Iriminage Omote and Ura

Omote and Ura from a perspective of Irimi equals Omote and Tenkan equals Ura?  I remember asking how to differentiate these variations as a new student, and not getting an answer.

Another version of Omote, which we had on the USAF test requirements briefly as a Tenshin variation (though I would have to ask if this is an Irimitenkan instead).  While Nage does step where Uke's open side was initially, Nage is doing this throw from behind Uke.  The Ura is very familiar.

Shirata Rinjiro was one of the few students of Morihei Ueshiba from the prewar years (that I can find) who used the terms Iriminage Omote and Ura (along with other Japanese phrases I don't recognize or understand, but Shirata Sensei had a very in depth method of defining Iriminage variations.  He had En no Irimi for circular movements, Sankaku Irimi for triangular movements, and Chokusen no Irimi for linear movements.  The linear Irimi techniques seemed to include both stark variations of Shodokan Atemiwaza, as well as a deep entry Irimitenkan where Nage then steps back further.  All three types could be done entering in front or behind Uke, and this did not make them Omote or Ura.  Omote and Ura were an addition to these categories.  In this video clip, and Shirata Sensei's book written with John Stevens, Aikido:  the Way of Harmony, the Omote and Ura variation seems to be distinguished strictly by the finishing movement.

I'm not even touching on the Sokumen Iriminage variations that many later schools call Kokyunage.  Shirata Sensei appears comfortable combining his different ideas in a single technique?  With O Sensei's Dokka saying the basic variations of Iriminage take ten years to learn, and knowing that there are supposed to be limitless variations, I like the idea of there being several basic ideas - the ABC's of Iriminage.

Ultimately, nothing new here.  We all practice these variations.  While Iriminage Omote and Ura is becoming something more easily Googled and YouTubed, this is an example of Iriminage Omote and Ura from a direct student of O Sensei.

Thanks to Stanley Pranin of Aikido Journal for his kind permission to use this clip of Shirata Rinjiro Shihan.  The entire video is in the Members Only section of Aikido Journal Online, and the entire video as well as the entire website is highly recommended by me.