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Re: [RC] falling safely - Lynn KinskyI'm with your husband. You CAN learn to fall safely, but like anything else it takes a lot of practice. You're correct in that when you are flying through the air at great height, speed, velocity, you really don't have time to "think" about what you're doing. That's where lots of training takes over. The muscle memory goes to work and you fall appropriately. Gymnastics and martial arts are great for this (I have experience in both and currently teach defensive tactics that include falling). Like anything else, its baby steps first. You start at a very low height (i.e. squatting) and then just kind of lay down in the appropriate position whether you're doing a front, side, or back fall. As you get better, you increase the height and speed. It is difficult to learn, but its one of those things that sticks with you once you get it right (thank goodness, because I seem to fall off all the time at speed). The important thing is to find somebody who is qualified to teach you how to fall, not just tell you to tuck and roll. I have yet to see gymasts or martial arts people do their falling practices on concrete-like, rock-laden adobe clay! <g> The times I've come off I would have dearly loved a mat to fall on. (I fall reasonably well and haven't broken any bones -- but the back of my helmet has saved a skull fracture or two). --
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