When chambering in karate it is taught that a certain position is assumed such as when chambering the fist, i.e. placing the fist at the hip/waist. What I would pose as a question is this, "Why chamber?"
We chamber the fist and other parts as a teaching tool. If we adhere to fundamental principles of martial systems as we progress, i.e. learning both is a fundamental basics learning process of martial arts, we will find that chambering is not adhering to proper principles. In a nutshell it violates "economy of motion."
All of the martial arts must have some basic fundamental positioning to teach proper principles. When a person has learned them and starts to incorporate them all in practice and training there is a "change" that occurs. This change is explained in the "shu-ha-ri" principles of martial arts. To achieve proficiency and efficiency and power, etc. a martial artists must graduate from novice level thinking and training and actions.
Chambering is a process of learning that is transcended as progress is achieved. It is allowing the natural way of the body, mind and spirit to achieve and exceed the basic fundamentals of teaching, learning and practicing.
Watch a fight, watch a match such as boxing or MMA, etc. and watch any kumite session be it for sport or self-defense. No one chambers once things begin to move. It is a teaching tool and it helps one to achieve proper application of principles.
Note: Chambering violates the principles of Efficiency, power paradox, simplicity, natural action, economical motion, speed, unnatural motion, etc. and this leads to bad technique of techniques, another principle, but is necessary to teach these and to promote proper alignment, proper structure and to teach us other principles directly and indirectly.
Note: Chambering gives a practitioner a false sense of power as they assume in many cases that the travel from the hip, up and into a target is where power is achieved. Chambering does teach you about the rising punch but that punch or strike does not need to come from the chamber position to achieve its goals.
Note: The chamber and rising action to a target teaches us to align the hand to wrist to forearm to elbow to upper arm to shoulder then all the sequential actions that contribute to the proper strike/punch but to achieve power and economical motion contributing to speed the real power must come from the movement of your mass as it contributes to power applied in a punch/strike, etc. Simplistic but enough to get you looking at principles and leave chambering behind when the training level reaches a certain point.
Note: Another way to look at chambering is to think of the enbusen line. The line has a start point and the line has an end point. Where the comparison diverges is the enbusen line is rigid and fixed especially as to start and end points while chambering has start and end points that are fluid. In the fight, self-defense, you don't want to waste time always returning to one fixed point, i.e. for the fist the hips/waist, but want the chamber to exist where ever your fists or feet are in relation to that fight, the present moment of the fight/self-defense. It involves additional principles as to applying techniques, tactics and strategies so that you follow principles to lengthen your line and reach your goal in the fight/self-defense. A fight, self-defense, predatory violence and combatives do not have the luxury of allowing time to achieve rigid, set and predetermined positions such as chambering to the waist or setting your "kamae" to specific starting points or ending points - there are no set points to start and end a fight, etc. Just the way it is.
Note: Another way to look at chambering is to think of the enbusen line. The line has a start point and the line has an end point. Where the comparison diverges is the enbusen line is rigid and fixed especially as to start and end points while chambering has start and end points that are fluid. In the fight, self-defense, you don't want to waste time always returning to one fixed point, i.e. for the fist the hips/waist, but want the chamber to exist where ever your fists or feet are in relation to that fight, the present moment of the fight/self-defense. It involves additional principles as to applying techniques, tactics and strategies so that you follow principles to lengthen your line and reach your goal in the fight/self-defense. A fight, self-defense, predatory violence and combatives do not have the luxury of allowing time to achieve rigid, set and predetermined positions such as chambering to the waist or setting your "kamae" to specific starting points or ending points - there are no set points to start and end a fight, etc. Just the way it is.
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