Aikido knife defense - iriminage

[rypes29]

sensei, I appreciate you uploading these videos and the way that you respond to the many comments and criticism. I find the videos helpful. Even if people disagree with the technique's effectiveness I don't understand the need to debate on the internet. Anyway, thanks for posting these videos.

[PDZ1122]

It works as long as your attacker is also playing Aikido. Real world? I doubt it.

[CanadenEhProduction]

This is so fucking useless.

[boris999222666]

akido has some good tanto dori but this ..... just "no" you would get stabbed in the back

[Nherwyziant]

He would totally run as his best technique if he was really under attack.

[Crifstar]

gotta admit, I don't like this one. If I do that technique, I'm running away as soon as he hits the ground rather than reaching for the knife hand and trying to control.

[Aikidostenudd]

@Crifstar, I can only say that your choice is the better, if the situation allows for it. In knife defense, some aikido techniques are better than others. Still, it's good to know several alternatives - and in regular aikido training, it is expected to be able to apply almost any aikido technique to almost any attack form.

[kokorosan61]

Take the knife with the hand, is he called Superman ? Or has he learnt some technicals secret ...

With a real fighter this man is DEAD !

[Aikidostenudd]

@kokorosan61 I don't grab the blade's edge. It's sort of a fork position of the fingers, not a complete grip. Sorry it's not very clear on the video. I should use closeups, too.

[LightningHaki]

@Aikidostenudd These are good techniques against a armed opponent.

[Fulou]

@Crifstar Gotta admit, i'd prefer kotegaiashi or something like that, but i guess if your pressed into that sort of situation you use what you have or take the hit. Either way best strategy is not to be there :S

[KungFuKid1015]

This technique is very pretty, but unfortunately it seems to take too long to execute. Even if I try to speed it up or use a shorter turn, just takes too long. And its not all practical for knife attacks. But, don't you guys go attacking me, I also take Aikido, buts its Combat Aikido, check out some of my videos. I recently put a knife disarm video up.

[CheetaReborn]

@KungFuKid1015 Its not done at full speed in this video, they are using a legitimate knife so they don't want to risk an injury in a demo. As good as any instructor may be accidents do happen

[FightingWarrior]

BULLSHIT, only good for selfmurdering

[DKRaFiQ]

that aint full speed.. im not convinced that it would work properly unless he does it full speed...

[oldsgtmajusmc]

looks ok -but------has he been in a real knife attack against him????????

would that stuff really work-i dont know-police officers i know do not teach those tactics at all-its always getting the knife hand -hol on and strike to face/eyes repeatedly- oldsgtmajusmc

[baddoggdaddy]

Nage really must move his feet more.

[fureisenjin]

@Doslos1 - "Skirts" are called Hakamas... They were primarily worn in by Samurais and nobles in japan. In Bujutsu & Budo (samurais also during combat) they r worn to conceal steps.... Oh and by the way they were originally worn only by men but then women also used them...

[paddotk]

not a good demonstration. The guy with the knife doesn't even aim well and comes in extremely slowly (even for a demo)

[Str0ngSide]

i do not like aikdo. I believe a Average Muay thai Fighter could beat up an aikido black belt. Aikido dosent train full resistance like Muay Thai does. If you want weapons defense learn Krav Maga

[paddotk]

how is that a response to my comment?

[tubetubetube]

lol@Str0ngSide

Uke dont resit because there is no point in doing so. Muay thai is Thai box, it a good show, people win match and earn money. Muay thai is also the worng way of doing kicks and punchs. Krav maga is a system that is base on many arts in limited form; Aikido included.

So what was your point? Why do you feel the need to spam every aiki video about muay thai and krav maga?

[Doslos1]

why are they wearing skirts!!!

[snapper842002]

@Doslos1- aikido is a japanese martial art, in which they wear the japanese "battle gown" as a way of mocking the opponent by making it look like he was beaten by a girl

[OmegaOwA]

@snapper842002 I hope you're joking.

[jacker372]

i think the person would have a lot of resistance to getting the knife taken

[Gumbi1012]

Can anyone provide a link to proper, pressure-testing Aikido knife defence?

Because everything here is unrealistic: the attacks are done slowly and the attacker isnt even properly stopped/finished. Real knife attacks are erratic, people dont do straight, slow stabs, they do lots of frenzied jabs.Even if they do a slow stab, they would immediately follow up.

