Traditional Judo

Judo Breakfalls and Breakfall Drills

Ukemi Waza


Featured Technique:

Zempo Kai Ten - Front Roll




 

Video of: ZEMPO KAI TEN

(See below for a detailed text description or technique notes)

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Zempo Kai Ten - Front Roll


Zempo Kai Ten isn't technically a breakfall - it's a rolling technique whose purpose it so minimize impact with the ground an to roll smoothly back up to your feet. You're not trying to break your fall, but rather roll with it.

In it's basic form, it is very similar to the summersault roll you probably learned in kindergarten. The main difference (and a common error newer people make) is that you should Never touch your head to the ground when doing Zempo Kai Ten.

Begin standing with your feet together, then squat down so that only the soles of your feet are on the ground.

Then place your hands on the ground in front of you, palms down and about should-width apart. Tuck your chin tightly into your chest such that you are looking at your belly-button.

From there, push off with your legs, tuck your head between your arms and roll from your hands directly to your shoulders (don't touch the top of your head down). Continue to roll across your back, staying in a tightly tucked position, and come back up to your feet in a squatted position. You may find it easier getting back up to your original starting position if you grab your knees mid-roll with your arms and pull them tightly into your chest, ensuring a tight tuck and helping maintain your momentum.

After practicing the basic front roll from a squat position, you can try it from standing, and eventually by jumping into the roll. It is important to make sure you go directly from your hands to your shoulders when doing Zempo Kai Ten - be sure you don't touch your head down! It might not seem like a big deal when doing it on mats under controlled circumstances, but if you try it on concrete, you'll knock yourself out or worse.

Try to develop the habit of finishing Zempo Kai Ten by coming directly up to your feet and Not using your hands to push off the round to help you up - It'll be a smoother roll (not really a breakfall, even though in Judo we commonly group it in with the rest of the breakfalls) and you'll have both hands free to fight with, should you need to.


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Click a thumbnail to see a judo breakfall video.

 

Breakfall Instruction: Breakfall Drills and Practice:
Click for a video showing how to do a Traditional Judo breakfall technique called Chugaeri - Shoulder Roll. Chugaeri - Shoulder Roll Click for a video showing a Traditional Judo breakfall Drill for Chugaeri - Shoulder Roll. Breakfall Drills - Chugaeri
Click for a video showing how to do a Traditional Judo technique called Mae Ukemi - Front Breakfall. Mae Ukemi- Front Breakfall Click for a video showing how to do a Traditional Judo Breakfall Drill for Ushiro Ukemi . Breakfall Drills - Ushiro Ukemi
Click for a video showing how to do a Kodokan Judo technique called Ushiro Ukemi - Back Breakfall. Ushiro Ukemi - Back Breakfall Click for a video showing a Traditional Kodokan Judo Drill to help with Ushiro Ukemi and Sempo Kai Ten. Drills for Ushiro Ukemi
and Zempo Kai Ten
Click for a video showing how to do a Traditional Judo technique called Yoko Ukemi- Side Breakfall. Yoko Ukemi - Side Breakfall Click for a video showing a Traditional Kodokan Judo Breakfall Drill for Yoko Ukemi - Side Breakfall. Breakfall Drills - Yoko Ukemi
Click for a video showing how to do a Traditional Judo technique called Zempo Kai Ten - Front Roll. Zempo Kai Ten - Front Roll Click for a Traditional Judo Video showing a judo breakfall Drill for Yoko Ukemi or Chugaeri - side breakfall or shoulder rolling breakfall. Breakfall Drills - Yoko Ukemi
or Chugaeri
  Click for a video showing how to do a Traditional Judo Breakfall Drill for Zempo Kai Ten - front roll. Breakfall Drills - Zempo Kai Ten

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Little Girl does a near PERFECT Ushiro Ukemi breakfall after getting drilled by a soccer ball :)



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Thanks for taking a look at our video: "ZEMPO KAI TEN". Don't forget to look at and practice the other Judo Breakfalls!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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