| Japanese name | What it teaches | |
|---|---|---|
| Back fall | Ushiro ukemi | Tuck the chin, roll back, slap with both arms |
| Side fall | Yoko ukemi | Land on the side, slap with one arm, protect the head |
| Front fall | Mae ukemi | Catch the fall on the forearms, face turned |
| Forward roll | Mae mawari ukemi | Roll diagonally over the shoulder and come up |
Pick by goal
- Clumsy or fearless kidJudoFalling skills protect them everywhere.
- Nervous about being thrownPatient coachGood coaches build up slowly from the ground.
- Home practiceLow falls on a soft floorFrom sitting or squatting only.
- Never at homeThrowsOnly on proper mats with a coach.
On this page
Before a child in judo learns to throw anyone, they learn to be thrown. Ukemi, the art of falling, is the first skill taught in almost every judo club, and it is practised at the start of nearly every class for as long as a judoka trains. It is what makes judo safe, and it is a skill many parents value even more than the throws.
Why falling comes first
In judo, every throw has someone landing on the mat. A child who knows how to fall can be thrown again and again without getting hurt, which lets them practise freely and without fear. The principles are simple: tuck the chin so the head never hits the mat, keep the back rounded so the body rolls rather than crashes, and slap the mat with the arms to spread the force of the landing.
The four falls children learn first
The back fall, ushiro ukemi, starts from sitting or squatting: the child rolls back along a rounded spine with the chin tucked, slapping the mat with both arms at about 45 degrees from the body. The side fall, yoko ukemi, is the most common landing from throws: the child drops to one side, slaps with the arm on that side and keeps the head off the mat. The front fall, mae ukemi, catches a forward fall on the forearms and hands with the face turned aside. The forward roll, mae mawari ukemi, rolls diagonally over one shoulder and across the back, coming up to standing or finishing in a side fall.
How coaches teach it
Good coaches build up slowly. Children start lying or sitting on the mat, then from a squat, then from standing, and only later from a partner’s throw. Lots of games, such as rolling races, make the repetition fun. Children who are nervous are never rushed, and the first throws they experience are gentle, with the thrower holding their sleeve to control the landing.
Benefits off the mat
Many parents notice that children who do judo fall better in everyday life. Instead of putting out a straight arm, which is how many wrist and elbow injuries happen, they tuck and roll or slap and spread the impact. That is useful on bikes, scooters, ice and playgrounds, and in other sports. It is one reason judo is often recommended for active, fearless children; our guide to the safest martial arts covers judo’s safety record.
Practising at home
Children can practise low back falls and side falls from sitting or squatting on a carpet, thick rug or foam mats. Rolls are fine on soft surfaces with plenty of space. Never practise throws at home, and do not let children throw siblings or friends; that needs proper mats and a coach.
Learning more
For the next step, see the first throws children learn in judo, and for the bigger picture, judo for kids and the first judo class.
Questions parents and students ask
What is ukemi in judo?
Ukemi means the art of falling, or breakfalls. Children learn to tuck their chin, round their back and slap the mat with their arms to spread the force of a fall, so that being thrown is safe.
How long does it take a child to learn breakfalls?
Children usually learn the basic falls in their first few weeks, starting from sitting and squatting. Falling confidently from a throw takes a few months of regular practice, and judo players keep practising ukemi for as long as they train.
Do judo breakfalls help outside the dojo?
Many parents and coaches say so. Children who know how to fall tend to tuck their chin and roll or slap rather than putting out a straight arm, which can help on bikes, ice, playgrounds and in other sports.
