Thread: irimi naga 2
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Old 11-27-2002, 09:36 AM   #3
Kevin Wilbanks
Location: Seattle/Southern Wisconsin
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 788
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I haven't heard of a place that uses the variation you describe as the primary version of irimi nage. It seems like the formal, cradling the head and ending with the scissor/waterfall stance is most traditional. The version you describe was a favorite of my former sensei, and one of mine too. It comes up pretty readily in a kind of formless freeplay situation, and often seems to be a more effortless, natural way to end the off-balancing that starts an irimi nage. To me, it seems like the standard ura version of irimi nage is more of a fantasy/aikido practice only technique... especially the version where you drop uke to hands and knees, then position yourself to intercept them when they get back up. It really depends upon uke making a series of decisions about how to continue that I think only a trained Aikidoka would make. On the other hand, the swooping around behind and dropping them straight backwards works even if they just stand there.
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