Japanese martial arts Japanese martial arts refers to the variety of martial arts native to the country of Japan. At least three Japanese terms (''budō'', ''bujutsu'', and ''bugei'') are used interchangeably with the English phrase Japanese martial arts. The usage ...

, is the act of entering straight into a technique, as opposed to the more indirect entrance into technique called ''

tenkan is the Japanese language, Japanese name of a movement practiced in several martial arts. It is a 180 degree pivot to the rear, on the lead foot. That is, if the left foot is forward, the pivot is clockwise, and if the right foot is forward, the p ...

''. In basic training, irimi usually looks like a step forward, straight or at an angle but usually ending with the body facing the attacker, rather than in the direction of the step. To enter with irimi, the defender needs to move in the very moment of the attack or even himself initiate it.

Aikido

Meaning: EnteringUeshiba, K. (1985). "Aikido", Japan Publications Trading, Tokyo. or putting in the body.Shioda, G. (1977). "Dynamic Aikido", Kodansha International, Tokyo. Irimi (ee-ree-mee) is the second pillar of

Aikido Aikido ( , , , ) is a modern Japanese martial art that is split into many different styles, including Iwama Ryu, Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shuren Kai, Shodokan Aikido, Yoshinkan, Renshinkai, Aikikai and Ki Aikido. Aikido is now practiced in around 1 ...

(Aikido techniques are structured around six main pillars).Stevens, J. (1996). "The Shambhala Guide to Aikido", Shambhala Publications, Massachusetts. Irimi involves entering deeply around or behind an attack to defuse or neutralize the attack. The concept of irimi teaches one to blend with or enter into an opponent's attack to become one with the opponent's movement and leaving the opponent with nowhere to strike. This movement is utilized during the moment of the opponent's attack. To complete the movement, one moves out of the opponent's line of attack to the opponent's shikaku, or blind spot. When executed properly, one can strike an opponent with great force, combining his attacking momentum and one's forward movement. The entering principle is basic to most Aikido movements as the postures and movements in Aikido contain quite a few oblique stances which are adapted from

Sōjutsu , meaning "art of the spear", is the Japanese martial art of fighting with a . Origins Although the spear had a profound role in early Japanese mythology, where the islands of Japan themselves were said to be created by salt water dripping fro ...

(spear fighting). In Aikido, there are numerous examples of techniques exhibiting the concepts of

yin and yang Yin and yang ( and ) is a Chinese philosophy, Chinese philosophical concept that describes opposite but interconnected forces. In Chinese cosmology, the universe creates itself out of a primary chaos of material energy, organized into the c ...

. Irimi and

are an example. Tenkan is the motion of turning (yin) and irimi is the motion of entering (yang).Reynosa, L. and Billingiere J. (1989). "A Beginner’s Guide to Aikido", R &B Publishing Company, Ventura, California. Irimi is one of two motions Aikido students perform in the role of nage. Practicing irimi will help the Aikido student develop

Hara Hara may refer to: Art and entertainment * Hara (band), a Romanian pop-band * ''Hara'' (film), a 2014 Kannada-language drama film * ''Hara'' (sculpture), a 1989 artwork by Deborah Butterfield * Goo Hara (1991-2019), South Korean idol singer ...

, balance, and groundedness. In Yoshinkan aikido irimi techniques are denoted by the number one (and tenkan as two). In modern aikikai irimi techniques are referred to as omote (and tenkan as ura). Best Aikido: The Fundamentals, Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Kodansha International Ltd, (2002)

References

External links

Excerpt from the book "Aikido"
by

Kisshomaru Ueshiba was a prominent Japanese master of aikido.Pranin, S. A. (''c.'' 2009)Encyclopedia of Aikido: Ueshiba, Kisshomaru Retrieved on March 1, 2010. He was the son of Morihei Ueshiba, founder of aikido, and became the international leader of aikido after ...

{{Aikido Japanese martial arts terminology Aikido