T.K. Chiba - The Four Stages of Iriminage

From the 1986 Instructor's Seminar in Berkley, CA, T.K. Chiba shihan details the four stages of Iriminage:
1) Entering (Irimi)
2) Turning (Tenkan)
3) Spiraling
4) Entering across the line
Important points:
a) Jodan, Chudan Gedan variations (Chudan is basic)
b) Keep hold of uke's collar, use it to help break uke's balance backwards.
I believe this video contains the absolute essence of Chiba sensei's aikido. Watch his body positioning and how he moves to uke's blind spot. Watch how he bends his knees and gets under uke's center. He throws by taking uke's center with his (Chiba's) body. The movement of his arms, while powerful in and of itself, is secondary to his hip rotation. His timing is impeccable... he cuts uke down and adds his own force to that of uke as uke scrambles to regain his balance. There is so much to see in this video, if the viewer has the eyes to see it.

[@pgl79]

I think that videos like this help to provide an insight into what's missing in a lot of modern Aikido.
So much of what we see now is pretty but ultimately empty. Chiba Sensei maintained focus on Budo and power!

[@JulianFrostAikido]

Absolutely. As I've said in other comments, I believe this video demonstrates the true essence of Chiba sensei's aikido. Everything is in this video, if we have the eyes to see it.

[@Redsmeg68]

I was lucky enough to train in his summer schools in the 🇬🇧 and spend a week training and sleeping on the mat in San Diego an amazing martial artist

[@edwardbabcock7193]

I was fortunate enough to attend a seminar in Boston years ago with Sensei Chiba Kani and Yamada and it was knowledgeable and insightful and I carry those lessons to this day

[@ademiranda2]

I was so fortunate to be one of his students for a while. Chiba Sensei was super powerful but I am very grateful for what a stickler he was on getting the fundamentals down.

[@JulianFrostAikido]

As one of his uchi deshi and kenshusei, I agree that he was a stickler about the basics (kihon). His weapons basics are directly related to body arts so there was (is) a positive reinforcement of body arts basics whenever you do weapons - and vice versa.

[@AikidoApplied]

watching him is one thing. experiencing him in person, his technique was mind blowing.

[@JulianFrostAikido]

Indeed.

[@NariIgawa]

Thank you for sharing. Wonderful.

[@JulianFrostAikido]

Thank you.

[@basdejong9054]

Incredibly athletic movement by Chiba!

[@alexgpeterson]

Brilliant. Thanks for sharing Julian. I still remember the smell of that mat.

[@medyou2815]

excellente démonstration de iriminage

[@soldierross1670]

Gran Maestro Chiba Sensei

[@morris4cidk542]

amazing

[@JulianFrostAikido]

In my opinion, this video contains the true essence of Chiba sensei's aikido.

[@Ejaazi]

Devastating!

[@acquiesce100]

What did Chiba think of Seagal?

[@JulianFrostAikido]

Depends on who was asking him the question! Chiba sensei was Japanese, and therefore very polite when talking about other people.

[@andreserojas]

Great video, thanks for sharing. Anybody know who are the Uke?

[@JulianFrostAikido]

Yahe Solomon and Bruce Bookman, mostly. I can't remember the name of the uke with the beard.

[@jonpearson2781]

I think Bruce Bookman was one

[@jonpearson2781]

Is the bearded guy Nikos?
Does anyone remember the story
"Nikos, yokomen" No! Your comment!

[@davidrobinson5999]

U HAD 2B on the end of one of SHIHANS techniques 2 realise the POWER HE GENERATED !!

[@JulianFrostAikido]

I believe this video contains the absolute essence of Chiba sensei's aikido. Watch his body positioning and how he moves to uke's blind spot. Watch how he bends his knees and gets under uke's center. He throws by taking uke's center with his (Chiba's) body. The movement of his arms, while powerful in and of itself, is secondary to his hip rotation. His timing is impeccable... he cuts uke down and adds his own force to that of uke as uke scrambles to regain his balance. There is so much to see in this video, if the viewer has the eyes to see it.

[@lovelytrumpet3367]

Do you have the transcriptions?

[@JulianFrostAikido]

I do not, but it's not so hard to hear what he is saying:
Three variations, Jodan, Chudan, Gedan. Chudan is the basic. Concentrate on irimi. Hand motion is not straight down and back, but a spiral. Pull the collar, with the elbow down. There are 4 stages of iriminage. You have to integrate the basics into the variations. Penetrate through uke (by stepping through) to throw. Next stage, you don't have to step through uke (because you bring uke around you) as long as you bring uke against your shoulder. First spiral movement is downwards, then upwards. Four stages from Aihanmi Chudan: #1 - Irimi (Basic/Kihon); #2 - Irimi Tenkan; #3 - Irimi Tenkan (brining uke around your front leg); #4 - Irimi Tenkan (bringing uke around your front leg, then stepping around uke).

[@clubprojects6923]

SD Kenshusei told me they called Julian "Darth Vader".

[@JulianFrostAikido]

Prince of Darkness.