ORLANDO, FL (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Millions of people, especially older people, fall every year, and those falls could lead to life-threatening injuries. According to the CDC, 800 thousand people are hospitalized for head or hip injuries caused by a fall. Jiu-jitsu, a martial art known for its emphasis on ground fighting and submissions, also teaches effective techniques for falling safely.
It is a martial art focused on balance and has falling techniques that could save you a trip to the ER. “By training jiu-jitsu, we claim that when you practice and you make those repetitions, muscle memory, you’re going to be far, far better prepared to handle those falls,” says Jerry Xayavong, a Program Dir. & Instructor at Gracie Barra Orlando, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy.
According to Xayavong, when falling forward, “We must protect our face. What you’re going to do is, you’re not going to straighten out your arms, you’re going to slap them on the mat. That’s going to take the impact away from yourself. And then, also, instead of letting your face hit the mat, you’re going to turn sideways.”
Falling backward is especially dangerous for people over 65.
“We don’t want to hit our head; we want to tuck our chin. We also want to get our head close to the mat, or the ground, as possible. And then, you disperse the energy. That way, we can minimize all the impact,” tells Xayavong.
Sideways falling can be tricky, but Xayavong says, “Same principles, a little bit different on the techniques, but you would also disperse your energy when you wouldn’t put your hand out. That can, that can break your arm.”
These techniques may seem simple, but their effectiveness lies in consistent practice. The goal is to make these movements second nature, allowing you to react quickly and protect yourself in any situation. Jerry says you can train with jiu-jitsu from four years old to 84 years old and beyond.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/falls/facts.html
https://www.essentialbjj.com/about-us/what-is-jiu-jitsu/
Contributors to this news report include: Adahlia Thomas, Producer; Bob Walko, Editor
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