Aikido Ukemi: Meeting the Mat

Donovan Waite Sensei started practicing Aikido in 1969, at a very young age. As a 14 year old, he received his 1st Degree Black Belt from Ralph Reynolds Sensei who was under the direction of T.K. Chiba Sensei in Birmingham, England. Since then Waite Sensei has spent the last 37 years persuing a deeper understanding of Aikido. Along that path, Waite Sensei has had the opportunity to train under many of Aikido's foremost instructors. In 1984 he apprenticed himself to Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei, chairman of the United States Aikido Federation and chief instructor of the New York Aikikai. For over ten years he was Uchi Deshi, or live-in student, under Yamada Sensei and he still holds a weekly teaching position at the New York Aikikai. Since 1997 Donovan Waite Sensei has been the chief instructor of Aikido of Center City.
He currently holds the rank of 7th Dan and is a certified Shihan, or Master Instructor, with both the United States Aikido Federation and the Aikido World Headquearters in Tokyo, Japan. Waite Sensei is one of the few, and one of the youngest, Westerners to reach this milestone. He also serves on the USAF Technical Committee. In addition to his duties with the USAF and Aikido of Center City, Waite Sensei extensively travels the world teaching Aikido. He has conducted Aikido seminars in various cities of North, Central, & South America, Europe, Russia, the Middle East, & South East Asia. Waite Sensei is a full-time, professional martial artist who has dedicated his life to the practice and teaching of Aikido.
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[@lemon420]

Rest in peace sensei Waite, I've learned a lot from you through KZbin! We all love you

[@allcitypop]

Noooo

[@allcitypop]

Don't tell me that 😢😢

[@mickparly]

very nice explanation in such a controlled and quiet way, that would make a aikido beginner pupil feel safe and in good hands by the instructor

[@Aristes]

This helped a lot more than some of the other things I'd looked at. I try to practice when I'm not in class, but it's so difficult without somebody there showing you what went wrong. I love this.

[@elconocimientodelbudo2982]

The First video where they REALLY tech the knowledge of the Ukemis. Thanks and hugs from Toledo, Spain.

[@bigsidable]

I saw a man who was over 300 lbs. And he rolled without a sound. Smoothest thing I ever seen. Most fall and roll like a brick. He rolled like a whisper. Always been my motivation of ground work.

[@GeorgeFBartan]

Excellent video.I am 50 and I have just tried my first rolls.They look so simple until you try to do them by yourself. I was so disappointed of myself for not being able to do them the right way from the first time that I considered giving up Aikido. Now,I will try again.

[@Snackalak]

great instruction ; the details are wonderful. Thank you Waite shihan.

[@teraiko]

Outstanding! Excellent teaching. Thank you taking the time to post.

[@toddpriszner6407]

very clear instructions, easy to follow, although I can barely do the roll. I guess it take more practice. great job !!

[@bigsidable]

Thank you so much. Really appreciate such detail and in depth understanding of Ukemi Falls.

[@Friendly9593]

Excellent video, what a lot of viewers are overlooking is that this is a focus on the basic mechanics....once learned you up the anti...I have informed people in my local horse riding community to take note and that they do have an Aikido dojo in their area....Many thanx...Al

[@goodboyringo9716]

There no Aikido Yoshinkan in Michigan . Maybe one but far away. I wish more Yoshikan /Yoshinkai Aikido were in Mi I studied under Takashi Kushida in 1987 and in 2012 just before his passing . He was a great man , I will never forget him ! Takashi Kushida once was ahead of 50 schools in the USA. His son teaches Yoshokai Aikido in Ann Arbor. I gave Aikido my heart and trained 150% each time I came to the dojo . He got mad at me and charges at me like he was going to attack me . later at closing time I brought it up to him and he threaten to break my knee if I came back to class. It hurt me to the core because I love Aikido and couldn't go back. It took me many many months to get over not having Aikido in my life. I looked for a school to continue training but none were the same . There is to this story , I didn't feel ( wasn't ) wanted even giving my 150% The history of Aikido is love and harmony but this was harmony .

[@0196601930]

Incredible instructor, thank you !

[@mickparly]

And he is also instrukting in such a good way, that you will understand very easy why it is good for your body to do the ukemi in the way he is instructing. And then he seems to be very good himself at what he is doing.

[@edteune]

The best basic Ukemi video on KZbin I have found so far.

