Systema Backward Roll

The Systema backward roll is the basic method of redirecting any kinetic energy that takes you backward and towards the ground. This is a useful technique to learn in case you have been struck and have fallen backwards. It could potentially save you from injuring your back or striking your head.

This technique should be practiced slowly on a hard surface. Although most martial arts use a padded mat to teach any type of roll, Systema schools will always use a hard floor.

For other Systema movement techniques, please visit the main low acrobatics section.

This can be used from anything from a sitting position to ten feet off the ground. When first learning this technique, you can start from a sitting or squatting position.

• Roll back from your buttocks on the side of your back
• You may transition across to the other side across the lower, flat parts of your scapulae, from one to the other.
• Whether you transition or not, the roll must happen along your forearm.
• Use the momentum you get from rolling onto your back and push your legs and hips in the direction you want to go.

There are four ways to end this sort of roll.

• Point your toes and open up your body, letting anything that contacts with the ground slide freely across it.
• Flex your toe and plant it into the ground. Then, open up your body and let whatever has the tendency to slide slide across it.
• Plant your toe into the ground and push yourself up. Use a screwing action with your arms so it requires less brute force.
• End the roll in position safe. Note, this IS NOT a knee spike. The impact should be somewhere in between your knee and your ankle, NEVER on either of these joints. These joints are not intended to take forces along the planes you will be using, so failing to do this will cause great pain or damage.

References

1. The Combat Professor, http://www.combatsystemaonline.com/sq/13494-trailer Added - 09/21/14