Friday, March 20, 2020

Giving what you seek...


The role of Uke (the person being thrown) is an extremely important part of practice. There are many things that make one a good Uke. One is being perceptive. Nage (the person throwing) has an expectation that they are learning and practicing technique. But Uke is also practicing. Our techniques rely on delicately taking balance until the fall occurs. Taking it quickly, early, and completely. But this post is supposed to be about Uke...
 
Uke should be perceptive to Nage taking their balance during the throw. Having been a Nage, too, Uke is aware of where and when balance should be taken. Uke can help Nage learn and improve by providing both verbal feedback on how balance is or isn't being taken and even sometimes by giving balance in appropriate places. The latter is a delicate matter. Uke cannot rob Nage of the opportunity to throw, but we can at times help Nage learn what Uke's loss of balance should feel like.
 
There is a an old saying ..."I didn't know what I was looking for until I found it". A good Uke can provide Nage a taste of they should be striving for during techniques.

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