The Four Ranges of Combat

Definition of range- Range is the relative distance between you and your opponent, in which certain techniques or attributes are most effective. For example, kicking range is the distance, which is most conducive for throwing fully extended kicks. Grappling range is the distance, which is best for grabbing, locking, choking, etc.

Simply put, range is the distance from your opponent. The concept of different ranges in a fight, is a fundamental principle in IshiDo, and is kind of like the canvas in which the artist paints. In other words, the ground work of a fight. If you know and understand how the ranges work, then you will be able to utilize the most appropriate attributes for the particular range that you are in.


Regardless of style, there are four combat ranges. kicking range, punching range, trapping range, and grappling range. Most martial artists only learn techniques that fit one, or two of these ranges, depending on their art. Regardless of what range an individual is proficient at, most martial artists assume they can fight, and finish, an encounter at their given range. This assumption more often then not is incorrect.


A couple of examples to illustrate this point are as follows. A tae kwon do student is taught that legs are stronger than arms. An opponent won't get past his kicks. With this way of thinking, the art teaches mostly kicks, and very few punches. (Note; at the Olympics, tae kwon do competitors don't even wear hand pads, because they don't punch at all). In sparring, they usually stay at long distance, and rarely do they close the gap. The effect of this type of training is that the student never puts the concept of keeping the fight at the kicking range, to the test.


This criticism is not limited to styles that stress long-range fighting. Western boxing is a great sport, however, if a grappler were able to get in on, and take a boxer to the ground, the boxer would be like a fish out of water.

Another interesting fact about boxers is that if they did land a punch in a street fight, they might very well injure their own hand. Due to the fact that boxers are so used to having their hands wrapped up as hard as cement. A lot of professional boxers do not know how to punch properly without that support. An example to support this theory, a few years back, former World Champion "Iron" Mike Tyson got into a fight on the street and broke his own wrist, and he didn't even knock his opponent out!


The essential point here is that there is no superior art! All systems of martial arts have their good points and their bad points. As Bruce lee observed, "there is a range in which wing Chun will counter boxing. There is a range where tai chi chuan will counter wing chun." Another note on ranges; each range has a particular attribute for that range. In other words, a skill that would make someone excel in that given range.

Tools

Tools Refer to natural weapons that your body has to offer, if you realize that you have them, and learn to use them.


When someone in involved in a self defense situation, usually they believe that they only
have their hands to defend themselves with. These people limit themselves drastically. The hands comprise only about 8% of the body's "tools'. Shown below is a list of "tools" that until now, you may not have known that you had, but you do! (Remember no limitations)!




1. Head

2. Teeth

3. Chin

4. Shoulders

5. Inner bicep

6. Inner forearm

7. Outer forearm

8. Elbows

9. Hands (there are more than 12 different sections of the hand that are used to strike with in Ishi-Do.)

10. Hip

11. Butt

12. Knees

13. Shins