5 ranges of combat

[Siegfried]

In my method of combat I use 5 ranges in conjunction with JKD five ways of attack. The ranges include: mental range, kicking range, boxing range, trapping range, grappling range. FOR INSTANTCE, I can stay within the mental range and disrupt my opponent's mind then, if necessary, move to the kicking range, then boxing, if he blocks my punch-trapping, then finish him with a grappling move. Most people I talk to don't even recognize the mental range of combat.

I just was wandering what you people thought of this. Do you think it is rediculous, it might work, or just slightly interesting, etc.? Or, is it similar to your views on the various ranges of combat? I'd just like to know what you think.

[robertlee]

range of combat depends on where you are at. Open space can help maintain the range for a while . But it is hard to keep that range. I see your mental range as an outside range keeping at bay. Wont last in most fights. All ranges are mental also as you must think and do. Inside a bar punching and grappling low kicks maybe crowded areas call for different tools. The more you have to move to respond things become less effective. And once someone gets in the range your trying to maintain that range has to react or be sat back Its not that hard to take the kicking range away Most average punchers can do this. I guess it may be easyer to say the range you are stronger in is the one you try to stay with then work the others to gain entry to that range or recover back to it. Do not know if this made sence or not . But the mental range is befor the fight during the fight and the sizing up of whats to come. Kina boils down to kicking punching and ground fighting. trapping is a by product to punch or grapple

[Siegfried]

Yes, the range definately does depend on where you are at. Also, by mental range I meant pshycologically defeating the opponent and destroying his fighting spirit, if at all possible(before the fight), to make the rest of the fight all the more easy to deal with.

Personally, I would never try to maintain any specific range, this is all completely dictated by the environment of the fight plus the action or inaction of the opponent.

So what you are saying is that the mental range of attack is constant during a fight, and not just before. Hmm... that point demands serious thought. Also, thankyou for responding.

[pcarney]

Jackass response - I often use the mental range to crush my opponents throat from across the room. That'll teach them to diss the Force.

Non- Jackass response- good point about the mental aspect. I do think its something that occurs throughout the fight, but is especially important in the beginning of a conflict. If you can simply 'psyche' a potential opponent out, you can avoid the fight altogether.
However, when a fight is inevitable, being able to scare your opponet, stare them down, etc, is a great advantage.

[ryanhall]

Non- Jackass response- good point about the mental aspect. I do think its something that occurs throughout the fight, but is especially important in the beginning of a conflict. If you can simply 'psyche' a potential opponent out, you can avoid the fight altogether.

Psyching out an opponent is all well and good if you are that intimidating and they are not. However, staring someone down or talking sh!t are about the #s 1 and 2 dumbest things you can ever do. Without a doubt, you are provoking a fight. This is obvious to you, the guy you are trying to intimidate, and every bystander within range of sight/hearing.

1) You don't stare people down or talk shit because you don't ever know who you are dealing with. You may think you are one bad mother f$uker, but they just may be a little badder. Appearance isn't everything.

2) You are giving up your alibi. When you start telling someone the bad things that you will do to them if they mess with you, you void the victim status in the eyes of the law in a lot of cases. Bystanders see YOU as the aggressor when things go down, even if you were only trying to avoid a conflict. You would be much better off having your hands up in front of your face palms outward (like a total wuss) and apologizing for inconveniencing/looking at girlfriend/pissing off the person. This works because it makes you look submissive, weak, and like the victim in the eyes of any witness (means a lot to the cops). Not to mention, you can deliver LOTS of sucker punches from that position without telegraphing your intention.

3) You basically give up the ability to sucker punch someone effectively. The idea of acting submissive is to make sure that you don't embarass the assailant in the eyes of people he respects--that will ALWAYS bring a fight--and to set him up for an easy 1st shot. When you go chest out and cursing like a sailor, you let him know what you are all about, rather than being a sneaky b!tch and knocking him out when he doesn't know it's coming. Hitting first and solidly will save you in a lot of situations that you would not have otherwise have been able to fight your way out of.

Sorry about the long post, but I am serious guys. You stare talk shit, and you deserve what you get when you run into a real badass.

Ryan

[robertlee]

real mental aspect is the thinking fighter not the talker. If you can not stop the fight in a proper way you still have to be a thinker mental should be thinking. Or just a safety range to begin with.

[pcarney]

hmm...my first post came out a bit wrong. (how often you see someone admit that on a forum, eh?)

I do think, however, that, in a potential violent situation, it does pay to show confidence.

