Breakfalls

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Breakfalls are the specialised landing abilities of the practitioners of martial arts. They are usually taught early in the club syllabus and are essential to make sure people don't get hurt.

[edit] Types of breakfall

There are two main types; one is a rolling motion from the hand to the shoulder diagonally down the back to the opposite hip, similar to the landings taught in free running. Arts employing this style of fall include Judo, Aikido, Hankido, Shuai Chiao and Taijiquan. Which doesn't necessarily mean that practitioners of either of these arts don't learn the other style of falling.

The second type is not a roll along the entire arm but more of a sudden flip and slap. This slap is often executed with both arms and legs to minimize the impact to more sensitive parts of the body. Judo often employs this type of fall. In aikido this is termed a "high fall" or "jumping breakfall." It is often important when the nature of a throw (for example, its speed, or perhaps the locked-out nature of certain joints) makes the first type too dangerous.