There are three zones to be aware of in basic self-defense. The first zone is what we call “safe zone” or a distance that makes it very difficult for the opponent to successfully attack you without you having time to react. We don’t always have the luxury to be at that distance when a perpetrator tries to rob, attack or hurt us. In sport though, it is the fighter’s principle job to understand the control of distance and how to move easily in and out of “threat ranges”.
Obviously, the first zone is your safest zone to use verbal defense and/or run to safety. Remember, in self-defense, do not run and hide: run to as much public exposure as possible — even into the middle of a busy street!
The second territory is the middle zone and this is a distance much closer to the opponent than the “safe zone” yet still not touching. Imagine being about an arm and a half-length away from each other or so. Either one of you would have to lean, move or stretch to actually reach the other. This zone is one that’s used frequently in sport where the fighter can easily move away to the safe zone or inward to what I call “red zone”. This is the general working area for most defense minded martial artists.
Red zone, the third zone, is the one that requires immediate action. There is such a narrow distance between both people that there cannot be any hesitation. And, the defender must act instantly based on skill and instinct. Any delay in that zone could mean a devastating defeat to a deadly threat.
Work with a training partner and study how to understand and operate from these three distances. With time and effort, you will be able to flow freely from one to the other quite easily.
Keep training: keep training diligently!
