Ukemi with Bokken

[Please visit our sponsor:]

[Keith_S]

I've recently been experimenting with taking ukemi while holding a bokken. Taking ukemi forwards while retaining your bokken isn't so much of a problem, but going backwards seems very difficult and awkward.

Does anyone have good descriptions of ways to take ukemi safely with a bokken?

[andrew]

Keith_S wrote:
Does anyone have good descriptions of ways to take ukemi safely with a bokken?

No.

Sorry.

andrew

[DJM]

We were doing ukemi with bokken last week...
:D
For back-breakfalls, keep bokken reasonably centred, and use your left hand to hit the mat.. Little bit like taking ukemi from shiho nage, when tori holds on a little too long ;)
Forward rolls with bokken are cool too :)

[Nick]

To add more:

has anyone tried ukemi with a bokken/saya at their hip? I'd try it but I'd prefer not to ruin my bokken.

-Nick

[Shipley]

For back rolls I leave the bokken in the hand on the side that is last in contact with the mat on the way up, and extend it perpendicularly from my body. You can do it with the other hand as well, but I can't find a way to explain it clearly.

Nick, it ain't the bokken that is going to break... :)

Paul