[The Heretic]

I've been doing BJJ since July and I absolutly love it. The only problem I have though is with foward roll drills you do to practice landing the right way. I just have this thing about exposing my neck in that way. I can't explian it, I just can't do it. I was never able to dive off the diving board either. I could jump off it fine, but I could never take the plunge into actaully diving.

I'm kinda veering off course, so let me get to my point. I'm pretty good at taking bumps having a pro wrestling background. As long as I know how to take a bump, is it necessary for me to be able to do foward rolls? If so, is there a way I can ease myself into being able to do it? It's kind of annoying to always look like a jackass flopping to the side while trying to do a foward roll.

[Balto]

Just take it slow and see if your instructor can help you out a little more with it.

Being able to roll forwards and backwards is really important in BJJ. You are going to use those moves all of the time on the ground to set stuff up.

[Ghosted-Barra]

You have to learn to do the forward roll, it helps you with your "landings" from sweeps and light throws (like a sacrifice throw), and there are a few subs you can escape by doing a forward roll. Like the poster above me said, take it slow, when you start to roll over, remember to tuck your chin to your chest, alot of people make the mistake of trying to see when the roll is coming and tuck their chin too late and get their necks hurt, just tuck your chin and start slowly and everything will work out just fine.

[dynamite98]

I guide myself with the arm of the shoulder I'm rolling on. It's kind of like a 45 degree downward knife action.I roll on the forearm, up the arm to the shoulder and around you go. I took TKD I that's how I learned. I don't know how practical it is in BJJ, but at least it gets you rolling.