Irimi (入り身) is a Japanese martial arts term meaning “to enter with body”. An ‘irimi’ motion is one which describes when someone enters towards another. It’s a rather simple definition but performing it, especially under stress or pressure, can be quite difficult.
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Perhaps a more meaningful way of using Irimi is to understand it as moving in deeply to occupy your opponent’s space.
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One of the most important aspects of any self-defense scenario is to gain an early advantage. The concept of Irimi has been a part of Japanese Budo, armed and unarmed for a very long time and is concerned with principles of timing, distance, rhythm and initiative (Sen).
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Irimi can be a technique in and of itself, or it can be a vehicle to setting up other techniques.
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There are three crucial elements contained within the principle of Irimi that you must understand in order to gain an advantageous position.
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These are: movement, centerline control, and Kuzushi (unbalancing). Not all three are necessary all of the time, but having all three during a situation provides you with a great deal of control over an attacker, even if just for a moment.
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Movement – Gets you off their line of attack. Once an attack begins, almost anywhere is better than being directly in front of them.
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Centerline Control – Attacking their center with yours while protecting your own.
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Kuzushi – Off-balancing your opponent, putting them on the defensive side.
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When all three of these crucial elements are achieved, your techniques will be much more effective. Alternatively, take away any one of these three elements and the success rate of effective technique application is reduced.
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Irimi can disrupt an opponents attack or strike. It also brings you within range to set-up kuzushi via strikes, grabs, push, etc. If you don’t enter, they will, and it will happen hard and fast.
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So Irimi can result in superior positioning and direct access into an opponent’s weak angle; the three crucial elements of movement, centerline control and importantly Kusushi, working together can have an incisive effect. Making sure you are compromising the opponent while putting yourself into a more advantageous position.
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It is instinctive to recoil from something that is coming towards you in a threatening way, and it can be very unnerving to ‘enter-in’ on someone eager to take your head off. You need to practice in a way that promotes confidence. Plain and simple. Don’t hesitate. Just move in once their attack begins and learn to TRUST you movement and technique.
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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!
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Control an attacker, don’t give them the chance to control you.
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