The man sits with his legs tucked under him. Turning her back on him, the woman sits on his lap. While making love, the man pins her down from behind by looping his arms under her armpits. Forced to thrust her rear end toward man while her shoulders are pulled back, the woman's upper body arches back. This makes her look like a crane held from behind. Also known as "Sukui-age" (Scooping up), "Tsuru-no Hagai-jime" (Immobilizing the Crane) or "Tsuru-no Ha-gaeshi" (Holding back the Crane's wings).
Origin of the name
The dori in the name means "bird." Held from behind with arms hooked under hers, the woman's arched chest and lifted hips suggested a crane to Edo-period (1603–1868) eyes — its aliases all mention the crane too. Even the Japanese word for this arm-lock, hagai-jime, originally referred to the crossing point of a bird's wings.
Tips
The man sits seiza-style (cross-legged works too) with the woman on top, facing away. The under-arm hold both anchors her and reassures her. Seated positions aren't built for big strokes — keep the lift small and focus on rocking and grinding while holding her close. The distance is perfect for whispering and kissing her neck; consider that part of the recipe.
Difficulty:
