Range and Distance - MMA fighting in Schaumburg, Aurora, Naperville, Merrillville IN,

Earlier, we talked about the inadequacies of range as the basis for a complete theory of combat. Range proved to be seriously incomplete, as it did not pertain to the clinch or ground phases of combat. This does not mean that range and distance are irrelevant or unimportant in combat. In the free-movement phase of combat, range and distance are crucial concepts. When two fighters square off, there is always a distance between them. This distance or range varies as the two fighters move around each to her and attempt to launch attacks. Controlling and policing that distance is a crucial combat skill that often determines the course of the fight int he free movement phase.

The problem, however, is that the major theories of range and distance have not proven useful in actual MMA competition. We saw that certain theories of range define the use of range via technique. For example, there is the kicking range, punching range, elbow range, and so on. Actual experience, however has clearly shown that once two fighters are close enough tot hit each other with any form of offensive technique, it is useless to talk of a given range as being appropriate only for one category of techniques.

Consider the knee strike. Most people think of the knee as a close- range weapon, yet one of the  most successful means of knockout victories in MMA is the flying knee strike, which launches from long range. The free-standing knee strike has also been used successfully by fighters. They strike at each other at what appears to be punching range. In addition, knee strikes are used with great success in all the variations of the clinch and indeed, on the ground as well. You can clearly see, then, that it is pure folly to talk about a range that is suitable for only the knee strike, since experience shows the ease toward the need for a new theory of range, one that can be of use in a real fight and that is in accord with the observable facts seen in MMA competition.

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