... Over time, the experienced karateka no longer needs the larger more pronounced movement, but is able to achieve the same power with a more abbreviated motion.
... Okinowan karate also utilizes different effective ranges for fighting. The Japanese focus on the long range, where as Okinowans focus on a much closer fighting distance and close in techniques.
...
These couple of observations are rather on point, I'd think.
Closer and tighter entanglements can involve some less "linear", more curved lines, performed within tighter distances, as well.
The traditional Japanese do love their larger, longer and more linear movements, until you see the same techniques compressed for distance. It's much the same in many of the Chinese arts, where longer distances can allow longer, more pronounced movement, but shorter distances tighten and compact the same movements into shorter lines and arcs.
Chambering a fist to be use from the hip to the armpit, can favor the slower aggregation of power and synergism of postural balance, bringing some impetus from engaging and locking the back leg, hips and upper torso into a moment's focused delivery ... and it looks pretty ... but is it necessary? How much "power" is enough, and when is speed and a tighter movement, produced within a shorter span, sufficient for the needs of the moment? After all, being able to deliver "sufficient" power within a greatly reduced distance (1"-3" punch?), including done by a leading hand, is a practical and handy technique to master.
For that matter, ditto the delivery of an elbow. The longer wind up and delivery arc of some of the more traditional styles can certainly work, but so too, can the faster and harder-to-defend-against leading elbows of a Muay Thai fighter. Sometimes "enough" power generation and delivery is ... enough ... and if it can be delivered more quickly, with less "delivery" time and movement being necessary? What's not to find useful?
Long (slower) vs. short (faster). The same attributes can be found in some older arts like some of the Dragon and Crane variations. Early training involves long forms, and as training progresses (or students are determined to be ready), may techniques and forms become tighter, less "flowery", more compact and compressed in both time & distance of execution. Tighter, shorter curves can sometimes be mistaken for straight lines, too, to the less trained eyes.
To the perennial question of why the fist is chambered at the hip/armpit, and delivered with maximum distance being involved? I always suspected that some practitioners secretly liked the way they could make their gi's loudly snap.
