The first techniques that a judo beginner learns are called ukemi, meaning “the way of falling right”. Since judo fights are quite intense and you often slam on the floor with high speeds, the ability of falling right is crucial. Ukemi, also known as “breakfall techniques” ideally absorb most of the energy of the impact on the floor in order to prevent injuries. But they can also prove helpful in the everyday life for instance in bike accidents. Furthermore ukemi can be used as a warm up in the beginning of your judo training. For it is even useful for advanced judoka to revise these techniques regularly and they demand the body in a similar way as the throwing techniques.

Roughly seven different techniques cover the possible directions and ways of falling. They are either based on the principle of rolling or on the principle of absorbing the energy of falling by slapping on the floor with opened hands. The most basic ukemis are the forward breakfall and the backward breakfall that bear the japanese names mae-ukemi and ushiro-ukemi. When you start learning those techniques it is helpful to start firstly in a keeling or sitting position. That way you will be less reluctant to attempt the technique as the height from which you are falling and thus the risk of injuries is lower.

The forward breakfall requires you to place your palms on the ground in front of your head with your elbows spread wider apart. In the meanwhile, one foot steps farther back and your head is turned to the side. Then you shift your weight to the front using your feet and roll over one shoulder and the back. If everything went well you should be situated in a laying position on the ground. In order to absorb the energy you have to slap on the floor with one hand and the opposite foot.

To learn the backward breakfall it is recommendable to start sitting on the floor with your feet in front of the body. You hold the chin close to your chest and cross the arms in front of your body. Secondly you tilt backwards and slap on the ground with both hands while keeping your arms straight. For the backward breakfall it is crucial to keep the head raised permanently to avoid injuries.

Those two techniques prepare you sufficiently to slowly proceed with throwing techniques. Nevertheless there is a variety of other ukemi that an advanced judoka should know. The forward and the backward roll enable you to fall softly and without slapping on the floor. Furthermore there are the sideways breakfall yoko-ukemi and the tobi-ukemis that require you to leap. Those are for sure the most intense ukemis but at the same time the ones that simulate the feeling of being thrown most accurately. In order to master ukemi you will need to repeat the same movements thousands of times until you fall correctly without thinking. Then you will loose the fear of falling and will be prepared for a judo fight. Nevertheless one should always stay focused since the risk of injuries is omnipresent.