[1000erey2]

i know ur taotally right

this video is no help

[AParanormalLook]

@Gumbi1012 Yes I know what you mean. These guys are just doing it slow, I dont think it is an instructional video, they are just practicing because its just that simple...there is no instruction. check out marc animal macyoung, check out steve tarani.

[blackmetalwhiteguy]

I asked my instructor about using iriminage against knives today and he showed me a version that is safe, but this is not it. The guy in this video starts off correctly by gaining control of the arm, but he shouldn't have let go. Safely executing this technique against a knife attack involves maintaining control of the arm and sweeping in while still holding their wrist.

If you do it really well, you may even get them to stab themselves in the process.

[Aikidostenudd]

I know that this solution for iriminage is unorthodox. I have reasons for it. Holding uke's arm or wrist with any control in this technique is much more difficult than in others, because such a grip is one-handed and in an awkward angle. That's why I go for the body instead of the arm, but I use a close position where my arm blocks uke's knife arm, so that it can't reach to strike with the knife. Maybe you should try it?

[blackmetalwhiteguy]

I saw that you were blocking his arm as he fell, but it looks like he can still stab you in the back for the split second that he remains standing. If you say he's unable then I'll take your word for it, but I still wouldn't feel comfortable trying it like this for myself.

[markaval]

@Aikidostenudd I like the flow but without atemi I think you'd really struggle to apply this in a fight situation. I know this is only kihon form to demonstrate principles and you'd make all aspects of the technique much smaller and tighter, but without atemi you're going to get cut unless you're very fortunate. I do like the fact that you enter into the attacker's space and don't fixate on the knife though. It takes a good degree of skill to do what you've done in this clip.

[solpapisolmook]

@markaval Funny hearing you talk about a "fight situation," when you train Aikido.

[markaval]

@solpapisolmook Why? You seem to have a very low opinion of Aikido - it's just another martial art, nothing more, nothing less. It's application is usually defensive, but you can fight defensively. You seem to look at the training method of Aikido and dismiss its effectiveness and validity. I can understand why. I personally don't train to fight, but that doesn't mean the training should be weak and ineffective. I'd love for you to experience how we train at my club - easy it ain't!

[TheAiren2011]

@Aikidostenudd In any case, I like it, but for curious reason because some other Japanese Sensie, they will not allow that the hand of the opponent will be free, it is unsafe for the hands to be free, but anyway I like it.

[plunker49]

@blackmetalwhiteguy "If you do it really well, you may even get them to stab themselves in the process"

Uhhhhh, not exactly the spirit of Aikido, is it?

[paddotk]

i agree, it's not a 'how-can-i-kill' sport.

[crazymaysee]

That looks great, but what if the guy is actually trying to kill you rather then let you throw him around.

[ScottWaltA]

Mastering this lays the foundation for the real situation where the guy is trying to kill you. If you look at some of the *REAL* Aikido videos, they go after it with more force and such --but they do the same things.

[crazymaysee]

I have taught knife defense in the Military and on the Police Dept for over 20 years. That is some of the sloppiest shit I have ever seen. You are advertising techniques that may get someone killed.

[blackmetalwhiteguy]

I'm kind of surprised to see this technique against a knife, to be honest. I was practicing tanto and bokken defense today and I can never do this technique without stabbing myself. Maybe if I already had wrist control and felt confident that I could stay safe from the blade I would do a reverse iriminage (same motion, but with the back of the arm).

If I really had to defend myself, I would feel most comfortable using kotegaeshi, which he also has a video of.

[Aikidostenudd]

I would also prefer kotegaeshi. However, in some situations that technique might not be accessible. It is good to have several options, although some are easier than others.

[markaval]

@Aikidostenudd to be honest guys unless the attacker is a complete biff you're probably going to struggle to get either irimi nage or kotegeishi on. Anyone with half an idea on how to use a knife is not going to thrust the knife like this. Practice against high speed diagonal slashing, fake attacks and punches followed by different stabs and you'll see how hard it is. HIgh level of skill and experience needed to use pure aikido against a good knife attacker.

[maxgunn555]

@markaval what do you suggest as an alternative? what do you think is more effective?

