Orange Belt – Falls and Grappling
*Forward or Front Roll – Mae Mawari Ukemi – 前回り受身
In this particular roll, you will roll down your spine rather than over your shoulder. Just like any proper falling technique, this roll reduces the chance of injury and allows you to get back on your feet with ease, especially since your overall movement is in the same direction as your momentum. The landing portion of a forward dive roll is made up of a simple forward roll, so practice this first. To do so, begin by squatting and placing your hands on the floor, next to your feet. Lean forward and tuck at the chin and core. Gravity will naturally propel you into a forward roll. Use your arms to control the amount of pressure on your head, neck and back and to control the direction of the roll. You can also use them to push off the floor once you’ve rolled forward to give yourself enough momentum to land back on your rear end or stand up.
*Forward Shoulder Roll
This technique is exactly like the forward roll, except that you will roll over your shoulder instead of along your spine. To practice this technique, kneel on your right leg and extend your left arm along your legs while also tucking your chin. Shift your weight forward until you begin to fall and tuck into a ball as you continue to fall. Roll from your left shoulder to your right hip and keep rolling until…