Falling practice pays off!

[Yashodhan Moghe]

In 11 years of doing Hapkido I've been pretty lucky, because the only self-defence technique I've ever had to use was White Belt defensive stance. However, I have used falling techniques a few times to save myself from serious injury. I thought I would share the most recent incident with everyone.

A couple of weeks ago my wife and I were travelling in Fiji. While we were there, one of the local guides took us to the abandoned set of Survivor Fiji (check out the pic on the IHA Facebook page). Apparently they are planning to turn it into a tourist attraction this year, but based on our experience I hope they won't! While we were there, part of the roof started collapsing on us - naturally we ran for it. My wife and the guide were luckily on a stable part of the set and ran quickly to safety. Unluckily for me, my escape route was over a rotten part of the floor. As I ran, the floor gave way, dumping me gut-first onto some beams. The beams also gave way and I ended up flipping over and falling a couple of metres and landing on my back on some rocks.

My wife and the guide were pretty amazed when I jumped up straight away and started dusting myself off. The guide was really worried he would get into trouble if I was injured. As I checked myself for damage, the reality of what had just happened sank in. I had taken a strong blow to the stomach and ribs (bruising there), but still managed to do a turning side fall (bruising on hip plus cuts and bruising on slapping arm). But most importantly, no broken bones, concussion or any other serious injury. How cool is that! All those years of falling practice had turned into muscle memory that automatically kicked in. I don't recall panicking or tensing up during the fall - I just acted without thinking.

So to anyone who's struggling to learn falling - keep at it! You will learn it if you keep practicing and it may save you some day. In particular, definitely stick around long enough to get good at turning side fall! It's the hardest fall and is painful to learn, but the pain you feel in the safety of the dojang may very well protect you from real pain outside the dojang.


KSN Yash

[Mira Korhonen]

That was a very lucky event, unlucky for you to fall, but very lucky that you weren't hurt...thanks to Hapkido I hope the bruises heal quickly.

Thanks for sharing!

Mira, CG

[Markus Santi]

I have to contribute to this thread also. Some years ago my bicycle got caught and I flew over the handlebars at over 50km/h, without any helmet and light clothing I remember going over the handlebar head first and the next memory if me lying on the ground in a sidefall position. I had done a roll into side at quite a fast speed. The distance covered (jump + slide) was about 15m. I did break both my arms but no other injuries. Falling head first that is quite remarkable. Being pretty hardheaded I put the chains back on my bike and drove home...

[siru heromaa]

I also recommend to everyone practise your turning sidefall well, couple summers ago I tried riding a horse again(now never again, I stay safely on Hapkido!). Everything went well until horse got scared of something, we were going downhill and that horse kicked me out of it´s back. I had no helmet or any other safety equipments(no good I know), and next thing I remember was I lied on ground in turning sidefall position. Thanks to that, no neck/spine injuries or broken bones, falling was very ruff on hard ground. Only one sore finger, sore muscles and couple little cuts on hands. So keep on practising, one day it might save your life!

Siru, KS

[Aaron Bennett]

Sir Yash, that is an awesome story!

It shouldnt be survivor islad - it should be Sir Yash Island!

[Graham Hyslop]

Great story Sir Yash.

[Jacob Bloom]

Sir Markus, hard headed???? Great story Sir Yash.