Literally, "Torite" comes from "Tori" (to attack, to take) and "Te" (hand). The idea of "Torite" is to seize the opponent, with the intention of immobilizing him, strangling him, imposing a lock on him, and so on. As always, it's associated with opposite work, based on getting out of or overcoming the hold, aiming to reverse the situation to the advantage of "Uke" (the one who "receives" or defends).

Let's go back to basics

If there's one form of martial art that has its roots in the authentic and original forms, it's Torite. First of all, let's specify that there are two forms of Torite:

- Idori (from "I" and "Tori"): work performed by two kneeling in the Zazen stance (as in "Seiza", for example),
- Tachidori (from "Tachi" and "Tori"): work performed in the natural standing position.

The kneeling stance (and by extension with only one knee on the ground) is the one that best corresponds to the spirit of Budo, and is found in many martial arts forms (Iaï-Do or Way of the Sword, Kyu-Do or Way of the Bow, Aïki-Do, etc.). It should be noted that this form is often absent from the most modern styles of Karate, which is regrettable, and demonstrates how easy it is, with a few scissor strokes, to obscure one of the deepest parts of an Art, admittedly off-putting a priori, in a desire for modernism often going hand in hand with a certain ease.

Form and spirit

As far as form is concerned, the aim is not to avoid the catch for the recipient, but to know how to accept it by demonstrating the greatest possible calm, combined with a feeling of inner strength. This may seem paradoxical, in the sense that we often hear it said that we "shouldn't let a hold become firm" before reacting. But, in fact, the aim of Torite is precisely to appeal to much more subtle sensations than simple dodging techniques followed or accompanied by counter-strikes.

We must strive to offer no resistance, to show no apparent conscious strength, letting our inner strength and belly energy come fully into play.

In a kneeling stance, in particular, no leg movement is possible; only the belly impulse allows you to act by opening a hip and applying a disengagement technique, followed by projection, immobilization, etc.

The torso and head must remain perfectly upright; no instability can be tolerated, otherwise any attempt at defense will be annihilated. Precision of gesture is paramount; a few centimetres off, or even a slight reduction in the connection, means that nothing "works".

The union of minds

This is how "Ki-Aï" is sometimes translated. But here, rather than the sound expression of a Kime, it's the spirit of the two actors that must melt and unite, so that the form is global, attacker and defender becoming one entity.

This is why Torite work presents itself best when practiced by two habitual training partners, who have managed to achieve this communion of spirit enabling the near-perfect gesture in complete harmony, in the ideal rhythm.

It's no coincidence that this form of practice is part of the Sandan (3rd Dan) test in traditional Karate, as practised in Shotokan OHSHIMA, for example. The "Sandan", beyond its purely technical aspects, is a key turning point in the practitioner's life, enabling him or her to reach "seniority". And this implies de facto that one can demonstrate a certain mastery of the parameters described above.

The form remains

If we focus solely on form, we quickly realize the benefits of kneeling. In addition to the natural strengthening of this essential joint, when the work is carried out correctly, gradually and of course without excess, it is in the hips that the most positive effect is seen.

Those who master their hip movements in a low stance (i.e. kneeling) will dramatically improve the same movement when working in a standing stance. We could even go so far as to say that only kneeling can lead to the right sensation in standing stance.