Chambering: What's your rationale?

**Little Idea** · Posted On: 2/17/2003 4:59pm

Wing Chun 'blocks' is an oxymoron.

In my training 'chambering' serves several purposes, none of which is directly related to punching per se.

Chambering both arms simultaneously can be used to stretch and open up the chest to balance the effects of the training as most of the motions will tend to compress the chest in towards itself.

Another reason for chambering, at least in Wing Tsun training, is a number of drills, especially in the early training, are done with only one hand at a time. So what are you going to do with the other hand?

Chambering is the classical way to hold the arm. Its just a way to consciously control that arm while the other is working on a drill.

That being said, once the drills are two handed, or engaged in fighting, the elbows should never be behind the plane of the body.

'Punching' from a chamber and/or returning to a chamber is not part of the fighting tactics or strategy.

**Stold2** · Posted On: 2/17/2003 7:40pm

A karate chamber and a wing chun chamber serve two completely different purposes and are also executed very differently.

You know what I mean when I said blocks. If you were to punch from a karate chamber towards someones face it has a very similar movement to the bil sao.

**CrimsonTiger** · Posted On: 2/18/2003 11:35am

If you even beging to think a karate chamber is supposed to be done exactly as you learned it as a whitebelt, you've already missed the point.

There are many possible justifications for it, so we're not going to run through them all now. Simply put, if you train to do a large motion quickly and with power, then you can do the small, economic motion even quicker and more powerful. It's not the only way to train this, but it does work. Martial arts is an evolution, just think and adapt.

Regards,
CrimsonTiger

"You kicked me in the HEAD! You NEVER throw kicks! How'd you do that? Wires?!" - Sempai Phil (my last sparring partner)

**PizDoff** · Posted On: 2/20/2003 12:44pm

the "bil sao"

wtf is this bil you speak of, i believe it is biu

--

Let me introduce you to my friends: Hand, Elbow and Knee.

**Stold2** · Posted On: 2/20/2003 2:22pm

no, bil sao. block with the outer part of the arm.

**PizDoff** · Posted On: 2/21/2003 6:47pm

er, my Cantonese is crap....

--

Let me introduce you to my friends: Hand, Elbow and Knee.

**Sicilian Dragon** · Posted On: 2/21/2003 7:46pm

I don't think anyone has given one good reason to chamber so far.

Boyd, you can accomplish the destruction that you discussed without actually bringing the fist all the way into the chamber. By chambering in the situation you describe you are reducing your ability to strike and defend with the chambered hand because it now needs to cover more distance -you have effectively (and needlessly) dropped your guard right when your opponent is on top of you & you have the least amount of time to react.

How many of you actually chamber your punches when you spar ?

**gong sau** · Posted On: 2/21/2003 7:57pm

Biu, bil. Same diff. Just a different romanization.

**PizDoff** · Posted On: 2/23/2003 8:02am

"How many of you actually chamber your punches when you spar ?"

not sure, though i'd believe i do do some of it

--

Let me introduce you to my friends: Hand, Elbow and Knee.

**Omar** · Posted On: 2/26/2003 4:40pm

Two things about chambering:

1. Often you have opportunities to punch from a chambered position with out 'chambering'. If both hands are relatively forward, when you punch with your left, your right will pull back to protect your face. It is now chambered for a right cross. When you punch with one hand pulling the other hand back adds power to the hand going out.

2. Many chambering mortions should be properly interpreted as grabbing and pulling.

BAH ! Puny Humans !