4 ranges of combat.

Continuing with the same theme of universal law we come to the 4 ranges of combat in empty-hand fighting. When I say ranges, what I mean, is distance between you and your opponent. This distance needs to be measured. Measurement is a universal law that applies to everything in life. Measuring time, measuring space, carpenters measure, cooks measure etc. Everyday we measure something. Martial Arts is no exception, by measuring distance. How close can I be without getting hit? For anyone to answer that question, you will need a measuring device similar to the carpenter’s tape measure, or the cook’s measuring cup. We use our own body to measure distance.

There are different Martial Art styles that emphasis fighting in a certain range or a certain distance. Tae Kwon Do for example, if you watch a TKD tournament you will see 80 % of the techniques used will be kicks. Therefore TKD is primarily a long range fighting style.

There are 4 ranges: kicking, punching, trapping, and grappling.

Kicking range is measured by extending your front leg until your foot can reach your opponent. If you cannot reach them with a punch but you can reach them with a kick you are in kicking range, retreat 1 inch or more and you have just taken yourself out of kicking range. Advance closer until you can extend your arm and reach them with your fist and you have now entered punching range.

Every range has wiggle room, like one foot on a tape measure,  that foot is made up of inches. Straight line punches take more room to execute then hooks and uppercuts, so a straight line punch is at the long end of punching range. Once you get close enough to reach your opponent with your elbow, you have just left punching range and entered trapping range. This distance (trapping range) is a bridge between striking and grappling ie wrestling.  Grappling range is determined when both bodies of the opponents are pressed together, chest to chest, shoulder to shoulder etc. This would include ground fighting as well. These 4 ranges can be considered as one range that expands and contracts, breathing naturally from one range to another.

So the carpenter relates the 4 ranges to his tape measure, his level and other measuring devices and the cook relates the ranges to their measuring devices, this is the integration concept. IMHO anyone can relate what they do to the 4 ranges because it’s just measurement.

Looking at Martial Arts as a science, time, distance and space, one can eliminate discrimination, pitting one style is better then the other.  When stripping away the facade and removing the brand label ( the style) one can be liberated and free to understanding Universal Law thus understanding and relating to all styles.