[markaval]

@maxgunn555 Against a knife attack? Run away :-) 99.9% of people are kidding themselves if they think they can defend against a skilled knife attacker. If you are lucky enough to face off against a biff you might have a chance. To see how hard it is, get a couple of white board markers and with a training partner practice defending against full speed slashing attacks. See how many marks you've got on your arms after 30 seconds :-) You CAN use aikido, but you'd better be REALLY good.

[maxgunn555]

@markaval but you do realise this aikido and all martial arts vs knife is only intended as a last resort if running away isnt an option. or are you saying you can always run away? ideally it would be nice to ALWAYS be able to run away i agree.

[markaval]

@maxgunn555 In the ideal world this should be case, but there are always 'heroes' and also those that think that this kind of knife training will actually work. It won't. If you want to learn how to defend against a knife go find someone who knows what they are talking about. With all due respect to 99.9% of Aikido 'knife experts', they think they know but they don't. As I said before, if the attacker is a biff you've got a chance, but if they are any good you are in trouble. Full stop.

[markaval]

@maxgunn555 To see just how hard it is try this (I mentioned it to someone else on here I think). Get a whiteboard marker - use it like a real knife and attack for 30 seconds with different attacks and different speeds and see how many marks you end with on your body and arms. If you've ever seen what a stanley blade can do to a forearm (I have) then you'll see just how hard it is to control a knife. A good kick in the nuts and then run like mad is still my recommended course of action!

[maxgunn555]

@markaval yeah i agree with you that this looks a bit dodgy. but your only other solution was ' go find someone who knows what they are talking about'. so no martial art you know of prepares you against a knife and basically you're dead if someone attacks you with a knife lol.

[markaval]

@maxgunn555 Someone I respect a lot once asked 'does practice make perfect?'. The response was 'Yes, of course'. He said 'bollocks! PERFECT practice makes perfect.'.  To practice perfectly you need to find someone who really knows about knives, someone who would not be phased by slashing attacks, reverse stabs, stabs with either hand, fake and stabs - someone who knows how to fight dirty with a knife and defend against it. Problem is that there aren't too many of them about :-D

[maxgunn555]

@markaval yeah my pe teacher said that and i remember it. but how do you know you're doing perfect practice? it's all about technique and strategy. and if you can't run away then you need the best technique out there. you keep on referring to individuals - if these individuals styles are so good at knife fighting where's there dvd manual/art? aikido seems to offer the best PRINCIPLE's for against knife and weapons that are too strong to simply punch out and win against.

[markaval]

@maxgunn555 I haven't referred to any individuals in terms of knife fighting, although I do know at least three who would fit the bill. They have done DVDs related to their discipline but they have not done anything specific to knife defence. In terms of how do you know if your doing perfect practice? Bloody good question!! I suppose you research the person you intend to study under to find out their background. You'll know when you watch them if they can do this stuff.

[markaval]

@maxgunn555 But the real tester will be for you to attack them full on, any way you want, with a knife (or at least a wooden tanto) - if they'll let you do it then you'll have a good idea that they know what they are talking about. You make a great point about Aikido having the best principles to defend against knife attack. You are 100% right. Applying those principles correctly is a whole different ball game (cont'd)

[markaval]

@maxgunn555 for example with a slashing attack or stab the correct principle is to enter into the attacker's space. Sounds great but in reality this involves precise timing and very large kahoonas! Another principle is not to fixate on the knife but to be aware of the whole body of the attacker. Once again not easy to do when someone is trying to gut you - or even facing off against just a wooden knife. But if you can apply the principles then Aikido defence against the knife will work.

[MrClyton]

Is he a "sensei"? He is the worst sensei I have never seen. The knife is out of controll, he changes the grip on the wrist. He is always late for the defense. The knife is extremely dangerous and this sensei has the blade of the knife near him.

It's a shame! If this is a "sensei" I am batman.

[vaniaderomana]

True, the knife is not controlled, and is a SEVERE deficiency. It is a typical problem of Aikido, to believe that empty hand techniques are the same as using weapons. If you have no reference in the fight knife vs knife, how is possible to have any idea of fight the empty hand vs knife.

[Delmo67]

This technique actually works quite well with a knife if you do it properly, but many Aikidoka do not do it in such a way that it would be effective. You have to actually be closer to the attacker and have control of his arm with your body. Look up Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu for reference if you're interested.

[Delmo67]

REAL aikido is also a good example of proper technique.

