By Konstantin Atanasov - Skoutas

Ukemi - The greatest technique

Thessaloniki, 18th February 2018

Judo is a sport which has a lot to teach us in our everyday life and in our attitude towards our fellow man. As everyone know, one of the first things a child or a grownup learns, when joining a Judo Club, is «how to fall». He or she starts by learning «the technique of falling» or otherwise known as «Ukemi». This procedure can last from a few days to a few weeks.

It is well known and clearly understood that the practical reason for someone to pass through this procedure and to learn «Ukemi» in all directions, is because of the variety of throwing techniques that judo has. In other words, in order for you to be «safe», when your teammate throws you down during training, you need to know how to «fall».

Obtaining this precious knowledge, the novice Judoka, automatically does not only become familiar of how to protect himself from injury, but more than that, he or she knows how to «Stand up». Coaches and Judo teachers often say to beginners «Whoever knows how to fall, knows how to stand up!». In addition, the ability of falling and getting up diligent, without being hurt, «falling techniques» may also be used as a moral lesson.

The process of teaching «Ukemi» from bottom to top has a direct impact on your character, making you «very firmly landed on earth» and realistic. You start realizing that «falling» is not catastrophic, as long as you can stand back up! At the same time, you get a sense of reality! You are being taught how «easy» and «suddenly» you can find yourself on the ground, when just a moment ago you were «standing high». Through «Ukemi in Judo» and as time passes by, this becomes a part of your character, your personal experience, due to the fact that you have felt it «under your skin».

In Japan, in many dojos (where judo & martial arts are taught) even some of the grandpas start their training with Ukemi in all directions. We could partially state that this is also a kind of «warm up», because it activates the entire body. However, another good reason for which even the high grades (Dan), who are older, choose to repeat this at the beginning of the training process, is for «humility». It is not that they do not know how to «fall», but because we are first human and then Judokas, we should remember to be modest, humble and true, no matter what we have achieved in our everyday life. For a man to remember how easy it is, to «fall» and at the same time to «stand up», is a lesson that Judo provides to its students!

These experiences on the Judo mat are notably useful and important for a rational life and a certain humanitarian way of behaving and thinking.

Ukemi - as shown by the Tokai University - Japan