Defend Yourself - Knowing and Using the 5 Ranges in a Self Defense Situation!

Everybody and his brother seems to have their own "style" when it comes to teaching you how to defend yourself. But, the reality is that a real-world self defense situation is very different from a rule-laden, sport-oriented "fight."

This article describes the 5 different "ranges" or distances that you might find yourself in, relative to your attacker. You may have your own preferences and favorite techniques, but if you can't be effective at the range dictated by your assailant - you just might find yourself having the same fate as someone who hasn't learned anything at all!

I'm telling you this because my background is not limited to having earned a black belt in this or that martial art. My education in the "school of hard knocks" started when I was a kid growing up in the big city, and continued into my career as a former federal police officer, undercover investigator, and executive protection specialist.

Now, I'm not telling you these things to impress you. However, I AM telling you these things to impress upon you that my knowledge and perspective comes from years of having "been there," on the street - dealing with the same threats and dangers that you're trying to learn how to survive.

No belts. No "favorite techniques." No empty, unproven theory.

That being said, let's take a brief look at the 5 combat ranges in a real life, street self defense situation against an honest-to-God attacker who really wants to beat, break, or kill you.

Sound like something you'd like to be able to learn and use?

If not, perhaps you're reading the wrong article!

Before I outline these different distances, or ranges, it's important to understand that training with only one of them is not enough. And, it's also important to know that these ranges are not always something that you have control over, or choice in deciding.

Here's an example of range, or distancing, using several different self defense situations. Please notice that these situations are based on attack-type - NOT your style, favorite technique or strategy, or theory about what you "would, could, or should do" in any one of them.

If I am dealing with an unarmed assailant who's trying to punch, grab, or kick me, I have a greater choice as to distance relative to my attacker. But, if I'm up against an aggressor who's armed with a weapon, things begin to change.

If I am...

facing a knife-wielding attacker, ideally I'd like to be "too far" to get cut. But...
looking down the barrel of a gun, I need to be very close to my attacker. And...

If I'm the target of a sniper on a rooftop...

...I'd like to be visiting my friend in another town!

Can I choose a different range? Sure. But, if I want my self defense strategy to be the most effective, with the least amount of effort on my part, each of these is optimal for taking advantage of the weakness inherent in either...

My attacker's perspective
The effective range of the weapon, or...
The dynamics required by the weapon in order for the attacker to have maximum advantage.

Sound confusing?

I know it can seem to be, and I'd be lying if I said that self defense was easy - like so many salesmen in the world - online and off - trying to convince you that you can learn to be a deadly weapon in 30 seconds if you just learn this "one trick they learned in prison!"

I'll take a look at the reasoning behind the different ranges against weapons that I mentioned above in another article. But for now, let's take a look at the 5 general ranges or distances,as they relate to an unarmed situation, that you must be able to control - and operate in - if you are to able to consider yourself a self defense expert:

1) Too Far - This range is exactly what it means. You are outside the effective "reach" of the attacker and his chosen weapon.

2) Long Range - In an unarmed situation, this is kicking distance or one that requires the attacker to step in order to reach you.

3) Mid-Range - This is typically the distance where the attacker can punch or grab you without stepping to do so. Here, jabs, cross-punches, as-well-as single and double hand grabs are easy for both you and your opponent.

4) Close Range - This is the distance where techniques like elbows, knee strikes, and head butts are delivered. Your attacker might lead off with a shove from this distance to create more room for a different technique. Or, conversely, he might pull you into this range after having grabbed you from farther away.

5) Very-Close Range - This is the range where it can feel like there is nothing to be done. At this distance, we are wrapped around our attacker or enveloped by him. Body grabs like "bearhugs," wrestling take-downs, and other ground fighting positions fall into this category.

Contrary to the focus of different martial arts or fighting styles to choose one of these ranges over all the others - none of these ranges is more advantageous, or better than any of the others. Each has it's own strengths, weakness, power, and disadvantages.

The point is not knowing them, but rather to be able to insure that your self defense training includes techniques, tactics, and strategies for being able to be effective in each should you choose to, or find yourself in, any one of them.

Are you looking for more than just step-by-step techniques or being limited be a set self defense "style." Do you want to have the advantage over any attacker and be able to defend against, and survive any attack? How? By learning the critical lessons and skills that have been time-tested and proven to work in real-world self defense situations - against real-world attackers.

If you're serious about learning what it really takes to be able to defend yourself, then you should read my newest self defense book, "Fight Smarter - Not Harder!" It's free and available for immediate download at: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/street-fighting-self-defense-book.html.

Jeffrey M. Miller is an internationally-recognized self defense expert and the creator of the unique, EDR: Non-Martial Arts defensive Training System. Each month, Jeff teaches literally thousands of students - including private individuals, groups, and corporate employees and management - how to be safe in this often unsafe world. Jeff says, "If you're really serious about getting the training you need to be able to defend against and survive a real world attack, then I can teach you what you need to know to be able to defend yourself against any attacker - guaranteed!"