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April 20, 1998

Chambered Hand

Chambered hand. The chambering hand lends 50% of the power to the techniques of striking or blocking. The force used to draw back the elbow complements the movement 50%. The term 50/50 capsulizes the theory. Once chambered the elbow is straight back, not winging out, a common error. Also the hand is slightly lower than the elbow in the chambered position, not higher toward the armpit or lower toward the waistline. The maximum tension and release principal applies without sacrificing the fully chambered position. There is no "bounce" in the chambering. This is a most basic principal. Arigato, Kyoshi Robert Scaglione.