Craig Constantine

On Castbox.fm — Amos Rendao | The Art of Falling

What principles and methods can enhance the practice of falling safely and effectively in Parkour and other movement arts?

Exploring the art of falling to revolutionize confidence and safety in movement training.

The term Parkour Ukemi comes from my two biggest sources of inspiration. Ukemi is a Japanese term from Aikido. That is my original inspiration for an organized study of falling.

~ Amos Redao (0:41)

The conversation introduces the concept of “Parkour Ukemi,” a system inspired by Aikido’s study of falling and adapted for the rigorous demands of Parkour. Amos outlines the challenges of falling in complex and varied environments, emphasizing the importance of a unifying theory that links different falling techniques to body orientations and other variables. This approach aims to make falling techniques accessible, safe, and intuitive for practitioners, enhancing their ability to troubleshoot and learn independently.

Amos also highlights the value of integrating falling practice into regular training. This practice not only builds confidence and reduces fear but also accelerates the learning process by allowing practitioners to explore their limits safely. The curriculum, summarized in an online course titled “The Art of Falling,” represents over a decade of study and experimentation, offering structured guidance to improve training outcomes and enjoyment.

Takeaways

Falling as a skill — Falling is a critical yet often neglected skill in Parkour and movement disciplines.

Unifying theory of falling — A framework that connects various falling techniques to body orientation and environmental factors.

Aikido’s influence — Insights from Aikido’s Ukemi serve as a foundation for developing falling techniques in Parkour.

Complexity of falling — Variables like surface type, speed, and obstacles create diverse continuums in falling methods.

Confidence through practice — Regular falling practice reduces fear, enhances confidence, and makes training more playful.

Accelerated learning — Safe exploration of failure leads to faster skill acquisition and personal growth.

Structured curriculum — Over a decade of study culminates in an organized online course, “The Art of Falling.”

Playfulness in training — Mastery of falling transforms fear into fun, enabling daring and creative movements.

Parkour EDU — A platform offering resources and the online course “The Art of Falling,” developed by the guest.

Art of Retreat

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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