Side Breakfall Breakfalls are extremely important since they allow you to land from throws as comfortably as possible. The side breakfall is one of the most common breakfalls. Shown here is a simple drill for the side breakfall.

Standing with your feet level, take your right foot in front and to the left of your left foot resting the side of your foot on the floor.

Allow yourself to fall to the right. As you land, you should throw your right arm on the floor. This breaks your fall as it takes most of the force.

Forward Roll A forward roll allows you to escape danger and is also used for some breakfalls.

With your right foot in front of your left, place your right hand on the inside of your foot and tuck your chin into your chest.

Simply roll forwards ensuring you roll along your right arm and shoulder.

You should finish in the position as shown.

Come up on your right foot and twist anti-clockwise into your stance. You should be facing the direction in which you just came.

Escape Wrist Grab (Single Grip) This techniques is used when your attacker grabs one of your wrists.

Your opponent grabs one of your wrists.

Take your hand to the left and bring it up in front of your face so you are facing your palm.

Rotate your wrist clockwise so that your thumb is pointing towards your face.

Now thrust your hand down to the right to break their grip.

Escape Wrist Grab (Double Grip) This technique is used when your attacker grabs both of your wrists.

Your opponent grabs both of your wrists.

Take your hands slightly outwards and then clap your hands together.

Step into your attacker and strike them in the stomach to cause them to become off-balance and also move backwards slightly.

Step back and pull your hands back over one shoulder to release the grip.

Escape Front Strangle (Breaking Grip) This technique is used when your attacker strangles you from the front with their arms straight.

Your opponent strangles you from the front with their arms locked straight.

Step back with your right foot (this will cause your upper-body to twist and loosen the strangle slightly). Now place your right hand in front of your face to prevent your attacker from head-butting you.

Raise your left hand straight up into the air.

Using your left hand, punch through your attackers arms to break the strangle.

Bring your left arm back up and strike with an elbow to your attackers face.

Finally strike with a back-fist to the side of your attackers head.

Escape Front Strangle (Duck Method) This technique is used when your attacker strangles you from the front but does not have their arms locked straight.

Your opponent strangles you from the front but does not have their arms locked out straight.

Step back with your right foot (this will give you more space required for the rest of the technique).

Now take your head down between your attackers arms keeping your hands up to block any knee strikes. Don't worry if you think your attacker will keep the strangle on - you have more strength in your neck than they do in their wrists.

Finish by bringing your head up to the right.

Escape Back Strangle This technique is used when your attacker strangles you from behind.

Your opponent strangles you from the back.

Step with your left leg and place your foot to the left of your attackers left foot and strike with your right elbow to your attackers stomach.

Place your right hand behind your attackers back and grab your attackers right bicep with your left hand (taking your left hand under their right forearm).

Place your right foot to the right of your attackers right foot. Take your left foot further to the left and bend your left knee as shown. Keep your right leg nearly straight with the ball of your foot on the floor. Your calf muscle should be touching the shin of your attackers right leg. Make sure your hips are not in front of your attackers hips.

Simply twist your upper body anti-clockwise and put the heel of your right foot on the floor. Your attackers right leg will be swept backwards as your right hand drags them over your right leg. Once your attacker is on the floor you can strike or continue the fight on the ground by taking up the mounted position.

Straight Arm Lock This technique is used when your attacker throws an upper-cut punch to your stomach.

When your attacker throws the punch, block the strike with a left-handed downward block.

Grab your attackers wrist with your right hand. Now twist clockwise on the ball of your left foot and place your right foot on the floor so that you are stood to the side of your attacker.

Strike with your left elbow to the side of your attackers head.

Take your left hand round your attackers right arm and grab hold of your gi as high as possible. Now twist their wrist clockwise and push their wrist down to the floor to apply the lock.

Body Drop This technique is used when your attacker throws a straight punch.

When your attacker throws the punch, block the strike with a basic inside forearm block and step with your left foot to the left of your attackers left foot.

Now twist anti-clockwise on the ball of your left foot. Take your right arm behind your attacker and hold their right bicep with your left hand.

Place your right foot to the right of your attackers right foot. Take your left foot further to the left and bend your left knee as shown. Keep your right leg nearly straight with the ball of your foot on the floor. Your calf muscle should be touching the shin of your attackers right leg. Make sure your hips are not in front of your attackers hips.

Now twist your upper body anti-clockwise and put the heel of your right foot on the floor. Your attackers right leg will be swept backwards as your right hand drags them over your right leg.

To finish with an arm-lock, take your left hand round your attackers right arm just behind the elbow.

Put your left knee down on your attackers neck and put your right knee on their chest. Put your hands together and push your right hand to the left.

One Hold Down This technique is used to pin your attacker on the ground.

Sit next to your attacker with your back against the side of their chest.

Take your right arm and place it round the back of your attackers neck. Grab hold of either your gi or theirs to prevent them pulling their neck out.

Take their right arm under your left arm-pit and pin it there with your left arm. Grab hold of the back of their right arm as shown. This is the strongest grip to use to prevent your attacker from pulling their arm out.

Now tuck your head in and spread your legs as far as possible. This gives you a good base that makes it difficult for your attacker to move. Try to always keep your weight on your attacker.