Combat Ranges

Most martial artists consider only 3 ranges of combat:

  1. Weapons Range
  2. Hand & Foot Range
  3. Grappling Range

The San Do Kuen Martial Arts System includes a more detailed perspective on the ranges of combat.  We explore 12 total ranges of combat with a focus on stick (long blade) and dagger (short blade) range.

Weapons Fighting Ranges

In our weapons fighting program, SDK recognizes and trains in three distinct ranges of combat.

  • Long Weapons Range

Staff and spear fighting develops balance and helps practitioners project power far beyond their center of gravity.  Techniques in this range also develop strength in the wrists and shoulders.

  • Long Blade Range

Sword & stick fighting range training develops speed and alive hand accuracy.  Long blade range also helps refine the awareness of forehand vs. backhand attacks, and slashes vs stabbing attacks.

  • Short Blade Range

Knife & dagger fighting range requires the most speed and accuracy of all the fighting ranges and has almost unlimited applications in the empty hand ranges as well.

Weapons Fighting Ranges:  Points of Engagement

Beyond the simple concept of the three main ranges of weapons combat San Do Kuen training requires a more detailed look at the points of engagement at all three ranges.

I.  Long Weapons Range (staff, spear)

  1. Standard Grip:  This range is defined by a grip that places  1/3 of the weapon to the left of the left hand, 1/3 of the weapon to the center  of the grip and places 1/3 of the weapon to the right of the right hand.  This is the most common grip in Okinawan an Japanese martial arts.
  2. 1/3 Grip:  This grip position is when the rear hand grips the end of the weapon and the lead hand is 1/3 from the end of the weapon.  This grip utilizes the length of the weapon and is more common in Chinese martial arts.

II.  Long Blade Range (sword, machete, stick)

There are three points of engagement for this range and they are defined by the distance between opponent’s as measured by the length of the stick or blade.

  1. 2 Weapon Lengths:  At this distance, the primary target are the hands, arms and knees.
  2. 1 Weapon Length: This is the most complex range with the most diverse amount of technique.
  3. 1/2 Weapon Length:  Close range fighting with a stick involves punyo striking.

III.  Short Blade Range (knife, dagger)

Short blade fighting also includes the additional ranges or points of engagement.

  1. 2 Arms Lengths:  Strikes target the hand and arms at this point of engagement.
  2. 1 Arm Length: This is the most complex range with the most diverse amount of technique.
  3. 1/2 Arm Length:  At this point in short blade combat the reverse grip is a useful tool and the blocking techniques must be aggressive.

Hand & Foot Fighting Ranges

In hand & foot  fighting, SDK recognizes and trains in four ranges of combat:

  1. Kicking Range
  2. Punching Range
  3. Elbow & Standing Grappling Range
  4. Floor Grappling Range

  • Kicking Range

This range is defined by a distance of 2 arms lengths between opponents.

  • Punching Range

Punching range is defined by a distance of 1 arm’s length between opponents.

  • Elbow & Standing Grappling Range

This range is defined by a distance of 1/2 an arms length between opponents.

  • Floor Grappling Range

The Sand Do Kuen Martial Arts system does not teach “ground and pound” style technique for sport applications.  Our program focuses on controlling the ground range in order to get back into the stand-up position.