Falling

One of the first fears we develop as a child is the fear of falling to the ground. Unless it fear is overcome by training and experience the fear persists into adult life. This feat may be lessened if you just remember you are already on the ground, even while you are standing. 

The common human response to falling is the most dangerous. Although most people instinctively protect their heads, they will reach out to catch themselves and break an arm or wrist. Apprehension causes them to tense their body when makes it more susceptible to injury and causes the forces of the fall to travel through the body to the brain causing dizziness or even unconsciousness.

Taekwondo is known as the kicking art, so taekwondo students must learn and practice many different types of kicks. To kick an opponent, at least one of the kicker's feet must leave the ground. This decreases the kicker's stability and increases his/her chance of falling. Taekwondo practitioners fall a lot during training, so they must learn to fall safely. Learning how to fall properly may be the most important self-defense technique a taekwondo student learns.

Injuries may occur from falling while sparring, being pushed during a street confrontation, slipping on mud or ice, or just tripping while carrying out routine daily tasks, Injuries from falls range from a bruise or sprain to a concussion or possible death. In a fall during a self-defense situation, one must prevent injury from the fall, protect oneself from further attack during the fall, and regain a defensive position as quickly as possible after the fall. Falling properly must be instinctive, since most falls come unexpectedly and there is no time to react consciously.

Initially, the students learn to falls from kneeling or sitting positions. Then they progress to standing falls. These are useful while practicing basic self-defense techniques. However, before practicing advanced techniques, students must be capable of making falls from greater heights; therefore, they practice jumping or diving over obstacles before falling.