The point of an ukemi (wether Aikido, Aikibudo, Daito Ryu or else) is simply to avoid injuries from techniques which would, otherwise, severely fuck up your joints. This way you can come back the the following class.
And these weren't *break* falls BTW. Simply ukemis. They're way softer than actual break falls and allow one to complete the movement and get back up for more in the same effortless motion.