Why teach Jujitsu? Why teach Ukemi (Break-falls)?
Why teach Jujitsu?
When a student makes shodan (blackbelt) they can begin their complete study of jujitsu/grappling. This is the second and third range of fighting. The second range is standing jujitsu with locks and throws. The AOKK does not teach all the throwing techniques that are found in the practice of Judo. The AOKK katas are very different from those found in traditional Judo or jujitsu. This training will keep the karateka from fighting outside their comfort zone by creating a comfort level in all ranges of fighting. The AOKK Fundamentals or kata teach the student to flow through all ranges of personal combat, so they are capable to adapt in any situation. Grappling is the last stage to make a complete fighter.
In the AOKK we have rules or more appropriately a philosophy of how to engage an adversary. The first rule of the AOKK grappling is never go to the ground when there is more than one attacker. You never know who may jump into the fray. A top notch BJJ (Brazilian Jiu jitsu) instructor tried to stop a bar fight and wound up in a coma, in Texas, thinking he was helping by pulled guard to separate the fighters but was boot stomped by the adversary’s friends. Second AOKK rule is never fight the opponent’s fight. If they are comfortable on the ground keep the fight in range one (Standing). If they are a stand-up fighter take them to the ground. If they like to kick, stay outside until you get an opportunity to move inside and jam their kicks. Next pound them with hooks, uppercuts, elbows, and take then to the ground. We do practice sport jujitsu, but our training is to use strikes, locks, and chokes while on the ground. In traditional jujitsu locks were used to subdue and hold the adversary until help could arrive. Chokes were used to subdue dangerous criminals or highly combative individuals. Locks and chokes were also used to set up throws. Our training is self-defense oriented, so we follow the AOKK guidelines to help us in personal combat.
As mentioned earlier, a student should be able to defend themselves in all ranges of combat because you sometimes must go where the conflagration takes you. Ironically, after years of range-one training some students will find they prefer the ground. Still, the ground can be dangerous if you do not know how to fight from that position. Many techniques learned in range-one will be ineffective in range-three. Also, outside the dojo, when you hit the ground, there are rocks, cans, nails, sticks, and broken glass to contend with. Still in a life preservation situation you must know to what to do in that situation. Rocks, nails, and broken glass can be used against you as weapons. Police do not want to go to the ground for this reason.
Many styles teach their students to finger-strike the opponent’s eyes while on the ground. This sounds good but there are some drawbacks. Finger strikes to the adversary’s eyes are not always effective in an adrenaline-soaked moment, but the good news is you can gather DNA that way. You also cannot stick your fingers in someone’s eye during practice, so refining this strike is difficult. Then again, this technique may save your life if properly applied. To use a technique like this you must be aggressive to minimize the trauma inflicted upon you by your opponent. This is a mindset that cannot be taught in class. Women have a hard time with the concept of being violent or hurting someone. Their nature is to not hurt anyone. Rocks, nails, and glass are obstacles you may fall on, but you also can use these as weapons to free yourself. Can you drive a nail into an attacker’s neck? Also, you need to know how to defend a choke or lock and then know how to counterattack. In a real confrontation you must be able mentally to use harmful techniques.
Jujitsu has become a very popular sport, but it is not the total package that one needs to be a rounded fighter. Every system has its flaws. This portion of the AOKK training is not for everyone, but to truly embrace what the AOKK has to offer the blackbelt should attempt the training.
Why teach Ukemi (Break-falls)?
Why teach Ukemi or break falls as part of the karate curriculum? This is a common question by students. Learning to fall is important, when we begin to teach throws, but it is helpful in everyday life as well. Recently one of my students took a nasty spill on the soccer field. His mom ran out to check on him because his head hit the ground. When she asked are you okay, he said, “yeah but I forgot to turn my head to the side when I fell.” When we teach the forward fall, we teach the student to turn his/her head sideways this keep it from snapping forward and impacting the tatami (mat). Once when riding my bike with my oldest son, I hit the curb of the street and was flung over the handlebars of the bicycle. I instinctively shoulder rolled out of the fall and did not get injured. The best part of the incident was when my son said that was really cool dad. I was simply glad I did not get hurt. Learning to fall is important in jujitsu, but it also has application in real life too. Knowing how to hit the ground and roll-out has personally saved me from injury outside the dojo.
The act of falling correctly is ground zero or day one learning in AOKK jujitsu. Falling or Ukemi is also an art unto itself. When I first began learning judo from my father in the nineteen-sixties, I was taught to throw first and fall second. Controlling the Uke’s (person receiving the throw) fall was the responsibility of Tori (person making the throw). Even though the AOKK teaches falling first, Tori is still responsible for controlling the throw and protecting Uke. Falling is part of every advanced and beginning student’s curriculum.
Ground zero, in the student’s advanced training, is how to survive a throw. Every student needs to know, at the very minimum, how to take a fall. We trip and fall in our everyday activities. The karateka must realize that when the hit the ground the fight is not over, but it has merely changed location and requires different techniques.
There are three basic falls in the AOKK and one advanced fall. They are: Koho Ukemi (Back), Zeiupo Ukemi (Front), Sokuho Ukemi (Side), and lastly the most difficult Zempo Kaiten (Forward Shoulder Roll). It is most important that the first three basic rolls are well understood before moving to the forward roll. The side fall is in essence part of the roll. Advanced students will be able to roll out of a throw and return to their feet. Our Ukemi is slightly different in the AOKK because we do not simply break the fall. We stand and attack as part of our training. This is to prepare the student for fighting in all three ranges of personal combat.
We teach the students Ukemi for their safety on and off the mat. Not every fight goes to the ground, but if you find yourself in that position you must be able to fight. Not every fight will end standing up, but you must know how to fight standing. Not every blow can deliver a knockout. Not every lock will lead to a submission. Not every choke will render your opponent unconscious. Knowing how to do theses things, can prepare you for a life preservation moment. Our job is to give you the tools to keep you safe, and knowing how to fall is the first step.