Ukemi Ukemi

Ukemi - Definition and Overview

Ushiro Ukemi per Shinken Shobu
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Ushiro Ukemi per Shinken Shobu

Ukemi, or "receiving the throw/attack," is the art of knowing how to land or fall and recover correctly from a martial arts technique with minimal impact. Within a judo or aikido context, ukemi refers to being thrown and getting right back up. An essential component of ukemi is awareness; knowing what is going on around you and your partner whilst on the dojo training mats. Furthermore, the uke (after much training) is usually able to anticipate what the nage (the thrower) is going to do. This allows the uke to respond accordingly so as to prevent injury. Truly graceful ukemi derives from serious training and an often syncretic balance between partners.


Ukemi is also the name of an earnable action in the Viewtiful Joe video game, which allows the player to regain health with diligent timing when thrown back by an enemy's attack.

Example Usage of Ukemi

kazeugma: @pokecapn _This_ is an Ukemi.
EiryukanAikido: "Those who excel at taking Ukemi will most likely excel in technique also, for they will be able to absorb... http://bit.ly/6koqkQ
bigwestern: New local CD review at Big Western Flavor: The rhythmically addictive, ocean-crossing turbo-folk of Ukemi http://tinyurl.com/ybcgd3q
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