Northwest Fighting Arts
1200 SE Morrison St. Portland, OR 97214
In Muay Thai training it is important to understand how to effectively use all three ranges of combat. Long range, middle range and close range refer to the distance between you and your opponent. There is also your safe range this refers to the distance as well. What it means is that your opponent cannot reach you with any strike without stepping or jumping towards you. It is important to understand how to effectively use these four ranges and what offensive and defensive tools are effective in each range. Some fighters will specialize or adopt a fighting style that strongly uses one range more than the others. This will sometimes help them win some amateur fights, but taking this short cut and not understanding and getting good in all ranges will not be good when you are faced with a well-rounded professional fighter.
Long range fighting in Muay Thai training utilizes kicks, kick defense, rhythm, faints/fakes and foot work. Long and short foot jabs, sidekicks, round kicks, back kicks, spinning back kicks and jumping kicks are some of the techniques used in this area of Muay Thai training. To use punching techniques in this range you must first step forward. The purpose of kicks in this range is, of course, to land the strike, but can also be used to bridge the gap while moving in to attack or keeping your opponent off as you are transitioning back to your safe range.
Middle range techniques in Muay Thai training focuses on the punching, knees, knee kicks and kicking. This range is good for delivering many combo variations. There are many tools that can be used and endless possibilities for attacks and counters. This range is also used to gather information you will see how your opponent responds under pressure. Will he tie you up in the clinch? Come back with a flurry? Work counters effectively? Or step out to safe range? These are all things that will help you with your fight strategy. Keep in mind that a fighter’s response can change from moment to moment. Sometimes he may respond different just to throw you off; make you think he likes one way of doing things only to come back at you with something else.
The last range of Muay Thai training we will look at is close range. In close range a fighter can use hooks, uppercuts, elbow techniques and knees. When you are in this range you have to be active delivering strikes there is no time to rest in this range. After a flurry in this range the fight will either back out to middle or long range or close in to the clinch. In the clinch the fighter will work to keep the opponent off balance while he is delivering knees, elbows, punches or works sweeps and throws.
By Jeff Patterson 8/1/09