Quick Japanese-language question... figure somebody can help me.

In my papers, for ukemi translations, I've got zenpo kaiten for forward roll, and zenpo sutemi for a forward breakfall, but then I have koho kaiten for a backwards roll and ushiro sutemi for a rear breakfall (not the flat-on-your-back kind, basically just one where you go with the flow and do a rolling breakfall to your rear).

So basically I'm just wondering about the difference between koho and ushiro here, and why the same word isn't being used for backwards roll and backwards breakfall. Learning Japanese (Nihongo, if you want, Dave) is on my list of things to do, I just haven't gotten there yet.

Ushiro is more about position, and koho is more about direction.

So ushiro is more like saying you're facing away, and koho is more like saying you're moving backwards? Something like that?

Something like that...

Cool... thanks.

Quick Japanese-language question... figure somebody can help me.

In my papers, for ukemi translations, I've got zenpo kaiten for forward roll, and zenpo sutemi for a forward breakfall, but then I have koho kaiten for a backwards roll and ushiro sutemi for a rear breakfall (not the flat-on-your-back kind, basically just one where you go with the flow and do a rolling breakfall to your rear).

So basically I'm just wondering about the difference between koho and ushiro here, and why the same word isn't being used for backwards roll and backwards breakfall. Learning Japanese (Nihongo, if you want, Dave) is on my list of things to do, I just haven't gotten there yet.Its also worth noting that ukemi doesn't mean to breakfall, and has much more to do with "receiving". In the context of martial arts - the correct way to receive technique safely [hence breakfalls of various methods].

Additionally "uke" has a duty to remain connected to his training partner, to provide feedback, not just fall over thus, ukemi is quite a broad set of skills; indeed if one has good ukemi you will vastly enable the development of your training partner.

--Dave

Its also worth noting that ukemi doesn't mean to breakfall, and has much more to do with "receiving". In the context of martial arts - the correct way to receive technique safely [hence breakfalls of various methods].

Additionally "uke" has a duty to remain connected to his training partner, to provide feedback, not just fall over thus, ukemi is quite a broad set of skills; indeed if one has good ukemi you will vastly enable the development of your training partner.

--Dave

I always tell new students that ukemi is half of what we do, and they should practice it as hard as they practice the rest of their technique. I really, really hate it when people fall over the moment I begin to move. Probably more than if somebody routinely tries to stiff-arm me--at least if they do that, I get to practice atemi to soften them up.

Indeed, any nagewaze based art needs to have students that are equally skilled in both areas and, understand when and when not to apply active resistance. I've seen and met plenty of so called good (yudansha) aikido and jujutsuka who could throw to their heart's content but couldn't take it on the receiving end. The key with dealing with such people is to let them think you're about to apply one particular technique but then change it at the very last second and, when you've dumped them on their heads [and they complain] remind them of the supposed rank they hold.

This has worked every time for me.

back, behind, rearward, reverse,away. Many words, similar meanings. ie, backawards roll, rearwards roll, roll away from x, and so on. Ushiro means back, as in opposite of front, Koho means moving away from previous direction (as in backwards). Or at least thats what my japanese te4acher leads me to believe (her english wasn't great though)

Zempo (Zenpo) means "to the front", Koho means "to the rear," not to be confused with Mae "from the front" or Ushiro "from the rear." Kaiten means, of course, "wheel" or "roll," and sutemi is a sacrificed position (you have sacrificed your standing balanced position for a position where you are vulnerable on the ground). We simply use Zempo Ukemi, Koho Ukemi or Sokuho (side direction) Ukemi for the different falling techniques, which are a sutemi, and Zempo Kaiten Ukemi, Sokuho Kaiten Ukemi, and Koho Kaiten Ukemi for the rolling techniques.