As a martial artist, there are many different ranges (distances) to consider, each with its own protocols.
You may be able to dictate the range, or it may be dictated to you. Ideally you’ll be comfortable operating in all ranges, so you can move freely between whichever ranges suit you best at the time, to maximise your own effectiveness and minimise the power of your adversary.
Broadly speaking, this is a rough approximation of the main fighting ranges, starting with longest range first:
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Remote & unconventional warfare range – No matter how far you travel, you’re unlikely to find & face the source of these sneaky threats head-on. This range covers proxy forces including mercenaries and remote technologies (drones, guided missiles, etc) as well as discreet poisons and other intangible or untraceable assaults.
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Canon, tank & sniper range – Long-distance unguided munitions, usually with scope-assisted vision. Generally needs direct line of sight or at least a clear sagittal arc.
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Hand-held overt projectile weapons range – For guns without enhanced optics, bow & arrow, javelin (throwing spear), shuriken (throwing stars & darts), grenades, etc.
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Long-spear & long-pole range – The longest handheld sticks that you don’t throw away. Includes the Luk-Dim-Boon-Gwan long pole, and long quarterstaffs.
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Long-sword range – Includes Bo staff and Jo staff range.
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Machete & short-sword range – This is also nunchaku range, short-spear range and bayonet range. Includes the Bart-Cham-Dao butterfly knives.
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Contactless stand-off minimum range – You can’t reach them from here without stepping, unless you both extend your lead hand at the same time, or unless you have a weapon to extend your reach. This includes wrist-reaching range for short-knife work, and quick-kill range for long-knife work. This is a good range for one-step drills, to train our main initial blocks & counters from non-contact positions.
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Pendulum jabbing & kicking range – You won’t need to step to reach them, but you will need to close the gap a bit in order to deliver your most powerful punches. This is quick-kill range for short-knife work.
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Sticky hands range – Powerful punches can be delivered by leaning or stepping in a bit. This is also the most distant range of sustained-contact grappling. From this range we train moves like Bong Sau, Tan Sau, Fook Sau and Wu Sau which are mainly employed from prior contact positions.
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Power-punching range – At this range, you can deliver your most powerful punches without needing any extra time or space to set them up.
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Elbow-striking range – You’ll need to make a bit more space in order to throw powerful punches from here. Some heavy shoulder barges work well from this distance.
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Tight-clinching & headbutt range – This is when you’re being held so tight that even your elbows are too smothered to land cleanly unless you make extra space first. But you may still be able to deliver a good headbutt, footstomp or eye gouge from this range. A short, sharp shoulder bump may also be possible. This is also prime territory for implementing Judo / Shuai Jiao and similar such close-range grappling skills.
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Meditation range – Zero distance from your body. Consider what inner work you can do, to improve your performance in a fight or self-defence scenario. Training for more patience & calmness, better awareness & adaptation, less hostility & provocation, etc.
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Self-Assessment Questionnaire
- Which of these ranges are you most comfortable in?
- Which of these ranges are you most likely to surprise & overwhelm your adversary in?
- Which of these ranges are you least comfortable fighting from?
- Which of these ranges are you most in need of extra training for?
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