When I studied Aikido, I was always more comfortable with Tenkan. It was the clever turning away in response to an attack. Irimi gave me the willies. It was entering fully into the situation. Death or partial destruction always seemed in front of me. But I was always intrigued with irimi. It was my preferred movement, but I didn't feel I had the power to throw these huge guys who were my ukes. When I got over my vision of these huge guys I had a fleeting moment and would successfully catch the feeling of irimi and throw my partner. Not because I could overpower them, but because I had successfully felt the feeling.
Irimi is not only an entering, it is a jump, it is a warrior's stand, fully and completely, grasping at the ethereal knowledge, gaining strength, power, chi, ki. It's a jump into the unknown - it's a jump into presence - moment by moment - fully surround awareness.
It was this feeling that I loved. This entering into the moment with everything that I am - all the power, the knowledge, the raw, the flaw, just me, heather, in the moment. Alive.
I feel that way about many things in my life. Instead of turning away and rolling with the waves, blending and adjusting, I am entering. Fully who I am. Slicing the moment with my arm and entering - the moment holds in the air and is timeless, and in that moment, anything is possible.
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