[mitsourugi]

thanks once again sensei for your clarity. and this variants of the technique greetings from Yoseikan aikdo South america

[chrisinboston]

I think at high speed these could work - I think I would be scared to use a defense that didn't try to control the weapon hand though - but I'm also not anywhere close to proficiency with my skills so I won't make any definitive comments! thanks sensei!

[markaval]

@chrisinboston They do work - if you're good enough :-) Re controlling the weapon hand - the danger is to become fixated with the knife (hard not to when someone is trying to tickle your ribs with one :-) ). If you can get past the knife and look for the openings then defence against knife attacks is possible. But all Aikido does is give you a chance - it is no guarantee - and no system can guarantee success. Think more about how to negate the advantages of the knife - but you need kahoonas!!

[Aur0rah]

this is opposite of what we ar tought , becaues he push and pull the uke down and into himself, atleast it seems, if i do that in my dojo iam told that its wrong and that its uke who somehow leads nage anot nage who push uke.

[Aikidostenudd]

AurOrah, it's gentle pushing ;)

[cannagli]

Good videos. I've been in aikido a little over a year now, and I know knife defenses are not easy. There's many times you have to worry about where the blade is pointed. And even then once the person is being whipped around, they can always lose control of the knife, where it ends up jabbing you anyway! I find iriminage and ikkyo techniques are good at getting a safe distance, between you and a knife.

[blackmetalwhiteguy]

Maybe using iriminage against a knife is one of the reasons that it keeps jabbing you anyway :-)

If you get jabbed in practice, you'll get stabbed in real life, too. If you ever have to defend against a blade, I would use kotegaeshi instead.

[cemmas]

I am an Aikido practicioner,

I can see that nage has a faulty style of retrieving the knife,please consult your style again,you are teaching your students wrong.

Hope i didnt offend you.

[Aikidostenudd]

Cemmas, you didn't offend me. You amused me :)

[Samgurney88]

Well, the knife was retreived- surely that was the objective. As long as it's done, how does it matter how?

[quinn127]

i think aikido is fun and cool to do but for reality it is only fantasy only in reality it just is not this way at all no way sorry. But never the less I think it is fun to do that and practice it maybe they could use it someday?

[lkmnb432]

No, it will break your bone.

[bsumiko]

These "disarms" are unrealistic. It will get you killed. Nobody with a weapon will attack like that. People will flick the blade out and retract it quickly. And if you so happen to grab someone's wrist, all they will need to do is to perform a back cut. What is more unrealistic is how they train empty hand against bokken. There is no way you can "disarm" a person who has a bokken. You will die. Just turn around and run. See Paul Vunak's videos regarding the reality of bladed weapons.

[cantwait2look]

Consider that a bladed weapon is a "personal" and violent attack. This is a technique of last resort. A skilled attacker who knows how to use a blade will never show the intent to cut or stab, however there are situations whereby a person will pick up something and charge an individual. These techniques are designed to give the reciepeint a chance. Note the skill at which the tori controls and disarms the uke. Primarily a calm mind is the best weapon. This is achieved through practice.

[Ejaazi]

Practicing empty handed against a bokken is not meant to teach you how to defend against a bokken! It is done to teach you how to get off of the center line.

[MooneShadow]

I agree with you Bsumiko that attacks might not come in this form.

I have seen people grab the knife hand to control the stabbing action, punch to the face and remove the knife after the attacker was stunned. I have seen Kotegeshi which I feel is more effective for a knife attack and I have personally removed a knife with Kotegeshi in real life but not with any stabbing motion. And though I agree with you fully, its why you must practice other types of attacks as well.

[MooneShadow]

Continued... I also have seen were the knife hand was once again grabbed, pulled in to do an elbow lock and instead of locking the elbow the attacker pulled his arm away and you were able to cut the attacker with his own arm... I have practiced these types of instances of controling the knife weilding hand... But I have also learned Iriminage and find Iriminage not a good option unless the knife weilder was just totally unskilled and to know that is impossible at the time of an attack.

[Aur0rah]

your wrong why? because these martial arts were designed for armed battles in war and mutliple atacks, these martial arts origin THE SAME VERY PLACE the atacks with wepons origin from.

To say aikido or other martial arts of japan do not hold enough knowledge to deffend those atacks its like saying a Mothers child is not hers because they do not look exactly the same. remmember always that wepon arts of japan did not emerge different place then the martial arts of japan ,so did aikido .