[@dennys82]

Very good way to explain Ukemi, talking and showing at the same time and in the right specific moments in order to imprint the correct movements. A personal way to approach could be to clean your mind, completely from overthinking, then imagine to be a big wheel. Domo arigato, Sensei Donovan.

[@michaelschwartz8922]

great input and thanks for putting this together.

[@tjhaz]

Excellent. Very helpful. Also, a delightfully calm and systematic presentation without hocus-pocus or hype. When I relocate to Philly in Feb 2010, I'll look for your dojo.

[@RodrinBird]

Best ukemi intructional video I ever saw. Thanks much for posting!

[@Cheriec11]

Thank you for this vid! It clarifies things for me a whole lot and helps me see where I was going wrong. You make it look easy.

[@adrianlunn6449]

As usual, outstanding clear instruction

[@Cheriec11]

Really like this especially how you took time to explain the common mistakes and how to avoid them. This one will go into my study collection.

[@simonajanehallevansinstagr154]

Thank you very much. I just started AIKIKAI AKIDO and your video really helps!

[@TheLincolnrailsplitt]

This is the best ukemi teaching video I have seen. My Sensei teaches ukemi exactly like this. Thank you.

[@kart640]

Em minha opinião, vc é uma das maiores autoridades em ukemi, mestre aprendo com vc todos os dias e me espelho muito em seu trabalho, sou faixa branca há dois anos e não quero mudar por enquanto de faixa pois estou me dedicando muito e aprimorando as técnicas de ukemi e as técnicas básicas, meu sensei fala muito da sua pessoa. Espero quando vir ao Brasil eu possa assistir seu seminário. Vc é o sensei de todos que querem aprender o que é aikido. Um grande abraço

[@meulitk2]

This is the best video that really explains the ukemi process from start to finish, great stuff!

[@Harbaz.c]

that's awsome demo

[@MNAikidoka]

Thank you for sharing your instruction on ukemi :-)

[@irinapetriyenko5571]

Big thanks for great explanation!👍☺️

[@velosoje]

I've seen this video a lot of times and have learned diferent tips in every play. Thanks Waite Sansei for sharing your knowledge.

[@astrogypsy]

Beautifully and efficiently communicated. Thank you. K

[@aikidoTicks]

Great basic and very useful! respect, peace & love

[@RobinTeuwens]

perfectly explained, well demonstrated. Incredible teaching!

[@zaparok]

thank you very well explained

[@slowcountryboy476]

Love Aikido!! Thank you...

[@krasipavlovski768]

Really well demonstrated and explaned ! GOOD JOB !!!

[@niseikenpo]

excellent detailed instruction

[@HansumRob100]

That was pretty cool. The simplicity of the roll is pretty amazing to me at the moment. My girlfriend tripped one time, she drove her face into the ground. I think i should teach her how to roll now. Amazing tutorial Mister. . .

[@OfficialJonRomano]

Excelllllent job. Great video. Verrrry helpful. Excellent job!!!

[@martialartsgirl123]

really smooth ukemi, great description!

[@sohtianseng5539]

martialartsgirl123 .

[@slyoga]

Nice clear instruction. Easy to follow. I think this will help anyone no matter how new to Aikido. Thank you.

[@sungmoo52]

Excellent teacher!

[@RoksolanaP]

Awesome! Thank you for such a clear demonstration and description of ukemi :)

[@timothyoo7]

Very well done. Great job of verbal explanation fallowed by the physical example.

[@claredin]

I love this man's voice! So regal!

[@doloppost]

Learning lots from this. I find ukemi quite challenging and am happy to come across mr Waite his teachings.

[@sakura0jp0aikidodesu]

とてもわかりやすいです。ありがとうございます！ Donovan sensei's teaching is very helpful, thank you!! from Japan.

[@beltfedhate]

Thank you Sensei. I have gone back to aikido after a long pause and having a hard time with rolls.

[@senict.8310]

Very simple explanation. Very useful video. Thanks to master.

[@Boringdaddi]

Clean and simple explanation and execution. Great Vid. Thank you.

[@TheCptrevenge]

NICE TUTORIAL , THANK YOU SENSEI WAITE

[@adenet]

Thanks for this great video!

[@RodrinBird]

Excelent demonstration. A must see for all beginners..

[@jesusosorio7205]

Thanks from Mexico and congratulations for your very good explanation!

[@EAM069]

Great video, explaining in detail all you need to learn this without wasting time...

