In most martial arts we practice our techniques in "kata" form. A per arranged set of techniques chained together. While most of us know that karate has katas we don't really think of jiu-jitsu having katas but it does. Anything that has a preset series of attacks and counters is in essence a kata. Now some of you grapples / BJJ people are saying right now, "We don't have kata we drill!"... but you do! Drill is just another term for kata. While they may not be a long and as involved as a karate kata, they are kata none the less.
This kata style of training is great for the learning of techniques but can lack the realism of proper fight distance. This is OK for general training but we DO need to think about fight distance and practice it a bit to understand the affects it has on your self defence.
==>Fight Distance<==
Lets look at our options for fight distance below, and I have ranked them from best to worst:- Far - your attacker needs to take a full step forward to be able to hit you.
- Moderate - your attacker needs to take a shuffle or half step forward to be able to hit you.
- Close - your attacker is at arms reach and can reach you with a punch.
- Very close - Your attacker is half way between close and extreme.
- Extremely close (Chest to chest) - you and the other person are chest to chest with no space between you.
It's no surprise that 1 and 2 are the best for self defence. These distances are what we typically practice in our kata / drills. This is where we want to be is at all possible as it gives us the most reaction time.
Not 3, 4 and 5 are not where we want to be if we can at all avoid it. Now 3 and 4 are not too bad IF the fight has not all ready started BUT you never ever want to have somebody chest to chest with you (ie in your face). There just is NO reaction time at this stage.
In the video below I talk about how to maintain at least a level 4 distance, I also look at body language and hand position in a way that can help you avoid a fight rather than escalate it.
Now that you have thought a bit about distance it's time to practice your techniques at various distances. This will give you a good idea what techniques work at what distances and what don't.==>Fight Distance<==
Next week we will look at in close strikes. These are fight enders!
As always is you are looking for more great videos or to learn the wonderful art of jiu-jitsu please check out our web site at www.learn-jiu-jitsu-online.com. There you will our distance education program so you can learn jiu-jitsu anywhere at your own pace.
If you would like to repost this blog article or the videos with in you may do so but must include the following credit "The above information / video has been provide by Koketsu Kai - Tiger's Den Jiu-jitsu and Grappling and is used with their permission, www.tigersdenjiu-jitsu.com, www.learn-jiu-jitsu-online.com"
Cheers,
Jamie Rickard (Sensei)
Head Instructor
Koketsu Kai - Tiger's Den Jiu-jitsu and Grappling
Located at:
The Academy of Martial Arts
851 Princess Street
Kingston, Ontario
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