[Aur0rah]

anyone who has a little aikido experience know the influence of how you percieve and understand the nature of atack, why should there have even mattered with the atack comes with? it really doesnt.

for those who believe you cant dissarm someone with an extention because that is what it is just an extension.

you cannot seperate atacks and martial arts of the same culture since they are without a doubt linked togheter thorugh nessecirty , thats why they were developed in the first place.

[neomauresque]

not realistic ! it's just another dojo technique

[gwennaelle1107]

j4ck2234, not only is it not very realistic but the defense (although very pretty to watch) isn't very well done either. More than once, if I had been the one holding the knife I would have stabbed the guy anyway. I am not saying this because I think that Aïkido sucks. I don't. It is very effective but like any martial art it is nothing if you don't use your brain.

[j4ck2234]

The attacking isn't very realistic. A guy with a knife would propably grab you and then try to stab you in the liver or something like that. + he would never stab from above, come on that's 50's hollywood shit to make the murder look more dramatic. You know, so the victim can look up and scream.

[Aikidostenudd]

Well, the stabbing from above has actually happened in real life - and on film. It was on a very famous rock concert documentary...

Anyway, in aikido it is mainly practiced to relate to menuchi, which is really a sword attack form.

[j4ck2234]

Well the other guy was the attacker in this case, a gun was involved that's a game changer i suppose. Not much room for tactics here.

I have a question if you don't mind, are all aikido forms working with a sword (and a stick) or is this just special to the version of Nishio Sensei?

[fab77lazzy]

senza offesa ma secondo me queste tecniche sono belle da vedere ma poco pratiche...

[2FISTS4YERFACE]

iriminage in teh real world is about as effective as an asshole on your forehead.

[richp860]

Really? I'd LOVE to show you why it is much more than that.. from a punch, a knife, an overhead strike.. whatever.. live near CT? I can clear that misconception up for you.

[2FISTS4YERFACE]

laurensmalter, SHUT THE FUCK UP. what the fuck does a 16 year old know about shit. Aikido is NOT based on SAMURAI (that is how its spelled) "combat". It is based on Morehei Ueshiba's watered down, religiously inspired, non-violent bastardized impression of Daito Ryu Aikijutsu. Go do your homework, boy.

[weloveanimetoo]

i take offence to that. im personaly only 15 (unlike my account says) i personaly learnd aikido to keep my self safe from ur every day life. so dont think aikido is for adults only

[2FISTS4YERFACE]

a knife is a far faster and much more brutal weapon than the ceremonial way in which aikido treats it. No one attacks with a knife that way, trained or untrained. If someone has decided to take your life with a knife (or any other weapon for that matter) it is a far more chaotic action than

Aikido ever represents it. My point is Aikido works wonderfully when the attacker fully commits with unbalanced, large stepping forward movement. Rarely does a fight unfold like that. So why bother?

[laurensmalter]

in demonstration video's u see how a real attack would look like, it's far slower then it would be in real life, i agree, but an aikido master can definatley defend himself against a person who really wants to harm him, aikido is based on samoerai combat, when a samoerai is disarmed, he can still fight on using his hands, this is what aikido teaches you, non-mortal close combat, aikido isn't like boxing or karate, it's meant to show the attacker he has no chance, so he will walk away..

[2FISTS4YERFACE]

i am aware of the theory. I just have not seen it applied in a real combative application.

[2FISTS4YERFACE]

how about i break your McJaw ,ali babba.

No one was talking to you....dont you have a customer service call to take or something.....

[2FISTS4YERFACE]

One of aikido's biggest problems is that all of its technology evolved from swordplay. NOT FROM THE PHYSICS OF HAND TO HAND COMBAT. Much of it works against someone swinging an object (like a sword). It , howver fails miserably against fast linear attacks such as punches and knife thrusts and slashes. You can argue tha all you want, but look at the slow,rigid, choreographed knife attacks that aikidoka train against. No one with a knife is gonna attack you that way. It is not realistic at all.

[ketsan]

It's the other way around. Our power comes from the same place a sword cut comes from.

A fast linear attack is just a linear attack, fast or slow the response is the same, you parry it as if it were sword on sword.

In fact if you want to see Aikido theory applied against fast attacks, watch kendo.

