and try to land on the right foot.

Gradually increase your starting height, and voila.

Thanks MattJ. I'll try it that way after Christmas.

Happy Holidays

3 ways to do it.... practice, practice... and... practice.

It's quicker to show it than to describe it. This is something you could ask your instructor or sempai to help you with.

I teach people to lean over and act like they're trying to pick up a quarter on the floor that they stepped "just a bit too far past" while pushing off with their "trailing" leg.

Whatever method you use, the objective is to keep your body shaped "round". There was a famous film once of a judo master teaching using a child's ball in the class and showing how it's always on balance... no matter how it's pushed, pulled, or turned over. Rather than "tucking up", try to keep the round shape when you roll and you'll find all the force of falling dissipates itself.

I used to fall a couple of hundred times a day, and with no effect. Now, my hip doesn't "close", so I fall with a "bump" in the middle of my falls and they're like "falling in pieces"... which is what you "don't" want to do. Keep it round, and keep it smooth.

Arthritis sucks...

Merry Christmas...

Typed talk is cheap

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZKg5kB9uhg

And not to let the back roll feel left out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GioofJfQggE&feature=related