{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Uke'' (martial arts)}} {{Short description|Term in Japanese martial arts}} {{infobox martial art term |title = ''Uke'' |pic = G Blaize Kokiu Nague 2.JPG |piccap = ''Uke'', on the left, "receiving" a throw by executing a forward roll |kanji = 受け |hiragana = うけ |revhep = uke }}
{{nihongo|'''''Uke'''''|受け|}} ({{IPA|ja|ɯke|IPA}}) is in Japanese martial arts the person who "receives" a technique.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8s8DAAAAMBAJ&dq=Uke+martial+arts&pg=PA108 |title=Black Belt |page=108 |date= November 1992|access-date=2016-04-10}}</ref> The exact role of ''uke'' varies between the different arts and often within the art itself depending on the situation.<ref name="google1">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FPiUff2BGBkC&dq=Zenpo+kaiten+ukemi&pg=PA150 |title=Karate For Beginners And Advanced |author=Richard Murat |page=150 |year=2005 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |isbn=9788126904600 |access-date=2016-04-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fXKaaSlJJgsC&dq=Uke+martial+arts&pg=PA163 |title=The South African Dictionary of Sport |author=J. Alswang |page=163 |year=2003 |publisher=New Africa Books |isbn=9780864865359 |access-date=2016-04-10}}</ref> For instance, in aikido, judo kata, and bujinkan ninjutsu, ''uke'' initiates an attack against their partner, who then defends, whereas in competition judo, there is no designated ''uke''.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ca3D5KlzC5oC&dq=Uke+martial+arts&pg=PA211 |title=Europe, Sport, World: Shaping Global Societies |author=J. A. Mangan |page=211 |year=2001 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=9780714681719 |access-date=2016-04-10}}</ref>
An ''uke'' typically partners with a partner or nominal opponent.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wpx8YNuZELQC&dq=Uke+martial+arts&pg=PA195 |title=Sports |author=Jamie Striesend |page=195 |date= August 2013|publisher=Lotus Press |isbn=9788189093617 |access-date=2016-04-10}}</ref> The latter person may be referred to by any of several terms, again depending on the art or situation. They include {{nihongo|''nage''|投げ|"thrower"}}, {{nihongo|''tori''|取り|"grabber"}}, {{nihongo|''seme''|攻め|"attack"}} and {{nihongo|''shite''|仕手|"doer"}}.
== ''Seme'' == The counterpart of ''uke'' is '''seme''' (攻め, せめ; "attack", "offense"), the term for a kind of psychological pressure. The ''seme'' is the one inflicting something on to the ''uke''. It is also an attitude meant to disrupt the opponent's sense of confidence and resolution, prior to an attack.
==''Ukemi''== The action of ''uke'' is called "taking {{nihongo|''ukemi''|受け身|}}." Literally translated as "receiving body", it is the art of knowing how to respond correctly to an attack and often incorporates skills to allow one to do so safely. These skills can include moves similar to tumbling and are often used as a valid exercise in itself. In aikido and judo training for instance, many classes begin with ''ukemi'' training as conditioning.
===Forms=== * {{nihongo|''Zenpō kaiten ukemi''|前方回転受身|}} / {{nihongo|''Mae mawari ukemi''|前回り受身}} – a forward roll from the leading foot's shoulder to the hip on the opposite side.<ref name="google1"/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vgbRAgAAQBAJ&dq=Zenpo+kaiten+ukemi&pg=PT109 |title=Judo Training Methods: A Sourebook |author1=Takahiko Ishikawa |author2=Donn Draeger |date=2011|publisher=Tuttle |isbn=9781462902774 |access-date=2016-04-10}}</ref> * {{nihongo|''Mae ukemi''|前受け身}} / {{nihongo|''Zenpō ukemi''|前方受身}} – a forward breakfall.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JYWyVIOrqZEC&dq=Mae+ukemi&pg=PA14 |title=Judo in Action |author1=John Crossingham |author2=Bobbie Kalman |author3=Marc Crabtree |page=14 |year=2006 |publisher=Crabtree Publishing Company |isbn=9780778703426 |access-date=2016-04-10}}</ref> This can be in the form of a hard slapping breakfall or more of a forward roll like motion. There are subtleties in the different types of forward roll but the principle is that when being thrown forwards the uke (person being thrown) is able to roll out of danger in preference to sustaining an injury.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qZrXwJCXOuEC&dq=Mae+ukemi&pg=PA70 |title=Mastering Judo |author=Masao Takahashi |page=70 |year=2005 |isbn=9780736050999 |access-date=2016-04-10}}</ref> * {{nihongo|''Kōhō ukemi''|後方受け身|}} / {{nihongo|''Ushiro ukemi''|後ろ受身}} – a backwards roll or fall.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FPiUff2BGBkC&dq=koho+ukemi&pg=PA146 |title=KarateFor Beginners And Advanced |author=Richard Murat |page=146 |year=2005 |isbn=9788126904600 |access-date=2016-04-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=08dX0rFfLHMC&dq=koho+ukemi&pg=PA36 |title=Aikido: The Tomiki Way |author=Neil Saunders |page=36 |year=2003 |isbn=9781412006682 |access-date=2016-04-10}}</ref> * {{nihongo|''Yoko ukemi''|横受け身|}} / {{nihongo|''Sokuhō ukemi''|側方受身}} – a sideways fall.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IUdesGRLYsMC&dq=Yoko+ukemi&pg=PA23 |title=Ju-Jutsu: A Comprehensive Guide |author=James Moclair |page=23 |date=2009 |isbn=9781467898126 |access-date=2016-04-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LA3FCwAAQBAJ&dq=Yoko+ukemi&pg=PA44 |title=The Homing Beacon of Martial Arts |author=Adrien Breton |page=44 |date=2016|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9781329960893 |access-date=2016-04-10}}</ref> * {{nihongo|''Tobi ukemi''|飛び受け身|}} / {{nihongo|''Zenpō hiyaku ukemi''|前方飛躍受身}} / {{nihongo|''Kūten ukemi''|空転受身}} – more of a forward flip than a roll, a cross between ''yoko'' (landing) and ''mae ukemi'' (initiation), often used in response to wrist throws. ''Tobu'' (跳ぶ or 飛ぶ) is the Japanese verb for "to jump" and "to fly".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o_7yBQAAQBAJ&dq=mae+ukemi&pg=PA28 |title=Essential Aikido: An Illustrated Handbook |author=Nick Waites |page=28 |year=2013 |publisher=Lulu Com |isbn=9781291559248 |access-date=2016-04-10}}</ref>
Correct ''ukemi'' will allow the ''uke'' to suffer the least amount of damage possible from a fall. If done correctly, the force of hitting the ground will be spread out along non-critical parts of the ''uke''{{`}}s body. By properly doing ''ukemi'', the ''uke'' can roll out of danger and move into their next course of action without being damaged too much by hitting the ground.
==References== {{Reflist|30em}} {{martial arts}} {{Navboxes |title=Articles and topics related to Japanese martial arts |state=collapsed |list1= {{Japanese martial arts}} {{navbox koryu}} {{Martial arts}} {{Japan topics}} }} Category:Japanese martial arts terminology Category:Aikido Category:Judo Category:Jujutsu