[2FISTS4YERFACE]

It doesn't matter how well Aikido's Iriminage is done. Knife attacks don't look like that anyway.I got scars to prove it. Aikido people fool themselves into believing big circular movement works against actual violent encounters. IT DOESNT. Spare me the comments with your aikido wisdom as well. I have a blackbelt in jujutsu, instructor credentials in Filipino Kali, I am Ex-Army and i bounce/bodyguard for a living. I have been involved in a number of edged weapon situations.

[bongabad]

wow, a martial artist foul-mouthing another art? maybe from a mcdojo? lol

[jdanccastro]

indeed it is not well done. When you do iriminage against the knife you must always control the hand with the knife ALWAYS.

[Aikidostenudd]

No. You have to control the person holding the knife.

[jdanccastro]

ok that´s semantics. of course you have to control the person who has the knife but if you just enter and don´t care about the knife you don´t know where it is going to end. the uke may even stab you by accident and not even by intention =).

[infraredchris]

Horrible technique...

[UrMomzDED]

while doing iriminage, shouldn't he tincan or however u spell it?

[Aikidostenudd]

You mean tenkan. There are several ways of doing iriminage - some with tenkan, some without it.

[ninjiujitsu1]

honestly i think he shud really slap uke's elbow as he enters to get the arm completely out of the way so that the arms out of the way for long enough to do the technique safely.

[pepsyman1]

Stefan...I think some of the commentary is out of line. Showing standard techniques being done against a real weapon isn't shown enough. People are discounting the effect of the technique itself when done at speed. If Iriminage is being done effectively, the uki doesn't suddenly possess more control of their body than if they weren't holding the tanto. Nice video

[jasonc024]

Too much movement. Between 5-8 steps just to get the attacker on the ground. Should be only 1-2 steps. No good as is.

[2008August30]

Takemusu Aikido would never do techniques like this against a knife, we are always taught to try and secure the knife hand at all costs. Look how after the throw he has to regrab the knife hand, why let go of it in the first place? Too risky.

[thankful2one]

Great video. Thanks for posting. Aikido practitioners seem to be even more opinionated that other martial artists, but these look like good techniques to me.

[Jiyukan]

1st, this is absolutely non standard. You don't do Irimi Nage in Tanto dori like this.

2nd, the technique is non the less doabel, but it is VERY bad performed as Tori has over a long time no control about the Tanto.

3rd, if Uke had any idea what to do with a knive Tori would cut him while falling and the finalization (immobilization) would not happen.

[Aikidostenudd]

Jiyukan, you're very sure...

Actually, grabbing the knife hand is not the only way of controlling the tanto. Also: grabbing the knife hand is no guarantee of actually controlling the tanto.

Et cetera...

[Jiyukan]

As I mentioned: "it is non standard". Surely, you can do it in the way you do. But then you should be much "better". I saw a lot of your tanto dori videos.

Every technique is either completely wrong, or on the edge of : "a 8th Dan could do it like this, if he would avoid the following mistakes ..."

Sorry, I don't want to be impolite, disrespectfull or what ever ... your weaponless Aikido is very good, but your Tanto Dori ... sorry, but in my Dojo no 1st Kyu would pass that examination ...

[Aikidostenudd]

So, I should be lucky that I don't have to try for 1st Kyu :)

And I have to congratulate you on having the competence to correct 8th Dans as well.

[CliffVictory]

Great response! Alot of people seem to critisize without being constructive.

[Godsmasher22]

As a long time Kali/Escrima practictioner I have to say getting a hold of the knife seems like the best and only thing that should be on anyone's mind when they are dealing with one. I have no need for jumping in so deeply. I don't need to get my weight behind a cut. I just need to cut. Even someone with out much training will cut and cut and stab and stab. Get a hold of the knife hand and don't let it go. Seriously.

[leguancz]

Do you realize, that this is just the demonstration to show how to perform the technique? You should be graceful that Sensei Stenudd willing to share this with us. It's for people who wants to learn it. It's not in real speed and full strength otherwise the uke wouldn't wake up any more.

[Jiyukan]

Yes, I relize that.

Practicing slowly has nothing to do wether a specific technique is correct or not.

The very first movement as example is "wrong" the falling Uke can stab the Tori in the back. That is why I say: a first Kyu would not pass his examination if he would make such "mistakes". Mr. Stenudd shows "weapn Aikido" just in the same way as if tehre wa no weapon. That is "wrong". Working with weapons is VERY VERY different from "normal" Aikido.

