There are 5 ranges you must train in to be a complete martial artist.
In this video and article I will outline the 5 ranges, the tactics used in each range, and provide you with a drill to flow from range to range seamlessly.
The 5 Ranges to be a Compete Martial Artist
We are always looking demystify a fight to break it down scientifically and make preparing for it more effective.
To that end we must understand and train all 5 ranges of fighting. By distinguishing the 5 ranges we are able to systematize tactics and techniques and even goals by range.
But before we go any further… here are the 5 ranges to be a complete martial artist.
5 Ranges – Tactics
Projectile Range
Projectiles in the modern age in an urban area are primarily handguns.
When faced with a handgun or any firearm capable of causing instant damage from a distance or close it is imperative to know your options and how they apply to range.
If you are close enough to grab it a disarm is usually available.
If you roughly 12′ away give or take then you are usually safe to turn and run since most bad guys don’t train to be accurate in shooting.
In between is a bit of a gamble. You might need to negotiate yourself close enough to disarm or far enough to run.
Then let’s not forget what the attacker wants. In some cases it is best to be compliant – such as giving your wallet.
In other cases being compliant means doing something you are not willing to do and thus being competent in disarms is vital.
So projectile range is simply the range at which you are too far to disarm. If you carry a handgun and need to utilize a handgun this is the range you want to stay in.
Lunge Range
Lunge range puts you just outside of reach of your opponent. Either you or he must take a big step in order to reach with a strike or tackle.
This range gives you plenty of time to see the attack coming and you also have time to see the pattern and discern which strike it is.
This is great if you are a counter attacker but also great if you are agile and like to lunge strike. All you need to do is sell a fake as you step in and then your real attack will likely hit.
By staying in lunge range you can see an attacking coming and by the time it reaches sport range you can easily deal with it.
Sport Range
In sport range you and your opponent can reach each other with punches, kicks, and tackles without the need to step in.
This is a very dangerous range as our reaction time is worsened. We simply do not have the distance and time to process the angle of attack and make a correct reaction.
Now sure we can accurately react sometimes but when the situation starts going crazy even the pros start panicking and lucky knockouts happen at the highest levels of boxing and MMA.
Suffice to say it is fun to watch fights in this range because of the chaotic nature and lucky knockouts… but you sure wouldn’t want to be knocked out by accident would you?
So sport range is best avoided. In our system of Jeet Kune Do we typically enter from lunging range with a counter or a strike of our own, then we use a straight blast to keep our opponent flinching in sport range. Then we get past sport range into the next range – clenching range – ASAP where we finish the fight.
Clench or Trapping Range
This is jammed up tight to your opponent. Close enough to grab. You lose most of your kicks in this range but keep most of your strikes; especially close range ones like hooks and uppercuts as you see in boxing.
Once again due to the hectic nature and worsened reaction time of being this close we choose to clench someone up and keep them off balance so we can deliver fight-ending strikes while neutralizing our opponent’s attacks.
One of the best clenches in this range is the classic and proven Thai clench. Wrap both hands deep around the back of the neck or base of the occiput bone in the skull, keep your elbows tucked tight, and throw your opponent around while smashing them with strikes.
If you have a Judo or Greco-Roman background you will love this range… just learn to do strikes in addition to your takedowns.
Grappling Range
Quite simply you are on the ground with your opponent. In 1994 when UFC 1 exploded on the scene everyone was made aware of the power ground fighting. Brazilian Jujitsu gyms started opening up everywhere.
This is both good and bad of course depending on how you use it.
While BJJ and other grappling arts form the foundation of the positions, transitions, and holds that we utilize on the ground we still must always remember that they are sports. As such the tactics in these martial arts are built around rules which don’t apply in the street.
In a BJJ tournament no one will be punching you, a knife won’t come out, your opponent’s buddies won’t jump in and start stomping your head.
Having said that in our system of Jeet Kune Do we modify BJJ and other grappling arts with the idea that any of those things can happen so usually we look for the quick finish on the ground and try to get to our feet ASAP.
