Tips for Giving and Receiving Throws Without Injury: Shihonage and Iriminage
- Mar 20
- 2 min read
Today's video from Aikido Samsungdang covers "Tips for giving and receiving throws without injury."
While many are familiar with how to apply a technique (or how to break a joint), they often overlook how to safely improve their skills alongside a partner. I believe the most challenging aspect of Aikido training lies in the premise that "you must not injure your partner, yet the technique must be applied accurately."
To be honest, this theme is deeply connected to my professional background as a police officer. As an officer, I must "apply techniques accurately while ensuring the suspect is not (or is minimally) injured."
I have contemplated this challenge for a long time. After years of reflection and observing practices directly at the Hombu Dojo in Japan, I reached a conclusion: the key is for both the Tori and Uke to build a habit of giving and receiving techniques honestly and plainly, based on the most fundamental breakfalls.
In this video, using Shihonage and Iriminage as examples, we cover how to physically control the risk of injury to the greatest extent:
1. Uke’s Alignment: In Shihonage, if the legs are left behind, twists occur at multiple angles from the wrist to the waist. Gathering your feet to prepare for a fall is the beginning of safety.
2. The Tightrope Principle: How to align yourself in Iriminage so as not to move outside the designated space, and the importance of the "Limbo posture" for a safe backfall.
3. Redefining Tori’s Goal: Tori’s primary objective should not just be throwing the opponent, but guiding the partner to take a proper Limbo posture.
4. The Value of Mutual Training: Moving away from the "every man for himself" approach of 30 years ago, I propose a method where Tori and Uke advance their skills safely within a shared scenario.
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