[Siegfried]

If I where to attack someone mentally(I wouldn't talk shit) I would make them angry and loose there cool so that they cannot concentrate on the fight, in the back of their mind they'll be thinking "I can't believe this jackass, why isn't he acting like this fight is a big deal?" Then before they know it I've already taken the upper hand.

Example: acting as if you don't care at all about the fact that they want to pound you into the ground, this can either piss them off really bad or they may "catch the mood" per se become unattentive to what is before them(me ready strike them down).
In other words to their eyes I don't really care about the fight(yet it is the exact opposite) then unitentionally they will feel as if they don't care much either. After I see that "lag" in fighting spirit(absolute need to defeat your opponent no matter what) I will attack and defeat him.

Anyway, its worked before!

[BlackMaskX]

I think "ranges" overlap . . .

Great post Ryan.

BTW, tukong moosul is actually based around the "range theory" or "distance theory," according to their website. I don't really know much about it but am curious, if anybody knows anything about it.

As far as the ranges go, I don't think that they should be sharply divided because I think they overlap, depending on the situation. A punch, for example, may or may not work depending on the position you or the other person is in. If the other guy is leaning over for some reason, it might connect, but if he is isn't, it won't connect fully. Sorry, I'm in a hurry and I know I'm not explaining myself very well.

As for the mental range, I think it covers all distances at all times, and is the most important aspect of self-defense.

[robertlee]

If your mental aspect is to piss them off or disrespect them then it may work on the people that dont have the tools to back up there fight but the fighter thats been around well he will just go a little harder at you to get the job done or more. Or take a good step back and pop a cap in you. real streets can get hard. Do not think that attitude will win the fight. It is just a part of the fight. A good fighter out works his opponent out thinks his opponent. And sometimes just gets lucky. For every fight that you may win there will be many that will take you. Learn to fight not to fight. Than you will fight as you must ,not as something to prove . Do that in the ring. You will live longer and become a better m/a. As you will see more 18 thats your age isnt it. I had my share of fights when I was younger to . We find out we do not allways have to prove our self. Then we only fight if we must. Think about it

[Siegfried]

I guess I have been fighting just to prove to myself that I can. Then, so what you are saying roberlee is to only fight if you must, and only go looking for a fight in competion(tournements, etc.)

Makes sense

[MDVaughn]

I think that the mentality of being comfortable with the mentality range that you specified is important. You will always learn more from fights you lose. Because you will anaylize it more.(in my opinion). I agree with you the fear or rage part of a fight is very important. If you got pee wee herman in front of you pissed off because you bumped into him well thats one thing. On thee other hand if you have hulk hogan in front of you pissed off cause you bumped into him your mentaliy has to change. I think one thing you should take in consideration in this mental range as you call it is the ability to read people and there body language. You can tell by the tone of there voice usually what actions they may take. If you can read that i think you might have an advantage in that range before the fight even begins. However with the way the law is today i would recommend to try to avoid the fight first. Then if you have to fight get it over with quick and then run!!!!
I have learned this the hard way.

Nice Post

Mike Vaughn

[Ryu (JKD?)]

Very good, Ryan You always steal my thoughts before I post them!

Just to add... There's a fine line between being confidently non-threatening, and appearing scared (acting scared can be seen as an invite to the opponent to sucker punch you However, it can be used to sometimes "draw" the opponent into you so to speak and launch your attack when he's completely overconfident)

In order to find that line, practice a lot of full contact scenario drills.

Ryu

[ryanhall]

Thanks, Ryu.

Just to add... There's a fine line between being confidently non-threatening, and appearing scared (acting scared can be seen as an invite to the opponent to sucker punch you However, it can be used to sometimes "draw" the opponent into you so to speak and launch your attack when he's completely overconfident)

Right on point as usual. Posture, expression, tone, and demeanor are all dependent on the situation (who you are dealing with, what you think their feelings to be, their size, their intent, etc.). Same thing goes for deescalating in general. Trying to talk someone down when they are already throwing is just as useless and potentially dangerous as getting into a fighting stance when someone bumps into you and gets a little angry.

In order to find that line, practice a lot of full contact scenario drills.

Gotta be able to bring knowledge into play, and full contact scenarios are a great way to develop skills/sensitivity to changing situations. Keep things "alive."

[crazyjoe380]

so you are saying you can mentaly screw someone? explain please..

no dis, just asking cause it sounds like your talking about mixed martial arts with some street rules. (meaning no rules. your nuts are the target)

you giving it a good marketing approach though! very cool for those trying to find martial arts and are novice in it.

it's like

COME AND TRAIN THE 5 FISTS OF SHOALIN! BLA BLA..


It attracts people..


good marketing ...good marketing...