SK Ukemi Techniques for Slipping on a Banana Peel..

[Jonathan Randall]

SK Ukemi Techniques for Slipping on a Banana Peel... (per moderator request)

What types of falling and evasion techniques does Shorinji Kempo teach that could be useful for those times when we slip on banana peels?

[Tripitaka of AA]

We typically practice our ukemi on wooden floors.

Interestingly the dynamics of the classic banana-skin pratfall are contrary to most of the "safe" breakfalls, whereby a person can tuck into a ball and roll. The typical scenario would be a person running or walking fast in a forwards direction, the slippery surface takes them unawares, sending feet forwards, head backwards, and in a really good one, the person will end up horizontal but still several feet in the air... to drop like a stone on their bottom, or back, but hopefully not their head.

There are some great examples in pro wrestling or the tackles form American Football of a similar fall... how are they prepared for, I wonder?

[wab25]

Japanese Jujitsu teaches breakfalls that work for the banana peel slip. I have taken two such falls, one on a tiled floor and the other on concret. I was fortunate to excute to good high back falls, and land safely. I don't know if they are a part of Shorinji Kempo, but David did ask how these types of falls can be prepared for.

[Nina]

I am really interested who ever slipped on a banana? Isn`t that unrealistic today?

[Tripitaka of AA]

Koryu arts still have relevance today. The Banana skin fall is still witnessed in the modern age, although it may be more commnly witnessed as the ice-slide, or the polished-floor-woooooops.

From a Shorinji Kempo perspective, I have told the story before of how I saw Yamasaki Sensei of Hombu fall on his posterior due to a wet floor... his training saved him from too much embarassment.

[Jonathan Randall]

We typically practice our ukemi on wooden floors.

Interestingly the dynamics of the classic banana-skin pratfall are contrary to most of the "safe" breakfalls, whereby a person can tuck into a ball and roll. The typical scenario would be a person running or walking fast in a forwards direction, the slippery surface takes them unawares, sending feet forwards, head backwards, and in a really good one, the person will end up horizontal but still several feet in the air... to drop like a stone on their bottom, or back, but hopefully not their head.

There are some great examples in pro wrestling or the tackles form American Football of a similar fall... how are they prepared for, I wonder?

Good point. I know, that the times I have started to fall forward (usually while carrying something), if I have the chance I drop my weight vertically and attempt a backward, rather than forward breakfall. Of course, in an immediate fall scenario such as the hypothetical SK Banana Peel, there is no time for this.

[Jaclyn]

The Banana skin fall is still witnessed in the modern age, although it may be more commnly witnessed as the ice-slide, or the polished-floor-woooooops.

Ahhh yes, the famous ice-slide... Every winter, the first few days are filled with such amusing (as long as it happens to someone else and not me) ice-slide slapstick scenes. Pretty interesting, actually, how creatively people can flail their limbs while attempting (utterly futilely) to regain their balance on icy patches. :o

[wab25]

I am really interested who ever slipped on a banana? Isn`t that unrealistic today?
I was walking through the rain, late to class, and stepped in onto the tile floor in too much of a hurry. Next thing I knew, my feet were above my head.