Trouble with my roll outs

Question

Alright, I'm a blue belt in karate and I'm having a lot of trouble with my rolls. Before when I was in a lower belt, it didn't really matter much since all we did was rolling on the ground. Now, higher in ranking, we have to learn how to jump over something and roll. It seems I'm the only one in my class that has trouble even doing a simple roll on the ground.

It's easier for me to start on my knee and just roll ahead. But when I have to do it standing up, my knee drops down automatically and then I do this slanted roll. Already having trouble just doing it standing up, it gets worse when I have to jump over a bo staff that only goes up to me knee. And my sensei is really giving me a very hard time because of it.

Does anyone have tips on how I get better. I try to practice as much as I can in class since they have a mat. But I can't seem to do it in the hardwood floor of my apartment. (I think it might be some sort of involuntary fear or something) Tips would be much appreciated please.

Answer 1

Check out dive rolls on U-tube and I would also recommend the late Stuart Quan's video Acorbatic Fighting Techniques I.  It will teach you how to do that as well as some other type acrobatic type moves as well as how to build up to doing them and give you some insight on how they apply to martial arts.  

Answer 2

The thing that I see people do wrong the most is that they don't point their elbow in the direction they intend to roll.  Some people put their arm down crosswise to the roll, which works okay when you are close to the floor, but puts a h**l of a lot of strain on the collarbone as things go higher.  So get your hand turned farther backwards and get that elbow pointed out.

Your hand should effectively be in front of your face throughout the roll.  Keep your head up.

If you are feeling any pressure or discomfort in your shoulder area during your roll, something is wrong.  

I work a lot with kids, so I've seen just about all the wrong ways to roll.

I wish I could see a video of your rolls, and then I could help you better.

I'm surprised that your sensei is giving you pressure and not helping you figure out what's wrong.  I know it's tough, but maybe you should question whether this Sensei is the right one for you?

Answer 3

It is the same type of involuntary reaction as blinking when you see a fist coming at your face, it is the body trying to protect itself or it's most sensitive parts. It is perfectly natural and nothing for you to beat yourself up over. Your instructor is most likely trying to get you over the fear of it by busting your chops about it in the hope that to please him you will push the fear down and hit it. The thing about those types of reactions is once you have hit it a good time or 2 they almost immediately diminish to nothing. The bad thing about it is it hits some people worse than others, and everybody has their one that they really suffer with.

My best advice would be to try to banish the thought of it from your mind and let your body go through the motion. You should definitely be trying to get extra time in on it at class where you have mats. Doing them on hardwood floors at home, while not going to seriously injure you will hurt at least a bit ecspecially while you are still having trouble with it because you are going to be tense and the roll isn't going to flow as a roll should.You may want to check into getting a few small mats for your place so you can work on it in the privacy of your own place or if you know someone who has a nice carpeted floor that would let you try practicing there for a while it could help. You may just have yourself all wrapped up in the whole thing now over trying to please your instructor, but still being afraid inside and may need to really work on it away from class and that pressure to perform on command.

If you have any friends who have done any gymnastics or tumbling or even cheerleading you may want to talk to them and see if they can help you out with it. I think your main problem right now is that you are dealing with a perfectly natural fear that is innate in most if not all people and now it has been compounded by the feeling that you are letting down or disappointing your teacher. Most martial arts teachers are definitely not out to bust their students up or break them down, a certain amount is needed to make you better able to learn, but I doubt seriously that your teacher is trying to do anything more than push you past the fear by giving you a hard time.

Best of luck to you!!!

Answer 4

You are partially correct it is a fear, but it isn't involuntary, you have control over it. That being said, will power could fix the problem, but chances are you have weak will. So, try this instead. Place an object in front of you that you reay don't want to hit. something that maybe valuable, or cause pain if you hit it. Place it in direct path of your knee dropping. Then do the roll. If that still doesn't work and you either cut you leg up good, or break that family heirloom your grandmother gave you, then you have to get over this fear of falling. How? By falling! jump up high into the air with out thinking of coming back down and allow yourself to crash down on the mat (or better yet on your hardwood floors, or even better out on the street). Stop fearing the fall.

Answer 5

I won't bore you with my personal rolling techniques but I want to ask if you ever talked to a gymnastics coach?

If wanted to learn sword fighting I wouldn't go to karate school. Get it?

You may not be able to afford additional training or even be able to find it but one should always try to go to a master of what they wish to accomplish. Again If possible.

I am not a big advocate of MMA but it does bring up a good philosophy about training at times.

But if you can't find a "tumble" teacher try to get help from the student who is best at rolling in your school. They are the most familiar with what you are trying to accomplish and may help you the most.

DO NOT jump over things that can hurt you! DO NOT try to flip on concrete. That's for stuntmen, not karate practitioners.

Try to be smart, not scared about rolling, it can be great fun or great pain but that is completely up to you no matter what anyone writes.