Technical Aikido

Chapter 5 - Ukemi Techniques

by Mitsunari Kanai, 8th dan

Editor's Note: Following is an excerpt from Kanai Sensei's unpublished book. The video version has been released and is available from Aikido Online. This text can be used in conjunction with the video. Photo's from the Technical Aikido video.

Part 2

Ma-ukemi (Break Fall) No.1

Step forward with the outside leg that is, the leg further away from the Nage (in this case the right leg). Spring with this leg as the pivot and do Zenpo Kaiten in the air. When landing on the mat, separate the body and arm so as to make a 45-degree angle between them and hit the floor first with the left arm in order to soften the impact on the rest of the body.

Then hit the mat simultaneously with the entire stretched left leg and the sole of the right foot and (the right instep and right knee are bent). At the instant the left leg and the right sole land on the mat, the upper body must be bent forward. (By this time, the elbow of the left arm, which hit the mat, must have already been bent and the left hand must have already supported the rising upper body.) Bending the upper body in this way is necessary to protect the internal organs from the impact.

It is important to keep the legs spread apart sufficiently because if the right knee cannot withstand the momentum generated by the impact and as a result collapses to the inside, the inside of the right knee must not hit the left leg.

Immediately after the left leg and the right foot land on the mat, using the momentum generated by the movement, twist the hip back to the right, and while standing up using the right knee as a pivot, do Tenkan with the left foot as the pivot and assume a Hidari Hanmi stance in order to be prepared for any move of the opponent.

Depending on which Nage waza (Throwing Technique) is employed, Zenpo Kaiten ukemi (Front Roll) may not be sufficient, and this is the ukemi which, in such a case, is necessary to protect one's self. It is like Zenpo Kaiten in some respects, but is different in others. You must learn the differences.

Train so that you can manage to do this ukemi flexibly when being thrown to the front, back, left or right.

Ma-ukemi (Break Fall) No.2

This ukemi should be used when being thrown directly down by techniques such as Koshi Nage or Kata Guruma, and it is almost the same as Ma-ukemi No. 1. In case of taking ukemi on the left side of the body, land on the mat with the left arm, left leg and the right foot sole simultaneously, while lifting the back (from the left abdomen to the left armpit) from the mat to protect the internal organs. Also, pull the chin forward to prevent the head from striking the mat. Both the angle of the arm and body as they hit the mat, and the distance between both legs are the same as the previous Ma-ukemi. Train very thoroughly because one receives a very strong impact when taking this ukemi.

Both of the Ma-ukemi waza are ukemi waza based on uniting oneself instantaneously with the body of the opponent who initiated the waza by making one point of body contact the pivot point. The pivot point is that point on the Uke's body where Nage’s power is most loaded (or placed) onto the Uke, or, conversely, the point of Nage’s body where Uke’s weight is most loaded onto the Nage.

The pivot point can move (within a range) in the course of a technique, but at all times it is the point of strongest contact between the Uke and Nage. Therefore, one needs to clearly understand which part of the opponent's body (the part which the opponent's power is directly put on) one must utilize for this purpose. The point of contact is generally the shoulder, elbow, or hip.

When one is thrown in the air, one must put one's body in the correct position in order to land safely. However, while one is in the air and not in contact with any object, it is difficult to move in any way, much less move accurately. Therefore, one must use the reactionary power of the throw itself, received through one point of contact with the opponent's body (usually shoulder, elbow, or hip), to provide sufficient force to propel one to a position where one's orientation is regained.

This happens in one instant, so Uke must rapidly and accurately determine which part of Nage’s body he will use.

Sokuto (Yoko-ukemi)

This ukemi should be used when being thrown down on one's side by Ashi Barai (Leg Sweep) or Okuri Iriminage.

In case of Hidari Hanmi (which would be the case if the left foot were the outside foot, i.e. the foot further away from the Nage), a moment before the left side of the body lands on the mat, one must hit the mat quickly with the stretched left arm, which is extended away from the body (maintaining an approximately 20 degree angle between the body and the arm), and shift the body's position so that the part of the body that lands first is the left part of the hip, and the part of the body that lands later is the upper left of the body. The instant the left hip lands on the mat, stretch both legs and kick them upward (twisting to the right front side of the body). This movement controls the balance of the body and prevents the left side of the body from receiving an abrupt and injurious impact.

Much training is required in order to hit the mat quickly and strongly with the extended arm, because in this case, one arm alone absorbs nearly all the impact received by the entire body.

The way of standing up is the same with Ma-ukemi.

There are also other ukemi such as Zenpo (Front Fall) or Koho (Back Fall) which are done when rolling is not possible due to insufficient space or other physical limitations. I would like to explain about these in the future.

It is necessary that one know when and how to do all types of ukemi. Just as Nage is required absolutely to make a posture based on the principle of reactionary power, Uke also must do ukemi based on the principle of reactionary power.

In other words, one must make sufficient use of the sources of reactionary power, which results from putting power on anything that has weight. For example, reactionary power would include the Nage’s power, a part of the body, and the mat. Thus one can control one's own body. Unless one understands this principle, ukemi as practiced will never be the true ukemi.

You must practice until you are convinced that even when the power of an opponent is imposed on you with maximum force, if you can use the opponent's body in the correct way, you will be able to take the safest and most correct ukemi.

When one is being thrown, the power of the other is always imposed on a particular part of one’s body. One must do ukemi either by utilizing the power which is imposed on oneself as the reactionary power, or by using the contact point between the other and oneself as a source for reactionary power.

Therefore, do not start your ukemi by "jumping" rashly in advance of the Nage’s throw. Do not decide which to do, Ma or Kaiten-ukemi, before being thrown. Adapt oneself to the circumstances instantaneously and let the Nage’s technique determine which you take. This approach must be thought through carefully and then consistently applied to practice.