In Isshinryu, the chambering of the fist is considered a very important application of fist strikes, punches or thrusts. In reality that particular way of using the fists and arms violates the fundamental principles of martial systems. In other words, although this positioning is considered “Offensively Powerful” it is not “Defensively Sound.”
The chambered fist relies heavily on hip-waist-torso movement and the distance it travels to build momentum. Granted, if one applies such a technique along with other principles it does achieve a certain power but as to defense in reality, not so much. I have a few theories why this is so and why it is used in karate.
First, it is a novice teaching tool. It is designed to teach exactly what is being violated. It teaches us about the structure of the shoulder, arm as upper-lower-hinge joints-wrists, etc. along with the structure and alignment of the body as it relates to the Earth, the legs, the knees-hips-torso and so on. When you add in such things it does produce power but ….
The chambering requirement is not efficient in defense. It takes time to travel from that hip up to the target. Granted, when coupled with a lot of the principles along with the power generation produced through proper application of said principles it simply produces a “Tell” along with a “Tell from observation of attack hubs” that is just too much time for an adversary to take advantage.
When you begin to consider the nature of a true attack be it social or even asocial in nature (with all that goes with those two terms) you just don’t have time to use such a technique.
It is an excellent tool to teach about things like physiokinetics and techniques but when the concepts and principles are learned then it is time to actually implement proper application of techniques using the principles to maximize it use for defensive situations.
It is about using a better positioning of the arms and hands for defense. You can produce all the required and optimum power necessary by holding the arms and hands in a “Defensively Sound” position than chambering at the hips. At this position, held up and out/extended with hands, arms, etc. covering the upper torso, neck and head in a bladed position, attack position, where it can be applied after providing a defensive guard with power and speed and simplicity and natural action and reflexive action and centeredness and triangle guard, and structure and all the principles as taught, supposed to be taught anyway, in martial applications for defense.
See Marc MacYoung’s book, “Taking It to the Street: Making Your Martial Art Street Effective.” See page 120/121 for the “Wedge” for a view of how this applicable defensive posture is formed, looks and applied. The wedge deflects incoming force, see page 123/4.
Remember, a self-defense situation, if it goes physical, requires close in fast application of defense in about three moves or so to properly defend and stop an attack while maintaining the integrity of the SD Circle/Square.
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