In the roll forward straddle, the legs are spread after leaving the mat. It is only after the hands touch the ground that the feet come into contact with the mat. Thanks to the support of the hands as close to the body as possible, the body is lifted into straddle stand.

View of the practitioner

It is a rotational movement where the rotation is initiated by the muscular force of the lower limbs respectively by the ground reaction force. After passing through the upright lying position, the hands come into contact with the mat first, maintaining the acquired rotation speed. If the heels were first, the movement would stop. Subsequently, the body rotates around the axis formed by the heels. The force of the upper limbs, or the ground reaction force, exerts on the lever, which is the greater the closer the hands are placed to the body. This increases the rotational effect. The greater the spread of the legs, the smaller the moment of inertia of the body. This results in the greater rotation angular velocity.

• Bent knees.
• Hands too late on the mat.

• Physical preparation 1

  It is based on the passive flexibility of the hamstrings and hip adductors.

• Physical preparation 2

  Proper execution depends also on the strength of the hip flexors.

• Drill 1

  It is important to keep the correct rhythm of movement. The hands must be on the mat before the heels, which we can practice independently.

• Drill 2

  We can first perform the straddle roll on an inclined surface.