Ukemi

This is the method of taking a fall. It includes everything Uke does to take Nage's technique. The main purpose of Ukemi is to keep Uke save in practice. This takes precedence over everything else. Some Aikidoka make Ukemi into an acrobatic display and other students feel that they cannot do Aikido because they are not acrobatic athletes. Acrobatics are not necessary and frequently lead to bad Aikido. Basic to Aikido are front and back rolls. Usually Aikido students learn to slap like Judo students to take the hip throws. In our club it is rarely necessary to actually do a full forward or back roll. Uke should keep it as simple as possible to maintain safety.

The second function of Ukemi is to counter Nage's technique. In this sense everything in the Kaeshiwaza chapter is Ukemi.

Back Roll With Kick.

Movie of Back Roll with kick.

Fig. 1 Start		Fig. 2 Tuck Leg		Fig. 3 Sit Down		Fig. 4 Roll Back

1. Fig. 1 shows the start with Uke standing ready to roll.
2. Fig. 2 shows Uke tucking the back leg and sitting down. It is not critical to tuck the back leg. Frequently the leg cannot be tucked but it is critical to sit down.
3. Fig. 3 shows Uke sitting down. It is important to make the contact with the mat as soft as possible and to sit on the hip of the tucked leg. If both hips hit at the same time Uke can break the small bone at the end of the spine and this is an experience Uke can live without. Both of Uke's arms are in front of Uke. This is very important. If Uke's arm reaches back to catch Uke it can easily injure any of the joints in that arm. Take rolling very easily and slowly until the urge to reach back is eliminated.
4. Fig. 4 shows Uke absorbing the momentum of the fall by rolling back. When rolling back it is important to keep the back rounded so that Uke does not crash into the mat. In a good roll Nage rolls from the side of the tucked leg across the shoulder blades. It is unpleasant to have the vertebra rolling on a hard surface. Notice that Uke's arms are in front of Uke's face. This prevents Uke's arms from trying to catch Uke and it also protects Uke if Nage accidentally falls on Uke. This is as far as one needs to roll for safety. If you have limited athletic ability never do more than this.

   Fig. 5 Kick Out		Fig. 6 Foot Down		Fig. 7 Stand

5. Fig. 5 shows Uke kicking out with the tucked leg. This kick has three functions:
   1. For a beginner the kick helps Uke to get a good straight roll without falling off to the side.
   2. For an advanced Uke who is acrobatic it enables Uke to come back to Uke's feet without Uke's knees striking the mat. This is a safety feature if rolling on a hard surface.
   3. This kick enables Uke to kick Nage in the head if Nage does certain throws such as Kote Gaeshi and Shiho Nage incorrectly. Developing this ability is helpful in training Nage to avoid the common mistake of standing over Uke admiring Nage's work.
   The kick goes back and not up. Kicking up is a waste of energy in most cases.
6. Fig. 6 shows Uke's left foot landing on the mat. It is not easy to see but the foot is behind Uke's right elbow. This is a safety feature because it protects Uke's knees. Unfortunately if Uke does not have flexible toes it is very hard on Uke's feet. It also requires shoulder strength from an awkward position. Because of shoulder and foot problems I rarely do the roll up. One can be a great Aikidoka without having the athletic ability to do this. One can still do the kick without the acrobatics of coming back to the feet.
7. Fig. 7 shows Uke coming up to a standing position.