>>Youth class

>>Adult class

>>Self defense

>>Waiver

>>Articles

>>Links

>>Video

HOME

If you want to practice golf, you need a club; if you want to practice painting, you need a brush.  If you want to practice Jujitsu, you need an Uke!

The literal translation of Uke is receiver.  As Uke, you are the one feeling the effects of the technique.  That doesn't mean that you just stand there like a bag of rocks, waiting to be knocked over! 

Being Uke takes as much skill, concentration, and commitment as being Tori, and sometimes more.  Being Uke gives you an opportunity to feel the physical elements of a technique, it allows you to feel how tight the grip is, or where the hip should go.  So how do you make sure your a "good" Uke?  

Relax--
The first, and most important thing, is to be confident in your ukemi (falling).  When you have that confidence, you'll let Tori put you where the techniques intend you to go and you'll be relaxed when they do.  Without that confidence the tendency is to try to fall where you think it will hurt the least.  Many times those two things are in opposite directions, making the fall much more forceful and preventing effective ukemi.

Don't fight the technique--
Remember that everyone there is there to learn, from the greenest beginner to the most seasoned blackbelt, we all learn something every time we practice.  Let Tori practice the technique without resisting. As Uke, you should be relaxed and in a balanced stance as the throw begins, allowing Tori's kuzushi (off balancing) to be effective.  As Tori continues through the technique, don't grab them or try to hang on.  All that does is prevent your doing effective Ukemi, and many times will drag Tori down on top of you.  The more you fight the technique being applied, the more energy Tori needs to apply to make it work, which translates into a harder fall.  Relax and let it happen! 

Don't be a wet noodle--
Being a good Uke doesn't mean falling over as soon as Tori touches you either!  You should have a "live" body during practice.  That means being relaxed and stable.  If you just fall over for Tori, they never have the opportunity to learn the technique correctly.  When practicing, think of the movements as a dance step, where it takes both you and your partner working together. 

Don't anticipate--
This is probably one of the most difficult things to avoid.  When you anticipate you tend to start to twist your body in the direction the kuzushi will happen, before the kuzushi actually happens!  Doing this changes the relationship between your body and Tori's, many times making it very difficult for Tori to get into the correct position for the  technique. 

Don't be a dead body--
Jujitsu is about movement, action and reaction.  Many of our techniques have a small beginning movement in the opposite direction from which the Kuzushi will be applied.  This "wind-up" uses the natural reaction of a person to develop the necessary energy for the technique.  When you're Uke, try to think like a regular person off the street.  Generally, if someone were to pull you forward, you're natural reaction would be to pull back.  Tori uses that reaction to make the ushiro (back) ukemi more effective.  When practicing a technique that throws to the rear, and you feel Tori pull you forward, react naturally and try to regain you previous balance. (Remember, don't "fight" Tori as the technique progresses.)

Life is Circle--

Many times, what goes around comes around.  If you're not trying to be a good Uke for your partner, how likely are they to try to be a good Uke for you?

<<<--BACK

Get a MAP (use the browser back button to return to this page)

Phone: (717)512-8421 or (717)766-7585

Hours:
Tues. 6:00-9:00PM
Wed. 6:30-9:00PM
Thurs. 6:30 - 9:00PM
Sat. 8:30 - 11:30AM