I think, for people that are not inherently interested in martial arts, and/or afraid of these elements, I like to emphasize that ukemi is really about receiving the intention of the other person and trying to understand it. In a practice setting within aikido, this manifests as throwing and falling usually, but it doesn't necessarily have to. Psychologically and in the wider world, I think it means being ready to accept and flow with whatever you're given, from anyone. I think that's a pretty powerful and potentially radical idea. Empathy can be dangerous, but also exhilarating.
I find myself wondering if there is an element of physicality and roughness, in a form largely denied people AFAB, that you simply enjoy for its own sake (and that is an important part of why you're drawn to aikido, that it is largely safe, practiced, AND physically rough).
When I was a little kid, I loved to play tackle football BECAUSE of the hitting (I had a few things I was working through😉). I regret the long term damage that was caused to my body but I get that part of what I was seeking was the intensity and physicality(something not denied young people AMAB).
As luck would have it, right after reading your reply, Rey, I came across this quote while reading "Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants" by Robin Wall Kimmerer. The first essay in the book is her retelling of the Skywoman story, which is a traditional Creation story from her ancestors (she is Potawatomi):
"Perhaps the Skywoman story endures because we too are always falling. Our lives, both personal and collective, share her trajectory. Whether we jump or are pushed, or the edge of the known world just crumbles at our feet, we fall, spinning into someplace new and unexpected. Despite our fears of falling, the gifts of the world stand by to catch us."
I wish I could remember the name of this movie I saw a long time ago where someone suggests to the protagonist that she practice falling on purpose as a way of learning not to try to control her life so much. I really liked that. If you think about it, falling and getting back up is one of the very first things most of us learn in life. There is probably nobody who is able to walk who didn't gain that ability through a process that involved a LOT of falling down. Falling down, and finding a way to get up again, has either literal or figurative importance in virtually every aspect of life. It makes perfect sense to me that practicing that condition of being forced to fall would be a big part of any martial art.
Rey, this is all so brilliant. And it makes me think...
Falling in love
Falling for a good (or bad) joke
Falling out of grace
Falling for comedy
Falling into someone's arms
We fall all the time, metaphorically and literally, and the practice of falling is often contrary to the violence we ascribe it. Thanks for opening our eyes to the why of falling. I really enjoyed this.
I totally fell for your article title by the way 😉
I think, for people that are not inherently interested in martial arts, and/or afraid of these elements, I like to emphasize that ukemi is really about receiving the intention of the other person and trying to understand it. In a practice setting within aikido, this manifests as throwing and falling usually, but it doesn't necessarily have to. Psychologically and in the wider world, I think it means being ready to accept and flow with whatever you're given, from anyone. I think that's a pretty powerful and potentially radical idea. Empathy can be dangerous, but also exhilarating.
Hi Rey,
I find myself wondering if there is an element of physicality and roughness, in a form largely denied people AFAB, that you simply enjoy for its own sake (and that is an important part of why you're drawn to aikido, that it is largely safe, practiced, AND physically rough).
When I was a little kid, I loved to play tackle football BECAUSE of the hitting (I had a few things I was working through😉). I regret the long term damage that was caused to my body but I get that part of what I was seeking was the intensity and physicality(something not denied young people AMAB).
As luck would have it, right after reading your reply, Rey, I came across this quote while reading "Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants" by Robin Wall Kimmerer. The first essay in the book is her retelling of the Skywoman story, which is a traditional Creation story from her ancestors (she is Potawatomi):
"Perhaps the Skywoman story endures because we too are always falling. Our lives, both personal and collective, share her trajectory. Whether we jump or are pushed, or the edge of the known world just crumbles at our feet, we fall, spinning into someplace new and unexpected. Despite our fears of falling, the gifts of the world stand by to catch us."
I wish I could remember the name of this movie I saw a long time ago where someone suggests to the protagonist that she practice falling on purpose as a way of learning not to try to control her life so much. I really liked that. If you think about it, falling and getting back up is one of the very first things most of us learn in life. There is probably nobody who is able to walk who didn't gain that ability through a process that involved a LOT of falling down. Falling down, and finding a way to get up again, has either literal or figurative importance in virtually every aspect of life. It makes perfect sense to me that practicing that condition of being forced to fall would be a big part of any martial art.
My 11 y/o son does Akkido because his 50 y/o Aunt got him into it. He loves it.
Rey, this is all so brilliant. And it makes me think...
Falling in love
Falling for a good (or bad) joke
Falling out of grace
Falling for comedy
Falling into someone's arms
We fall all the time, metaphorically and literally, and the practice of falling is often contrary to the violence we ascribe it. Thanks for opening our eyes to the why of falling. I really enjoyed this.
I totally fell for your article title by the way 😉