AIKI KEN, aikido sword: basic irimi (entering) exercises, by Stefan Stenudd, 7 dan Aikikai shihan

Here is a video with some basic sword exercises of irimi (entering), the initial move in both aikiken and aikido. Irimi is the decisive step to immediately gain control of the attacker. Aikiken, the aiki sword, is the common name for sword against sword exercises in aikido. It is practiced in many different ways. In this video, I focus on some exercises I often teach for the purpose of experiencing and understanding the strategy and methods of the Japanese sword arts. They are all about the first step, which is entering (irimi) to a position where the attacker is within reach, at the same time avoiding the attack. This is done similarly in the sword arts and aikido.