The notion of distance is fundamental to any discipline involving contact, whether in combat sports, martial arts or self defense.
However, too many people do not train at real distance, for a variety of reasons.
But if you want to be efficient on the big day, you have to make sure you fix that mistake every time you train.
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Being able to estimate distances is key
Unlike combat sports where the issue is less prevalent, traditional martial arts have developed a specific working distance.
In order to achieve perfect technique, which is an ideal of traditional martial arts, the blows are very rare and usually stop a few centimeters before touching, which already proves a certain level of mastery.
But in self defense the opposite applies since blows must hit the target at all costs. Having a perfect technique is not a priority, it is the efficiency of the blow that prevails.
Learners who have already practiced traditional martial arts often find it difficult to make the switch to self defense, because inhibitions have been built up unconsciously over the years. It is thus necessary to reset the meter to zero and to force oneself to hit the target for real.
But hitting does not necessarily mean hurting! The blows must not cause any damage during training!
To meet this objective, it is essential to correct the working distances which may be completely wrong.
In traditional martial arts, the working distances are long, and the trainee usually has to take a large step forward before landing his blow in an often linear fashion.
It is therefore advisable, in addition to force oneself to hit the target, to reconsider one’s eye and position in such a way that the practitioner does not arrive with stretched arm at the impact, but with a “reserve”, that is to say with enough amplitude to inflict damage if the movement is carried out to the end. If you have some “reserve” left to push your partner when you reach the contact, then you are working at the right distance.
Self defense training sessions being radically different from martial arts ones, it is advisable to make up your mind as soon as possible in order not to create a parasitic conditioning which could taint the practice of one or the other discipline. It is indeed very complicated to switch from martial arts to self defense except perhaps after many years of practice.
In any case, making the transition is not a piece of cake.
Overcome the fear of contact helps you become much more efficient
Beginners may also find it difficult to hit, mostly because they have no previous experience of martial arts or combat sports, which is why they are afraid of hurting their partners.
This is perfectly legitimate when you are not yet familiar with your body and its limits. That being said, it is important to overcome these hesitations as quickly as possible in order not to remain stuck in the long run.
Indeed, do not wait until you have a black belt to start working seriously!
Training is not meant to relax, but there is no place for gratuitous brutality either! It is rather a moment to help each other, each one evolving by himself by memorizing the exercises but also thanks to his partner who “commits” to play along, by hitting his targets although without too much power. Here again, hitting your targets requires you to be at the right distance!
It is crucial to understand that the automatism acquired in the gym will determine how efficient you’ll be in real life. If you train yourself to stop your punches before they hit, at a wrong fighting distance and without reserve, chances are high that these automatisms will serve you badly in the street.