The 5 Ranges in Martial Arts Styles
A quick assessment of the martial arts world will see that the 5 ranges are often overlooked in a typical martial arts style as they tend to favor only 1 or 2 ranges:
- Grappling systems such as BJJ, wrestling Judo, etc. – Grappling and Clench Ranges
- Muay Thai – Sport Range and Clench Range
- Boxing – Sport Range, to some degree Lunging Range depending on the fighter’s style
- Tae Kwon Do – Lunging and Sport Ranges
- Karate & Kung Fu – Sport and maybe Clench Range
- Combative Handgun Training – typically just Projectile Range
- Escrima / Kali / similar knife / stick systems – Lunge, Sport and Clench Ranges but only with weapons
- MMA – the closest to combining all ranges they typically train Sport, Clench, and Grappling and depending on the fighter also Lunge Range
The above are of course generalizations as there certainly could be Kung Fu schools out there that train handgun disarms, Escrima schools that teach grappling, and other martial arts schools that transcend the limitations of the name of their style… but as a general rule the above is quite true.
Bruce Lee saw styles as limitations for that very reason which is why he created the concept of Jeet Kune Do – which contrary to how many view it – is not a style but an idea or concept of training in the best possible manner to deal with the situation you have at hand.
So whatever style you call yourself doesn’t matter. What matters is that YOU as the warrior are prepared to deal with violence of all threat levels in each of these ranges.
Enter our flow drill…
5 Ranges Flow Drill
The idea of a flow drill is to help you flow from range to range seamlessly… just like a real fight might happen.
Everyone’s idea of a street fight is basically a monkey dance from 2 guys at distance, then they enter from lunge range into sport range and a cool move is done that ends the fight.
In real life most social violence happens as a monkey dance at sport / clench range, a sucker punch either ends the fight or digresses it into a terrible clench takedown followed by a ground and pound. Or both fighters stay on their feet and flail around in sport range until a lucky punch ends the fight.
None of those options are acceptable tactics if you want to win the fight.
In anti-social violence we usually see violent ambush attacks happen in sport or clenching range. Sometimes a knife comes at someone from lunging or sport range. Often a handgun is drawn and fired in lunging range or sport ranges – if you can believe that!
So for the flow drill we will put you in a situation where you must quickly decide the correct tactic for each range. The speed at which you transition to the correct tactic is the most important attribute we are working on in this drill and similar ones.
Drill Summary
To get the techniques and detailed steps of this flow you must watch the video but here is a quick breakdown of the flow. Remember to transition from phase to phase without a break. I only break it into phases to help you read it easier but these are meant to be one long drill.
Phase 1 – Lunge to Clench Range
Goal: Practice defusing a situation (it doesn’t work in this case). Use distance and timing to create your entry, move safely through sport range to clench range and terminate your attacker.
- Start in Lunge Range – pretend you are trying to defuse an aggressor
- Create the entry of your choice – you can counter their attack or lunge in with your own
- Get past Sport Range ASAP into Clench Range and terminate the attacker
Phase 2 – Ground Range
Goal: Keep your cool, get to a better position on the ground to terminate that attacker. Get up ASAP.
- Now pretend a 2nd attacker tackled you to the ground and you are on your stomach with them on your back throwing punches (or going for a choke)
- Get to your back, hip thrust, overhook their arms, roll them and terminate them
- Get up ASAP – there is a 3rd attacker about to sucker punch you!
Phase 3 – Sport / Clench Range
Goal: Upon getting up already be in a position to block an ambush punch (normally a fight ender). Then terminate attacker.
- As soon as you get up – I mean immediately with no pause – a sucker punch attack happens
- Intercept it with a Flinch Spear, enter to Clench range and terminate how you choose
Phase 4 – Projectile Range
Goal: See the pattern of a weapon being pulled and instead of freezing get the hell outta Dodge ASAP.
- Just as soon as you terminate that previous opponent you look up and see someone pulling out a firearm
- Turn and run
- Try to put something that will block a bullet and/or view of you between your attacker and you: cars, corners of buildings, etc.
Final Thoughts
Drills like this put your martial arts skills to the test in a situation that is closer to real violence. They should be incorporated into your range isolation drills on a regular basis.
Until next time,
Brian
