Fundamental Techniques:  Irimi-nage

Irimi-nage

　We will start with the Fundamental techniques. The Fundamental techniques are the control pinning technique Dai-Ikkyo, and the throwing techniques Irimi-nage and Shiho-nage.

　Here we will explain the Irimi-nage technique, Entering Throw,  when your opponent attacks with a frontal strike.

Shomen-uchi Iriminage​　

<Omote/front>　Explanation of technique movements

　Since this is a frontal strike, you start from the right hanmi oblique posture of your body.

(Sabaki/handling) Respond to an incoming frontal attack with the right hand, with the Ikkyo movement that uses the extension of the forearm. As soon as your right hand blade touches the opponent’s striking arm, use a light scraping motion, Sogi-dashi,  with the right hand blade to sweep the opponent’s striking arm out of the line of attack. Move in with your front foot to the back side of the opponent, facing him directly and positioning him in the center, your Manaka.
(Kuzushi/off-balance) At the same time, while keeping your body vertical and keeping your foot in the same position, use the extension of your forearm to perform a gravity drop with the right sword placed on the opponent’s striking arm, the upper arm and inner elbow, to drop the opponent downwards.
(Rise/Throw) From below the opponent who has been knocked down, use the fingertips of your right hand to lead with an Aiki-age technique, raising your hand toward the ceiling. While at the same time, move your hips horizontally with the Body-Aiki. Then, flip the opponent over and lay him on his back. Gravity will then pull the opponent’s body downward.
The throw here is a Sonoba-nage (Hyori-nage). The position of both feet does not move.
(Zanshin/finish posture) Hold the body vertically.

Point
(Kuzushi/off-balance) The gravity break of Aikido is done in the Sonoba-Kuzushi. The hand on the shoulder is placed like a Yahazu, and is almost left there. The upper arm muscle is not used to pull. If gravity is applied/dropped too much, the opponent will collapse to the floor, and the technique ends there. If the Uke is not conscious of the front strike and relaxes the force of the strike, it becomes difficult to apply gravity to the opponent’s arm. In this case, the hand that is placed on the notch on the opponent’s neck is dropped downwards by extension force. This is gravity applied to the neck.
In general, the standard for Omote Kuzushi is to open the body to a position of 10 to 15 degrees behind and to drop it. In Ura Kuzushi, the body is turned to an angle of 90 to 180 degrees behind while collapsing downward.  For demonstrations such as EMBUKAIs, it may be better to turn the body to an angle of 60 to 90 degrees behind, which looks better.

(Omote-nage and Ura-nage) For the throw, Omote-nage that are not in place, Sonoba-nage, first you raise his body slightly, then, while keeping your body vertical, step over your opponent’s shoulder with your thumb down, using the extension of your forearm, leading with your fingertips, toward the floor, toward and below your opponent’s shoulder, and then use the extension of your fingertips to thrust out and throw .
Another “throw” is Ura-nage, which is a throw that turns backward and rolls over your back.  
If you are interested in these throws, please refer to Tatsu Aikido techniques “Iriminage“. 　

<Caution>  When a technique is performed using Aiki movements, it is overwhelming for the Uke. To avoid injury, perform Iriminage using Aiki movements while watching the Uke’s skill.

Cross-grip Irimi-nage

　The frontal strike, one of the basic attack techniques, is difficult for those learning Aikido for the first time, as they must start by learning how to strike. So in that case it is performed with a cross-grip.

<Omote>　Explanation of technique movements and key points

　Since it is a cross grip, you start with the right half of your body, and your opponent will use his right hand to grab the right wrist of the person gripping the right half of their body.

Point
(Sabaki) There are four types of Sabaki; Jumping in, cutting up, cutting down, and Shiho-nage-Sabaki. Please refer to the “Cross-grip attack” page of Tatsu Aikido Techniques to learn each of these techniques. After handling, the procedure is the same as a front strike.

The above was an explanation of the Fundamental Aikido technique, Irimi-nage, using Aiki of Aikido.

Tatsu Aikido Techniques　Table of Contents

Tatsu TAKAHASHI　tatsuaiki7@gmail.com