Japanton – Chronicles of Anton in Japan!

Hatsumi sensei has said on numerous occasions that taking ukemi is bad.  I believe that on at least a lower level, I am beginning to understand.  In our martial art, when you are receiving attacks (or making them) your purpose is to increase your options while limiting the options of your opponents.

In our art where you are trying to move past the techniques, you will want to move your body in a way to take your opponents space, while covering his weapons.  Likewise your opponent will try to keep their options open and should only take ukemi when it is the only option they have.

Understanding the battle that is taking place, one will realize that if you do not give your opponent a technique against which to fight/go with, they will not be able to take ukemi without adding their own energy.  It is at this point you can use their strength against them to have them destroy themselves.

I won’t even try to write up an example, just something to think about.  Anyhow, I am off to push clouds and listen to echoes of techniques.

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