Whilst sparring most martial artists will 'square off' at about 4-5 feet away from each other and exchange a flurry of pulled punches and kicks. I like to refer to this as the 'imaginary distance' why? beacuse thats all it is, a figment of your imagination because there is no way a mugger is going to stand 5 feet away from you and make his demands. Lets face it if anybody is going to square up to you it will be close up, so close that you will probably be able to smell what he had for his breakfast. Thats where you will be fighting from and guess what? No room to throw that spinning kick to the head.

Its close quarters all the way im afraid people its where it happens whether you like it or not. If it's gonna 'kick off' you are going to need some NEW TOOLS IN YOUR TOOL BOX. In the combatives article i touched on close proximity techniques such as open hand strikes, headbutts, elbows, knees and low line kicking. Lets break it down and talk about the different stages of an unprovoked attack/mugging situation.

You're walking down the street, you decide to take that short cut down that dark alley beacuse it cuts a few minutes off your journey, you have got your IPOD playing your favourite dance track. You notice a couple of shady looking characters partly concealed in the shadows, you ignore them and walk on by trying to get home in time for neighbours or if your really sad the news (just kidding). All of a sudden one of them steps out in front of you 'HAVE YOU GOT A LIGHT' you dont hear him and proceed to take your ear phones out 'SORRY' he says again sniggering 'HAVE YOU GOT A LIGHT' and you dont notice his friend getting off to your blind side. Maybe he only wants a light or maybe its a little more sisnister, by now that 5 foot distance has disappeared like that weird magic guy David Blaine. He lunges towards you, now its time for an elbow shot or an open palm strike. A nice chin jab wont go a miss, open up your hand and strike up at a 45 degree angle and strike his chin with the heel of your palm as he staggers backwards lift your foot stright up without snapping it back and strike him in the groin. Now his mate has grabbed you from behind, turn into him and strike him in the groin with with the edge of your hand then lift your foot up and stomp down on his air max super trainer and dont forget to scrape down his shin bone with the heel of your shoe, boot or whatever your footwear happens to be. Dont stick around, do your best impression of Linford Christie and make a run for it. What no Jeann Claude Van Damme jumping back kick, im afraid not leave your leotards at home.

Other close quarter combat techniques to consider is a hammer fist or elbow shot, knees to the legs or midesection can always spoil somebody's day. These are the techniques you should train PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE because you know what they say about practice - it makes you perfect apparentley.

Stay Safe