Ukemi principles for "hakama exam"

Hello everyone,

It's Modern Bushi here. Apologies for my long absence, from the AikiWeb forums, I was very busy with school work (though it did not restrain me from keiko…)

In a short while, I will be passing a test for earning the Hakama; I will essentially be uke for the majority of the test and will have to perform the best ukemi I can.

To help me for preparation, what should I take into account (principles, mindset …) for my ukemi, in particular the high falls?

Thanks for your help.

Best wishes,

Christian.

You should ask seniors at your dojo. No one else will be able to tell you what the criteria for your test will be.

(Note that the stage at which students are told to wear hakama varies widely from dojo to dojo, so knowing that this is a test that, if you pass, will entitle you to wear a hakama does not tell us anything)

i agree with mary. we don't know what rank you are/will be. but ask your seniors what they expect from you

also, don't trip.

Jerome Cervantes wrote: also, don't trip.

Yep. Very good advice. I've seen it happen and it wasn't pretty.

Jerome Cervantes wrote: also, don't trip.

there are two kind of hakama people. those who tripped and those who will. same thing with motorcycle rider but for the crash part instead of trip.

Presumably you won't be wearing your hakama yet at the time of the test ... but there are three basic pieces of advice that students of all rank generally remind themselves during testing:

1.) Relax (relax, relax)
2.) Trust your training
3.) Don't anticipate

Don't think about what the technique will be. Just let it flow.

dps