In yesterday’s Zoom Aikido class, Ando Sensei covered katate mochi sokumen iriminage (1). The pictures we are using here are ryote mochi sokumen iriminage but the principles are the same.
In the class, he focused especially on the movement in picture 
which really helps shite to enter smoothly without colliding with uke. Most people skip this step and try to go directly from 
to 
. Note the change in Shioda Sensei’s posture in , although his back leg hasn’t moved yet. This movement in involves bringing your weight and your center to ride on your front foot, which is your axis, and then rotating from your center like a dynamo to start moving in the direction you want to go. This creates a flow of power and movement which allows shite to enter smoothly, without allowing uke to escape or to regain their balance.
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