{"id":1063,"date":"2021-10-10T08:15:37","date_gmt":"2021-10-10T07:15:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/remoteaikidodojo.com\/?p=1063"},"modified":"2021-10-10T08:15:38","modified_gmt":"2021-10-10T07:15:38","slug":"a-better-way-to-teach-the-irimi-entry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/remoteaikidodojo.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/10\/a-better-way-to-teach-the-irimi-entry\/","title":{"rendered":"A Better Way To Teach The Irimi Entry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

People often talk about modernising aikido, but when they do this they tend to refer to adding techniques and removing others. Very few people ever talk about the techniques used to teach aikido<\/a>. The closest aikidoka come to that is discussing free-style sparring. Some are against it, others just go ahead and do it. This blog post will introduce a new way to teach your students the irimi entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Problem<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

At some point in their training every aikidoka will have been told to \u201cgo forward\u201d. For a sensei to get a student, especially a beginner, to step forwards when turning can be very difficult. There is a tendency in, say, irimi nage, to move an uke forward by circling backwards away from them. All this achieves is that the uke turns towards the nage and takes a free attack at a now helpless opponent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Worryingly though, this failure of the irimi entry can be seen in a large number of techniques. It crops up in e.g. ikkyo, tenchi nage, shiho nage, irimi nage, kote gaeshi, to name a few. The traditional solution to the irimi entry problem is to teach irimi entry as part of each technique that requires it. Imagine though, just for a moment, that there was a better way to teach it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Solution<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Since the irimi entry is an extremely common aspect of many techniques, it could qualify as a fundamental principle. If that\u2019s true, then it should be possible to teach that fundamental as a separate exercise and apply that teaching to all<\/strong> the techniques. The result is that we teach it once, and teach it well, rather than teaching it in every single technique. This gives us the somewhat obvious question, \u201cHow can we teach it as a separate exercise?\u201d That\u2019s easy, we build an \u2018Irimi Stick\u2019 (\u2122, \u00a9, Patent Pending, etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Irimi Stick<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The irimi stick is a simple device designed to promote the irimi entry in all techniques. It allows a student to train irimi as a separate exercise which aikidoka can carry into their techniques. Full build instructions are given below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Image
Irimi Sticks<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How To Use<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Using this to teach the irimi entry is really simple. Have a student hold it in one hand. In the other they put a finger on top of a jo. Both jo and irimi stick are held vertically. The student simply walks around the jo pushing the stick forwards. If you don’t have a jo, get them to walk around another person. Some important points:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Both sticks should remain vertical<\/li>
  • The students arms should maintain their natural extension<\/li>
  • The students body should retain shizentai at all times<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    This exercise focuses on turning around a central location and promoting irimi in general movement. Removing the jo will allow for an expansion of the motions. For instance, an irimi step followed by a kaiten step will promote forwards movement while turning the hips. Some examples are provided in the clip below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n