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What the rolls are and when to use them

After having seen the basics of the breakfalls (read Lesson 7.5), it is time to take a step forward to learn the first fundamental rolls of our Kung Fu.

Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our home study classes here Learn Kung Fu online: a beginner-to-expert course).

Apart from very old age or specific physical impediments, you can hardly define yourself as a martial artist if you are not able to do the basic rolls.

What are the rolls?

In our conception, the rolls are, at the same time:

Mobility techniques (to move from point A to a point B)
Another category of breakfalls (that we call “voluntary fallings”)
…

A note by Master Kongling – From a tactical point of view, it is useless to stress that, even the controlled fallings can be voluntary (and in extremis, even used to move our body) but this is not their primary goal.

When to use the rolls?

The possible applications inside the economy of a combat scenario are substantially endless (and related to the practitioner’s attitudes) but we can list a few common examples:

To redirect the energy of a falling (cushioning the impact)
To escape from a throw (or a constriction)
To move fast on the ground and reach a favorable position (eg. to stand up)
To execute fighting techniques (striking, throws, Chin Na, etc.)
…

How to learn the rolls

The difficulties

Initially, if you have zero experience in physical training, the rolls can be a part of your martial path not so easy to overcome (especially if you are no more a child).

The reasons are:

Their flow does not follow a straight line but a circular movement and the body (of a civilized man / woman) is not used to it
Your mind puts an automatic inhibiting brake on “throwing” your head towards the ground, first and on flipping it, then
The fear of failure forces you to make the biggest mistake, to limit the power and fluidity of the curvilinear momentum
…

A note by Master Kongling – Do not worry, younger or older any serious martial arts practitioner has been there (first it seems difficult, but once learned it will become as simple as walking). The good news is that when you catch the mechanics of the basic forward one (the second technique), the others become a consequence.

The best way to learn the rolls

The best way is to:

Start from our lateral rolling movement that, simple and effective, allows you to start to familiarize yourself with the idea of body revolutions
Train on an old large bed mattress (positioned on the ground)
Start with a small run-up (walking) but always bowing down first to the ground
Have a partner that checks your safety and helps you (even not necessarily a martial arts practitioner, read also 5 effective ways to find a training partner)
Start from the dominant side and only then pass to the other
…

How to execute the first 4 rolls of 6 Dragons Kung Fu

Premises

Before facing the study of the rolls, it is important to:

Read How to train without risks
Be able to perform the first 3 breakfalls (read Everything you should know about breakfalls)
Read the current chapter (following all the indications)
Read this explanation until the end
…

The techniques

Let’s see the first rolls in order of study:

Roll 1, the lateral rolling (read How to move fast on the ground)
Roll 2 (to come)
Roll 3 (to come)
Roll 4 (to come)

The key errors to avoid

Executing the first rolling technique:

To lose the direction
To open the body
…

Executing the second rolling technique:

To let the head touch the ground
To load the shoulder with our weight (easy to get injured)
To not give enough momentum
To not stiffen our supporting arm
…

Executing the third rolling technique:

To not bend the head laterally
To bend the head in the wrong direction
To not give enough momentum
…

Executing the fourth rolling technique:

To do not give enough momentum
…

In-depth articles

A scheme to quickly learn any kind of technique – The right path to reach the technical “perfection”
Move us where crouches an ox: manage the fighting space – The importance of being able to manage small spaces

Questions

Reply in the comments and share your experience:

Can you win the fear of the ground?

<< Lesson 11.3 – Index

Author: Master Kongling

Founder of 6 Dragons Kung Fu.

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