Irimi is a Japanese martial arts term meaning “to enter with body”. An “irimi” motion is one which describes when someone enters towards another. It is a rather simple definition but performing it, especially under stress or pressure, is another issue. We will discuss how to use the irimi principle and more importantly, how to practice it effectively. Irimi is especially important in Randori and against random attacks. It is essential to gaining an early advantage and achieving reproducible results. Proper irimi can be a technique in and of itself or it can be a vehicle to setting up other techniques.
For full context and for a better understanding, it’s important we are on the same page with terminology and concepts. Read or review our blog about the “Sen Concept” which includes certain terms such as Ma-Ai and attacks vs strikes.
In terms of self-defense vs martial arts training, the goal of our irimi discussion is about understanding the concept of entering and it should be interpreted and implemented according to the reader’s intentions or needs.
Purpose of Entering
Whether in Aikido or Karate or any other martial art, entering is very necessary to maximize effectiveness. It is not 100% necessary all the time because nothing is ever 100% in the chaos of martial arts or violence. How else can you hit or grapple someone if you do not enter within striking or grabbing range? In order to manipulate an attacker physically, we need to enter at some point in time. Controlling an attacker simply by using their momentum or redirecting their energy without entering will have a very low success rate, if any at all, unless your Uke is cooperative or performing a demonstration. Additionally, you may need to enter and go through an opponent to exit the situation. In this case, you will have no choice and it’s imperative you learn to do just that with confidence and technique.
There are three crucial elements that we must grasp in order to gain an advantageous position which irimi helps us achieve: Movement, Centerline Control, and Kuzushi. Not all three are necessary, but having all three during a situation affords you a lot of control over the attacker, even if just for a moment. When all three are achieved in an efficient way, techniques are most easily accomplished. Take away any one of these three elements and the success rate of effective technique application is reduced. I implore everyone to experiment with what I just said. One more time…
Take away any one of these three elements and the success rate of effective technique application is reduced.
- Movement – Gets you off their line of attack. Once an attack begins, almost anywhere is better than where you are; A randomly moving target is always more difficult hit
- Centerline Control – Attacking their center with yours while protecting your own
- Kuzushi – Off-balancing your opponent, putting them on the reactionary or defensive side
Entering does amazing things when it’s implementing properly. For one, it disrupts the calculations of the opponents attack or strike. It also brings you within range to set kuzushi via strikes, grabs, push, etc. If you don’t enter, they will, and it will happen fast and hard. Unless the attacker is just attacking once or throwing one strike, the simple “move and redirect them into a wall” approach is highly unlikely to occur. We must train as if every Uke we work with is an unrelenting and unpredictable adversary.
Method of Entering
There are infinite ways to enter. Whether its footwork, hand positions and motions, with or without atemi, or postures, any combination of these will suffice… AS LONG AS IT’S EFFECTIVE! What is effective? Well it’s something that works at the moment or in a certain situation. We have universal methods of entering that work very well “most” of the time and then we have more unique variations that are best for specific instances.
One of the most basic, straight-to-the-point, methods of irimi is moving directly straight in towards the attack with a firm stiff-arm to the face while deflecting potential strikes. Some call this Shomen-ate and some call it Irimi-nage. Terms aside, it can be devastating when used and timed appropriately. The most relevant time to use this is when the attacker has decent energy coming towards you with no arms or hands in the way, such as with a puffed-out chest, for example. They tend to look like this:
The only issue you may come across with this method is that if your counter is not precise or is deflected, you are essentially charging the bull. We must be mindful of deflections as they can be a great tool, both for you and against you! We must also recognize that an attacker may be very large compared to you or just plain determined. Staying on the centerline is very dangerous and not recommended since your results will not be dependable a large percent of the time against random attacks.
When we enter-in on an attacking opponent, so many variables are at play. The dynamic energies and movement combinations are endless. And the skills of an opponent are often unknown, underestimated, and unpredictable. Therefore, how can we enter-in if we don’t know which direction to go? The answer is… it doesn’t matter.
When we perform irimi, we must be able to arbitrarily choose our destination. If we don’t have control over our own actions, that means the opponent does and that’s how we get put into a corner. Upon entering, we need to follow a few guidelines to optimize our attempt.
- Movement – Entering offline and to a forward angle towards the opponent, effectively closing the distance while simultaneously getting out of their centerline of attack
- Positioning – Position yourself on an angle to the opponent via tai sabaki or tenkan
- Sweep – Using your hands and arms to perform a sweeping block towards your head; The head is the most sought after target on the human body and that’s because it’s the most important. Issues like losing sight, losing consciousness, lose of equilibrium, or getting a broken jaw are indicators you are about to lose. So protect your head EVERY TIME.
- Posture – Maintain GREAT posture especially since you have no idea what attack is actually coming. It’s recommended that one foot stay behind you for support. Never over-extend to reach your attacker… if you did not close the gap with movement the first-time, do not compromise posture by over-reaching!
- Open Awareness – With a random attack, anything can happen or you could enter towards a strike and “get caught”. The time it takes to enter and connect with an incoming opponent is all the time you get to adjust to the conditions of the scenario.
- Centerline Control – Attack their centerline by pushing, striking to the face, etc. Strikes or motions to the face are a great way to set kuzushi as they almost always prompt a response adequate for distraction and technique application
How To Practice Irimi in Aikido
It’s very unnerving to enter-in on someone eager to bite your face off. With that visual, we need to practice in a way that promotes confidence. When something we do is effective “most” of the time, it makes us more confident. Plain and simple. It does not, however, make us Superman or untouchable. Over-confidence and ego will cause us much discomfort when matched with someone or something that overpowers and defeats us. Use caution and never let your guard down.
- Follow guidelines as stated above during every practice run.
- For beginners, use slow or medium speed attacks; start with contrived attacks and progress towards training with random attacks. For advanced practitioners, train faster speeds as desired.
- Stick to ONE DIRECTION, ONE BASIC MOVEMENT, EVERY SINGLE TIME; Consistency is key here so make sure to use the same footwork, angles, and hand positions every time (with the exception of using them last second to perform block as stated in guidelines)
- With each scenario, take notice of your posture, positioning, proximity to uke, footwork, whether or not you get hit or grabbed.
- Never hesitate. Just move in once their attack begins and learn to TRUST you movement and technique. This is how you build confidence in Aikido and martial arts in general.
Below is a video I created for the purpose of explaining this with as much detail as possible without blabbing for ages (which I could do). Enjoy!
An Impulse Martial Arts student, Johnny 5, using irimi in the same direction no matter which attack is presented:
