I find that when i do the roll in the fifth motion i go over my right shoulder and use my left hand/arm to help push myself out of the motion(all while still moving) into the standing long stab. This works out find for me with the wooden sword, but when i use the imatation sword and anything with a sheath I find that my left arm is not in its normal location as it is pulling the sheath across the front of my body so it doesn't get smashed and i have extreme difficulties going from the roll to the standing postion. What techniques do you guys use to combat this? (Note, my rolls are quick and mostly complete, they are pretty good all in all save the exiting issues i'm having)

How are your left leg and foot [the rearward ones when you make the lunge in daedo-sae] positioned when you come out of the roll and are needing to transition to the lunge?

My right leg comes down at a 45 degree angle with my foot on the ground and i sort of roll over my left knee and use it and my left arm to push that side of me off of the ground with the momentum.

Try to get your rolls tighter and quicker. Your momentum alone should be enough to bring you out of the roll into a standing position. Try practicing without a gum and focus on not using your hands to bring you to the standing position. It's hard to say without observing your technique, but I would have to say the solution is just to practice negating the use of your left hand.

Gumdo"Keep them dawgies rollin'"Mike

ttt

I'd concentrate more on doing the rest of the form correctly before attempting to perfect the roll...

Keep in mind that rolls are something new in sword arts. No Japanese sword arts do it because it's impossible to move an entire daisho during a roll. It's also just as impossible to roll with 15lbs of armor.

Don't worry too much about rolling. You will NEVER roll in a real fight, whether you have a mokkum or jingum. It'll never happen, and if it does you'll be getting a kumjip enema.

Well, you know what they *always* say about never.

Actually I have rolled in a spar before It was the only thing I could think to do when my defenses were surely defeated and I knew an attack would swiftly ensue... Though I kinda rolled left and diagonally backwards, and it kinda ended with me on my face on the ground and my sword about 5 feet away from me(it might have been a good idea to know how to roll in that direction in that situation first) but my mission was accomplished because I evaded the attack, the ground may have defeated me but mission accomplished.


Oh and the roll is going much better now, it's everything but graceful, though it is functional now and with no hands to prop me up. All I have to do now is Grace-i-fy it and I'll be set

So, it's been a month, George. How do you feel about the roll now?

I wish I had seen this earlier.....our class actually had something that really helped everyone with this roll. We've been practicing it with a cardboard wrapping paper tube (the leftovers when you finish a 1 meter long roll of birthday gift or Christmas gift wrapping paper) stuck in our belts. This helps with practicing the motion to slide the scabbard to the right place, position your left arm for the roll, roll, and return the scabbard to the right place, all without risking breaking your scabbard, or impaling yourself with the scabbard, while learning.

Found that you have to pull the scabbard out half way, so the end is under your right armpit, and position your left forearm on top so it holds the scabbard nearly horizontal against belt/body, while your left palm can brace against the floor for the roll. It takes quite a few times to find the right place, and I find I still lose that spot, if I don't practice this form for a while.

That only works if you roll on your left shoulder. You need to pull it out to the left if you roll on your right shoulder, or it'll dig into your armpit. Heh, you'll only do it once and you'll never do it again.

If you guys really want to turn the roll into an effective evasive move, you should practice it from every angle. Keep in mind that you'll alway be off-balanced, pushed or thrown into the roll.

Er... but, regardless, a roll will generally not be a effective as ducking.

Ok Charles, you've come out vocally in opposition to rolling so I have a challenge for you. I do this myself when I notice undue negativity in my thoughts about a new technique. As I usually surprise myself with what I uncover, I propose this exercise might do you a world of good. It always does for me.

So, what I would like you to do is take a year, no less, and do your best to make this option work for you. Not being able to make it work for you at the beginning is just a sign that you don't understand it yet and haven't practiced it enough. At the end of the year, tell us what you've discovered.

Do you accept?

I'm not opposed to it. I just personaly think it's barely effective unless I'm forced to use it.

I've already been pushed back, which forced me off my feet and into a breakfall. Besides that, I really don't see where technique like this would come in handy. Can you please place this move into context for me? In which situation would I take do this?

Allow me the traditional response - one which you have given yourself on this forum, I might add: Practice the technique and it will reveal its secrets to you.

Just for benefit of all student members,

Once you can roll in SSGB#5 without much problem, start rolling using right arm only. After pulling out the scabbard half way towards right arm pit, keep it pressed against your body with left hand during the entire roll. What you have to do is make an arc with your right arm which extends from right hand to left hip. If you can maintain the arc well, you won't feel any impact for the rolling.