Doing forward rolls has got to be one of the most effective overall exercises ever invented. It works all the major muscle groups of the body and is especially beneficial for the neck, shoulders, forearms, triceps, abdominals, quads and calves. If it weren’t for the minor drawback that doing even a few rolls makes one hopelessly dizzy and nauseous, I think long distance rolling could eventually become a bona fide fitness craze!
I started practicing forward rolls more than 25 years ago and, in fact, the oldest Guinness record that I currently hold is for rolling the entire 12-mile length of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride in Massachusetts, which I accomplished back in 1986. Whenever people ask me about the rules for that record, I always respond that the rolls must be continuous, but you are allowed to stop to throw up! I’m not just being funny ” I had a big meal the night before my unusual rendition of Paul Revere’s journey. Unfortunately, the fact that I had 4 slices of pizza -with everything on it- was no mystery to sympathetic bystanders all along the route!
Doing forward rolls has got to be one of the most effective overall exercises ever invented. It works all the major muscle groups of the body and is especially beneficial for the neck, shoulders, forearms, triceps, abdominals, quads and calves. If it weren’t for the minor drawback that doing even a few rolls makes one hopelessly dizzy and nauseous, I think long distance rolling could eventually become a bona fide fitness craze!
I started practicing forward rolls more than 25 years ago and, in fact, the oldest Guinness record that I currently hold is for rolling the entire 12-mile length of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride in Massachusetts, which I accomplished back in 1986. Whenever people ask me about the rules for that record, I always respond that the rolls must be continuous, but you are allowed to stop to throw up! I’m not just being funny : I had a big meal the night before my unusual rendition of Paul Revere’s journey. Unfortunately, the fact that I had 4 slices of pizza “with everything on it” was no mystery to sympathetic bystanders all along the route!
Anyway, the sickening aspect of forward rolls makes the activity that much more appealing to me. I like the challenge of using the power of concentration and meditation to overcome the dizziness and nausea. I keep going back to the rolls like an old friend and, over the years, I’ve broken the record for the fastest forward rolls mile several times. Besides the physical challenge, I love doing rolls because they are so silly looking and they force me to swallow my pride! In a way, the rolls are representative of many of the Guinness records. They look ridiculous to the outside observer, but in reality, they require a great deal of physical fitness and determination.
When I do forward roll training, I look particularly eccentric because I wear an old-fashioned cushioned aviator’s cap to protect my head. Over the years I’ve gotten some amazing responses from people who happen to see me practice. Mostly, folks think I’m “playing with a few cards less that a full deck”, but on a couple of occasions I’ve actually frightened late night dog walkers who’ve stumbled upon me circling the track at 2 in the morning! During one of the forward roll record attempts, someone thought I was handicapped and that rolling was my only means of locomotion. When I passed the kind lady, she compassionately exclaimed, “Oh poor fellow, why doesn’t someone buy him a wheelchair”!
About a month ago, while in Turkey, I began forward roll training again in preparation for an attempt on the record for most forward rolls done in an hour. I would train at a track near my hotel, and since most of the locals don’t speak English, I got some incredulous looks, but no comments. However, on one particular morning, something unprecedented happened.
I arrived at the sports complex and a team of athletes were stretching in the infield near the finish line of the track. These guys must have been shot putters and discus and hammer throwers because they were big! Every time I passed them I noticed that they would all stop their exercises to watch me as I grunted by. This went on for about 30 minutes until I finally ended my brutal workout at the finish line, right in front of them. I was quite bruised, dirty, nauseous, and exhausted. Suddenly, I heard a commotion, so I turned my head around to the left. There, in the infield, were all those tough athletes smiling from ear to ear and giving me a standing ovation!
