Irimi (Entering)

Any technique that uses an "entering" movement, be it from the side (sokumen) or from the front (shomen), uses Irimi. Sokumen Irimi-Nage is translated to "side entering throw" and Shomen Irimi-Nage is "front entering throw". The term Nage translates to "throw".

The term Ai translates to "a joining or union". Ki translates to "life force or spirit". When put together as Aiki, the translation is "the joining or union of life force or spirit" . All techniques have some form of Aiki.

If you look at the techniques that we study, you will discover that you cannot have Aiki without Irimi, nor can you have Irimi without Aiki. When attacked you move with the attacker (Aiki) and you enter (Irimi), usually stepping off the centerline of the attack.

Tenkan translates to "body change, turning, or pivot". After you use Aiki and Irimi, the next movement is that of changing the body or tenkan.

Tenshin translates to "a turn or body motion". Tenshin makes up part of all techniques by using "body motion".

If we take a look at the technique Shomen-uchi Kotegaeshi, we can see that to start the technique we will use "Aiki" with "Irimi", followed by "Tenkan" and "Tenshin" and then use a throw (Nage) incorporating Kotegaeshi, (reverse hand).

In summary, we can see that all techniques have all of the elements listed above in one form or another. So, the next time you do a Kotegaeshi, remember, it probably should be called "Kotegaeshi Aiki Irimi Nage".

Source: Budo Jiten