Sidenote: I'm an Aikido teacher, as well ...

[NortonAntor]

It's one of the easily applicable and practical techniques, and should be practice a lot, I think.

By the way,Mr. Stenudd I just ordered your Aikibatto book off eBay and can't wait it to arrive .

[Aikidostenudd]

I hope you'll like it - and that you got it at a decent price :)

[comfortablynumb4]

bad technique... one should never let go of the wrist until the knife is fully disarmed

[Aikidostenudd]

That is true - once the wrist is grabbed.

This is a solution where the wrist is grabbed after the throw.

[shikakubu]

Stenudd sensei, I can never seem to do the iriminage where you lead them back with the arm properly. I always rely on the version where you unbalance uke with both hands on the shoulders and nearly make him fall then wait for him to pop back up, is this a problem? Do you have any suggestions?

[Aikidostenudd]

That's simply another way of doing it. No problem :)

[frozenicelolly]

I've commented before about the danger of uke still having the knife while he is being thrown. My sensei seems to use a variation of the technique to get rid of the knife before throwing uke. Just after he enters and controls, he brings down uke's arm on his knee and stretches him down to drop the knife. Then he resumes while making sure uke is thrown away from where the knife is. Just an idea..

[dogforshore]

im gonna be part of that thing and im gonna kill everyone at school!

[HigginsAmericanKenpo]

smooth technique. just noticed you grabbed the live blade a couple times on your disarm. ouch. passing in front of me is not my favorite option either. there's dead space for the attacker to inadvertently slash or stab as you're pulling his arm around toward you or when he's falling to the ground.

[Aikidostenudd]

I grab sort of like a clam, not to touch the edge. True, the omote form (passing in front of uke) is less trustworthy than the ura one.

[Deke101]

I have used Aikido several times in real life in the ARMY as well as security. Irimi Nage VERY fun to train with but I did not think it practical. I was going to escort a drunk out of a bar in Nashville once when out of the corner of my eye I saw his buddy moving toward me. I turned to face him to see a perfect shomen uchi headed for me with a bottle in hand. My irimi nage seemed to come from nowhere and surprised BOTH of us. The look on his face as my buddy and I picked him up: priceless.

[richp860]

Nice.. I try to tell people all the time, practicing irimi-nage from shomen uchi is VERY practical, because it would work from a bottle, bat, etc attack.. practicing it from a punch is more fun to me.. I'm still figuring out how to use the Hombu entry from a punch effectively.

[Deke101]

Usually a straightforward attack is most effectively met with a direct entry throw. When it is performed in real time, the technique does not seem very 'Aiki' but seems quite brutal. Uke must be well trained to take ukemi from such a technique to escape serious injury.

For those of you who are saying irimi techniques are not practical, meh. I have felt them firsthand and know better. What you see in this video is slowed down for demonstration purposes. Peace.

[watts18269]

I agree, having irimi nage actually performed on you is a different story altogether. And as much as I hate to say it, watching old footage of someone like Seagal will give you a good impression of its effectiveness.

[richp860]

Much agreed.. a quick and close entry is usually the safest place. To throw atemi, or land your finishing technique.

[BritneyLovesJeremy]

this is kihon-waza,oyo-waza or applied technique would be more direct and to the point.but on one point paintballer011 you are correct in a "real"situation you probably wouldn't have the time or space to perform the technique as it is being performed here.And i'm with you I still love aikido any way as well :-D

[paintballer011]

i do take aikido and i have been since i was 12 now im 15

but looking at it it doesnt seem like aikido would help someone on street fighting. Im not saying that im taking it to like get my ego up or cause problems but god forbid i was in a fight it doesnt seem this would help me.

I still love aikido anyway :-D

[Aikidostenudd]

I like your attitude :)

Actually, any martial arts training will increase your ability of self-defense, and the better you get at it, the better you can defend yourself. That goes for aikido, too.

[Spckeck]

As a soldier and bodyguard I gotta tell you, Aikido techniques work... Shockingly well, though what little we were taught (only about 30 techniques)seem to come out of a, harder? Version. Any insight?

[Aikidostenudd]

I would say that what makes them work - hard or soft - is the strategy behind them, the aikido principles.

Of course, a hard attack tends to lead to a hard defense, simply because an aikido response mirrors the attack by accepting it.

