Uke [受け · 請け · 承け]

The character/ideogram means, “Receiver of technique (e.g. in martial arts).” The character without its modifier means, “Accept; undergo; take; get; catch; receive.” These same characters/ideograms also mean, “Popularity; favor; reception; defense; reputation; agreement; submissive partner of a relationship.” 

Go forward and receive actively. Karate, traditional, uke is to advance forward while receiving. A difficult concept that is often assumed to be only about receiving from Tori, i.e. the exchange of techniques as pair drills. This is one concept of training and practice yet is not the full meaning and understanding of the art of “Uke.”

When you improve and master receiving the attack or counter attacks will improve as well. Uke is also considered the strength to attack/counter attack, and that is why Uke and Attacking/Counter Attacking are inseparable, i.e., Uke/Yin-Yang/Attack, etc.

It is also about the parable or karate koan that to be focused on “Winning” is different from training to “NOT LOSE” and not losing is about receiving, Uke. Uke is a skill in traditional karate and like many aspects it is an important foundation that traditional karate is built upon. 

“When one is only thinking of winning - that is why one has no style of their own.” Receiving requires one maintain calmness while receiving an adversaries attack. Learning the true nature of “Uke” is one of the hard obstacles all karate-ka have to overcome and that is often equated toward one’s ultimate adversary/opponent - the self. 

Learning to receive is what makes for traditional karate. To practice uke is to pair up and utilize each’s ability and technique. Each has to read the others forms of attack and then properly receive them. An indication that one is utilizing uke properly is upon attack the receiver should never have to back down or away from that attack. This indicates the proponent is properly receiving the adversaries attack.

Improper receiving often explains why karate-ka upon exercising their skills tend to resort to techniques that are not of the system of karate, they tend to fail at an adversary because they still think they have to “Win.” When winning is there one tends to forget uke and proper receiving with proper counters with the desire to get in and hit, strike or kick the body of the adversary. One should focus on receiving the adversaries attacks and the counters, attacks, etc., will come naturally.

How uke works and how one masters it is the question, the question is answered by following this more traditional path of Okinawan karate-do. A heart that does not fear receives actively and has the strength to take it on.  

When one thinks of style, the tendency is to think of the system itself such as “Uechi Ryu or Goju Ryu” when actually the style is the application of the karate, the creation of a person own movements, etc., as a result of receiving. This loss of style opens the doors so that the adversary is able to “Not Lose.” 

In order to train adequately in receiving there are other concepts one must learn to perform, learn and become proficient in uke. It is learning how to tell actions from observing an adversaries “Body hubs.” The hubs to observe when being attacked are the shoulders and the hips. By observing the hubs you see the attack be it hand or foot, regardless of the technique, coming way before it gets to you. 

If you master seeing the attacks before they attack using body hubs then you can fine tune your ability to receive an adversaries attack. This gives you an edge to see those actions before they reach across the distance between you and your attacker thus achieving a higher level of receiving or Uke. There are more but you need to discover them for yourself. 

Bibliography:

MacYoung, Marc (Animal). “Taking It to the Street: Making Your Martial Art Street Effective.” Paladin Press. Boulder, Colorado. 1999.