Josh GoldThe video clip below demonstrates an iriminage throw executed from a shomenuchi attack. It is very common to see nage align his hips at 90 degree to uke and bring uke’s head against his chest. What I am showing here is a different approach. I am aligning my hips parallel to my partner. My inspiration for this is the demonstration of iriminage from Morihei Ueshiba’s 1938 training manual “Budo”.
Look at this photo and you will see how Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei has aligned his body to gain complete control over uke. Pay special attention to how Morihei has aligned his feet in parallel with uke. As O-Sensei has unbalanced uke forward and down while maintaining a safe distance, it is virtually impossible for him to escape. Iriminage executed in this way allows a small person to completely control a powerful opponent as it is not based on the application of physical strength. That should catch your attention!
I explore this and many other technical topics in my “Zone Theory of Aikido” course which you may find of great benefit.
Try iriminage this way to see if if works for you.
A big thank you to my uke in the video Gil Wheeler for his support and dedication over the years.
Thank you for the reminder Stan. Perhaps this is something Tohei and Imaizumi Senseis caught from O’Sensei as it reminds me of my first introduction to kokyu nage by Imaizumi Sensei.
It appears in the picture that O-Sensei’s left hand is grasping uke’s wrist (as opposed to his head/neck/shoulder). What is he doing?
Kihon waza, as taught by Saito Sensei, has any number of subtle yet essential elements which serve to break the structure of uke’s posture and thus his balance. Ki no nagare nage can often omit many of them. The more that are omitted, the more cooperation is required of uke.
I met Gil Wheeler a few years ago at your home/dojo. I can certainly appreciate his dedication. I wish we had an uke or two like him! Keep up the good work, Gil !!!
It appears that O-Sensei is about to wrap uke’s arm about his neck to perform a “scarf” variation of iriminage.
To Mark Pipkin:
I will try to answer your question, if anyone has any other opinion on this I would be grateful for more clarification.
I believe O`sensei is demonstrating irimi nage in the photo from a Gyaku hanmi Katate dori attack where uke is grasping O`sensei’s Left hand with his right hand. Now Ueshiba instead of breaking the ukes grip with his right hand cutting over the top and then grasping it (the normal way) Ueshiba has raised his left hand and has grasped Ukes wrist from underneath very firmly alowing him to peel away and free his left hand, then draws ukes hand down and Ueshiba can now freely enter and pull/draw uke towards him by grasping his collar with his free left hand.
Hope this makes sense, Mr pranin might be able to explain it better.
Andy B
I got my basic training in Iwama Ryu, so my kihon version is a three stage process. It starts (I tell beginners) as Love. I harmonise with uke. I move behind her and match her position. We face the same direction, feet, hips, arms parallel. I cuddle her head to my shoulder.* We are wedded together. But this is now Marriage, and thus everything changes. I twist my hips and feet in the opposite direction. The arm that led down now leads up. And now I take the final step, and throw her backwards. Divorce.
These day I train with Takemusu Aikido Kai. And the TAK kihon is exactly the same! But the TAK founder trained in Iwama with O Sensei.
(*I know Saito contols the head with a collar grab, but my original teacher and I both prefer to hold the head itself. I may need to perform iriminage on someone who isn’t wearing a jacket. If uke isn’t wearing a head, I will resort to exorcism rather than iriminage.)