[Morgothhhh]

Well if it wouldnt work, japanese police wouldnt practice it :)

[richp860]

Not just Japanese police.. it is practied much in America and internationally.. aikido and krav maga seem to be very popular among police..

[richp860]

It is very practical for a street situation. If your objective is to fend off an attacker, it is definitely for you.. if you wish to make the first move, maybe not so much. But in any martial art, you develope your own style of the art.. it's never the art.. it's the individual..

[onoffknapp]

I was also thinking about the dangers of leaving the knife hand free like that when you apply the takedown. Would it be possible to grab, or otherwise control, the attacking wrist with the same hand (arm) that does the takedown? In other words, you'd wrap uke's arm around his/her own neck, together with your own arm. That way, at least you could control the knife all the way.

Am I making sense? Difficult to describe techniques in words...

[Aikidostenudd]

That's actually the most common way of doing it. I find it less trustworthy, though, because such a grip is quite weak, and it makes the throw more difficult. Surely, other aikidoists will tell you the opposite.

[meiers]

mmm... i see what you're pointing. Yeah it looks eerie that the arm with the knife is very close to nage... but if you've got enough practice plus distance i guess it should b okay.

You'd need to use the same hand that grab to push him down as the technique goes circular. But since you're already at the outer part of the body (backpart) it's kind of safe.

[savermaker]

I train in Michigan, Aikido Yoshokai. Thank you for this video.

[Spckeck]

Hey, I live in the Detroit area ( by Livonia) and have been looking for an Aikido school where's yours (if you don't mind)

[patodefuego]

nice,... pero para nada confio en dejar el cuchillo tan libre... Nuevamente: Muy peligrosooooo...

[shikakubu]

nice iriminage! mega spooky to do it with a knife though

[Runescaper904614]

uhm... its normal if u study aikido.. sorta... so theres like nun rly "nice"

[Eayne]

dont do irimi nage on some one with a knife... i did that to my friend and he stabbed me right in the kidney(the initial attack was a underhanded shomanuchi type stab..).... stick with kotegashi,shiho, nikajo and sankajo type stuff but yeah man straight up control the knife dont ignore it.. you can get killed doin that in real life..

[Aikidostenudd]

Certainly, some aikido techniques are more trustworthy in knife defense, than others. I agree with you that iriminage is not one of them.

[haffoc]

The problem here is that the tori is applying the throw after defending with the right hand. If he defends with the left and then applies the throw it works fine and he retains control of the knife arm as the attacker goes to the ground.

As an aside, there is a 600 year old Italian fighting manual that shows almost the same type of knife defense as illustrated in this video.

[Aur0rah]

thats cool

[Aur0rah]

can you do these without the stop between? so it looks more real and usefull ? 

all these stops in between entering makes it look as if its wrong and ueseless

[Aikidostenudd]

This is an instructional video. Without the stops, I think it would be very difficult to see what I do.

I am thinking about doing another video with some aikido in normal speed.

[Aur0rah]

are you norwegian?

[Aikidostenudd]

I'm Swedish. My dojo is Enighet in Malmö.

[Aikiparkour]

That is so fucking dangerous to leave the tanto freely as you go to throw and then not control it immediately for a pin. An attacker with some serious intent on killing you with the knife is some serious shit. Gotta control that tanto instead of look for the iriminage.

[Aikidostenudd]

I like the combination aiki-parkour. Would be nice to see. About your comment: I have found that for the technique iriminage, grabbing the knife-hand gives less control than focusing on the attacker's body. Others do it differently. Of course, tantodori is not easy, whatever solution you choose.

[Eayne]

exactly!!! i did that before and my friend stabbed me.... (with a wooden knife...)

[Samurai314]

do you have any tips for the vertically challenged Aikido peeps with regards to iriminage?

[Aikidostenudd]

You mean short people? Normally in aikido, that is not so much of a problem, because the attacker aims at the defender's height, and therefore is easy to bring down to it. In iriminage, then, it is important to pull or push the attacker downward, during the spinning turn - the tenkan step. It is the same as when you practice hanmi handachiwaza.

[Samurai314]

much obliged. I was also wondering if you were going to get any more Iaido videos up on the tube?

[Aikidostenudd]

I'm thinking of doing new recordings of my aikibatto exercises, probably also jo against ken. But I don't know when I find the time for it. You find some more iai videos on my own website.