We practice a model of four ranges:

 

1. The interview

The term was coined (to the best of our knowledge) by Ron Balicki of Jeet Kune Do. From a sports perspective it means the bow before a fight. However from a pragmatic perspective it means many more things including the initial contact, de-escalation and opportunity to escape

 

 

In bridging ranges one and two we may need to pre-emptively strike or we may need to reactively defend.

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2. Standing striking

The exchange of hand and leg strikes such as punches, knifehand strikes and kicks. Also associated defences and footwork.

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Bridging ranges two and three means closing the distance or seeking a hold

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3. Vertical grappling

Kissing distance, if you like. In Kickboxing this would be the clinch that the referee would seek to break. Pragmatically it involves the exchange of close-range strikes such as elbows, knees, short-range punches and headbutts. Chokes, strangles and joint locks factor in here.

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Bridging ranges three and four involves throwing and landing.

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4. Ground grappling

Fighting on the ground. Some people love this, some hate it. It is made famous by the Gracie family and their Brazilian Jiujitsu. Pragmatists will seek to stand lest they fall victim to attacks from other people. Sports people will usually stay here and seek pins, joint locks, chokes and strangles in order to win a bout

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We have several disciplines available to us and each one will emphasise different ranges according to the domain that they address. Some disciplines don't cover all of the domains. 

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It has to be stated that sports fights and self protection altercations are dynamic events that don't follow a set pattern. All of these ranges may be covered or just one. They won't necessarily go in order and can move through all domains in varying sequence.