Passive and Aggressive Ukemi

In the martial arts, the ability to fall is crucial. This practice is known as ukemi in Japanese, and it is really an art in itself.

Ukemi is almost always taught, at at least initially, as a method of receiving and managing an opponent's attack. In order to generalize the learning process, ukemi is often demonstrated as a series of shapes that one can assume when falling in a certain direction. Of course, these shapes vary, but quite often the forms consist of a backward breakfall, a side breakfall to the right and left, and a forward rotating fall. The shapes must be practiced exhaustively so that that the body can form reflexively and the mind is not perturbed when physical balance is lost. Once the fear or aversion to falling is overcome, the martial artist can focus on deeper aspects of the arts, and truly begin to develop.   

To adopt a stiff and defensive attitude is the best way to restrict development, as Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, points out in his article, "The Importance of Ukemi." There is no shame in performing a forward roll when thrown toward the floor — it is infinitely more graceful and tactically advantageous to receive the ground with minimum impact in order to swiftly regain the feet, than the alternative, which is to nose-dive in order prove the opponent didn't score the point. This mindset is very important, and is appropriate in the dojo as well as the battlefield. By receiving a throw without receiving damage, one can persevere at full capacity. Injury can only hinder one's potential. 

Ukemi, however, need not be restricted solely to defense. The mass of the body in conjunction with the acceleration of gravity can yield a significant force, and the application of this force in an intelligent direction can yield expedient results. Then ukemi becomes sutemi, which in all practical purposes is ukemi with aggressive intention. Sutemi occurs when one uses an ukemi form offensively, effectively throwing oneself in order to defeat an opponent. It is a sound concept: Attach the opponent firmly onto the back and take a rolling fall, and the opponent, in addition to being tossed, conveniently functions as a cushion from the ground. In the martial arts, Sutemi waza occurs most prominently in Judo, for three specific reasons: First, judo free practice encourages participants to attack and defend quite vigorously, so sometimes one must literally throw oneself in order to throw the opponent; second, if one is in the process of being thrown, performing ukemi in a specific manner can allow one to take control of the momentum of the exchange and reciprocate a counter-throw; and third, Judo techniques, when performed properly, are quite safe — so even if a participant is thrown with considerable force onto a matted floor, it is no big deal provided the participant knows how to fall.

The practical use of sutemi waza can be substantially expanded if compassion for the opponent is recklessly abandoned. If the force generated by sutemi waza is applied against, say, a small joint, the technique can easily destroy that anatomy. For example: If a wrist is torqued in such a way that all the slack is out of the arm, and a forward roll is performed in the direction the wrist can not longer bend, that wrist is fubar. Obviously, such methods are rarely practiced in the dojo because the potential for injury is incredibly high, but knowledge of their existence may prove decisive in dire situations.