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Everybody in the Parkour community knows that the roll is the most basic technique that you should learn before all else, but few people take the time to think of this simple move’s implications and its true importance in all aspects of their Parkour training.
All too often a Traceur will take 5 or 10 minutes a day to work on the roll until they get it to an acceptable level (i.e. it doesn’t hurt their shoulder/hip/back any more) and then they leave roll-specific training behind to chase more advanced techniques. Unfortunately, these practitioners aren’t giving this most basic technique its proper weight, as mastering the roll from every conceivable angle and obstacle is paramount in a developed Parkour skill-set. Why is the roll so important, and why should you seek to absolutely master it from all angles? Before we can answer this question, it is important that we explain the basic mechanics of the rolls that are most commonly used in our art. The most prominent technique for rolling is the common martial-arts shoulder roll, where you land with one foot slightly forward and use the momentum from your jump to roll diagonally from the lead shoulder to the opposing hip. This roll allows a reduction of the impulse (force x time) of a landing, which saves your knees from unnecessary shock while preserving momentum for continued movement (check out M2's rolling tutorial HERE ). Many people stop here, but they are leaving huge gaps in their abilities if they do. Once you have perfected the forward shoulder roll from both sides, it is also important to practice rolling to the sides and to the rear. This may seem counter-intuitive, as Parkour is a forward moving sport, but in this seeming contradiction lays the true value of a developed rolling skill. Apart from preserving momentum when it is used intentionally, the roll’s major value is as a safety net when an accident happens from any number of random angles. If you have a polished technique from any possible falling position, you are further prepared to adjust to any random slip and prevent catastrophe. This is the foundation of all other Parkour training, as it’s essential to learn how to roll before you start pushing your limits in technique. So, now that you see the light; the roll isn’t just a necessary technique to start out with, but also a must-have piece of your daily training puzzle, where to start learning some of the techniques for the back and side rolls? I hope to get some picture and video tutorials of these moves done soon, but until then there are a few resources for learning the lesser-used rolls. One is a gymnastics class, where they tech rolling for the same reasons mentioned here, namely, prevention of injury in the case of a fall. The backwards roll in gymnastics is a straight-over roll, which has some benefit, but is not as useful on hard surfaces. A short tutorial can be found here: http://wiki.ehow.com/Do-a-Backward-Roll The big trick to this roll is using your feet to drive your momentum, and placing your hands next to your head (which should be tucked) and pressing hard to keep weight off your neck and head. A more useful roll for Parkour would be the backwards Aikido roll, which is similar to the rolls used in Judo and Jujitsu. This roll is similar to reversing the usual shoulder roll, with a few key differences in arm and head position. This is the best example of this that I’ve found: http://www.bodymindandmodem.com/KiEx/BackRoll.html With those two rolls as a starting point, play with the body position and entry/exit until you get it to an acceptable point of smoothness and proficiency. It is important to use these from a variety of positions in a variety of events. Start on something soft like grass or carpet, then as you gain experience with the movement, move on to harder surfaces to test your technique. While this is by no means and exhaustive list of the rolling resources available, I hope it gives you a place to start. With daily, dedicated practice of this essential skill, you will be preparing yourself for any possible situation. That is the true goal of Parkour, and the roll is the foundation of all other training that you could undertake. Good luck, and happy rolling! |