[@tehf00n]

my reverse ukemi is thanks to this gentleman. I watched the video on loop for 15 mins before my jiu-jitsu class. My first attempt was almost perfect and I have never even felt a sting from a reverse ukemi since.

[@Shadymeister]

Very helpful easy to understand and nice and slow throughout the emonstration cheers

[@RodrinBird]

Great ukemi explanations. Thanks for posting, this helped a lot!

[@KristianRobertoGrodem]

Just great and very good explaining the teqn. I`ve been practice Aikido for only 6 mnt now, and falling forw/backw, and rolling backwards is NOT easy.. This video certanly helps a LOT.. Thanks

[@111jude]

Thank you for creating this video. I am just beginning Ki Aikido and I am struggling with ukemi, so I am really grateful for your excellent explanation.

[@duhsbo]

Thank you so much for this!

[@TheVarangian135]

This is a great video to open up the eyes of close minded discriminators. You CAN have long hair and do martial arts You CAN do martial arts if you are black You CAN have long hair and be black guy. I know a lot of you will misunderstand my comment, but I am not racist nor I imply anything racist. I am just sick and tired of people who discriminate because of stupid stereotypes.

[@victorhugopereirasilva]

very thanks for sharing Master

[@drutgat2]

Thanks for this.

[@EllenMadono]

Wow, that was so smooth. Thanks.

[@smrki1]

This is excellent! Thank you a lot, I have learned something new.

[@monikamonika1206]

Very helpful video, thank you so much 😃👏👏👌

[@turrican1900]

An excellent roll tutorial, thanks for making this.

[@oueouetous]

Great vids from Donovan! thanks!

[@coccinelle05mt]

Très bonne vidéo. Thank you very much.

[@aikidoestoico]

a wonderful video...it's easy to undersatand

[@Gadni]

Great tutorial video! It gave me another way of explanation how to fall and I'll try it when working with children! Thank you!!!

[@BradStokesAU]

This is a beautiful and brilliant video of Ukemi. I have a lot of trouble with the falling aspects of my game in bjj and really don't like the feel of the rolls (They kind of freak me out) This is the best instruction I've seen on Ukemi to date. Well done!

[@teacher7619]

Excellent, this helped me a lot.

[@murathal]

Perfect training.

[@canajaneh]

Learning to fall in this way isn't just useful in aikido class. I tripped over a curb one day and instinctively went into a roll. I was over and up before I'd even realized I'd done anything. This was a real life situation, outside of a fight, obviously, but as an older person, I saved myself a world of hurt by knowing how to roll properly.

[@dzanth844]

Love this.

[@PanagiotisVagianas]

Thank you Sensei!!

[@reyaron1234]

great explanation

[@tenkankaiten]

Thank you for your kindness! I understand! thanks!

[@theowlspirit]

OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU SOOO MUCH! I finally after 5 months of doing Aikido was able to do a forward roll without any pain in my shoulder arm and actually do it in a straight line! IN MY BEDROOM! I'm soooo stoked! Now I'm gonna show my sensei that I can do it now that I'm 7th Kyu and then maybe he will pick me to throw around. SOOOO EXCITED! I was positioning the hands incorrectly. Thank you so much!. I was sooo frustrated!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@johananGR]

Thank You!

[@mrsranand]

Very good basics and equally well and patiently explained. Domo Arigato- Sunil

[@rafaelcortes4013]

Great tutorial ❤

[@MegaBuntaro]

Thank you Sensei for such a easy to understand video un ukemi.

[@gene-van]

Thanks!

[@medamri7995]

you are greatest master thanks for your lesson

[@Raffee28]

Thank you very much for this!

[@parsoniareigns]

thank you.

[@rucu8]

excellent !!!

[@waldemargomezflores2304]

Thanks Sensei

[@jpenolio]

Wow! the best!!!

[@AndrewWJToler]

SOLID technique. Arigato gozaimasu.

[@kenshin715]

Excellent vid!5 stars

[@luis.diaz80]

The technique looks quite easy, I'll certainly put it to the test! Thanks!

[@FireThowie]

I hope you will be happy in this and the nexts lives 🍀🙏

[@gn120760]

Waite Sensei, Great Video!! Thank You. I keep collapsing my lead arm.

[@jorijett]

that was a great demonstration

[@bonnetsipka]

One of the best video explanation I've ever seen on ukemi. I wish I had it earlier...:D

[@janetclift9857]

Donovan Waite sensei thank you RIP