I set out to develop a solo feather backfall method that was progressive, gentle, did not require much back flexibility, and had the ability to "bail out" into a forward roll if the situation demanded. The "postfall" feather backfall is the result; unlike other back falls, the practitioner turns and "posts" the back hand to give stability, direction, and additional options to the fall.
By "posting", this fall:
- Fosters tight, compressed ukemi when needed.
- When the ukemi doesn't quite "feel right", it converts automatically into a forward roll or other ukemi on the posting hand.
- When nage is controlling the head and neck in iriminage (head turned away from nage), it allows a feather fall that does not require contact with nage, and does not roll toward and into nage on the ground.
- It looks nice, feels safe, and takes very little energy!
This video shows four levels of exercises that start with a very simple mat exercises, and builds progressively upon basic forward roll skills with no sudden "jumps" in the learning curve. The transition between forward roll to back feather fall is gradual and progressive.
This method is part of the Chuseikan skill system/syllabus for back ukemi: tampaaikido.com/skill-tree/
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