| When Dr. Jigoro Kano developed judo from its | | | | with both arms and hands. |
| original martial art form, he wanted something | | | | For the next step in judo basics you must learn |
| more than skill in technique. He theorized that | | | | to make one arm and hand strike the mat |
| what was needed was a blend of the finer | | | | sideways to the left. The left hand and arm strike |
| techniques of jujitsu with a form of mental | | | | the mat toward the left. Then you must suddenly |
| training or philosophy as its driving force. Do or | | | | drop them on the mat and make them strike |
| "the way" therefore came to signify the mental | | | | simultaneously and as strongly as possible. Repeat |
| training that the judoist needs in order to make | | | | the practice alternately right and left in daily |
| practical use of the judo philosophy in personal | | | | workouts. |
| contacts, daily experiences, and career relations. | | | | Next learn to make one arm and one hand, one |
| In other words, judo basics involve the maximum | | | | leg and one foot, and the sole of the other foot |
| efficient use of mental and physical energy. | | | | strike the mat simultaneously as you fall. After |
| This is no more evident than in the special facet | | | | you have learned these ways of striking the mat, |
| of judo called ukemi - the art of falling. In judo the | | | | you advance further to the practice of the |
| method of falling is an art in itself. Mastery of | | | | forward roll. |
| ukemi, or the art of falling, is essential not only for | | | | Here your arms and feet strike the mat as your |
| the execution of free and quick movements but | | | | body rolls forward in a motion like that of a |
| also for the prevention of injury when you are | | | | somersault. Be sure that the hand which serves |
| thrown. Thus ukemi is the first technique for you | | | | as a fulcrum is placed on the mat turned in at an |
| to learn and master. | | | | angle of about 45 degrees so that you can roll |
| The key point of ukemi is to make your upper | | | | over the bent elbow in such a way as to prevent |
| and lower extremities strike the mat | | | | injury. |
| simultaneously just before your trunk makes | | | | In the next step in judo basics you advance your |
| contact. You can then utilize your shoulder, thigh, | | | | right foot forward a little, then put your right hand |
| and knee joints as shock-absorbing. If you | | | | on the mat turned in. Push the mat with your left |
| succeed in doing so, you can break your fall by | | | | leg, and your body will roll forward, completing a |
| dissipating the impulsive force. | | | | forward somersault. Your right elbow, shoulder, |
| In mastering ukemi you first learn how to strike | | | | trunk, right side of the waist, outside of the left |
| the mat with both your arms and hands to | | | | leg and foot, and sole of the right foot touch the |
| prevent your head from hitting it when you fall | | | | mat in this consecutive order.To be perfectly safe |
| backwards. The arms should be straight and | | | | in practicing judo make sure you have a thorough |
| make an angle of about 45 degrees with the | | | | knowledge of ukemi. |
| trunk. Strike the mat as vigorously as possible | | | | |