The Ranges of Jeet Kune Do

The Jeet Kune Do Range is the range in which all Jeet Kune Do practitioners want to begin their fight in.  It is the range in which neither person can hit each other with any type of strike without first moving toward each other.  We prefer to fight here because Jeet Kune Do means the way of intercepting, therefore our opponent has to move toward us to hit, and when the opponent moves toward us we can see their preparation earlier and can intercept them much easier.

Kicking range is the longest range, it is the range in which, most of the time, you may hit your opponent with your foot, but not with your hands.  But using selective kicks from Northern Shaolin Kung Fu, Southern Shaolin Kung Fu, Savate, Pananjakman, Sikaran, Wing Chun, and Thai Boxing, with select kicks one may hit with his feet in the hands range as well.

Boxing/Hand Range is the range in which your hands may be used to strike your opponent.  There is long hand range, and short hand range.  Long hand range incorporates a Boxing Jab, or Finger Jab, or Destructions.  Short hand range occurs when an opponent tries to draw his opponent in to use tight hooks and uppercuts, joint-locks, and nerve destructions.  Wing Chun specializes in short range punches.

Trapping Range is a Jeet Kune Do practitioner's favorite range because it is the range where sensitivity comes into play, which is where we concentrate most of our training on.  It is also the range in which all other arts have little or no training.  Trapping range is the range which you are close enough to immobilize your opponents arms, break their arms, perform nerve destructions, or head-butt, knee and elbow.  This is the most potent range in which one may land the most devastating blows a human can perform.

Grappling/Ground Fighting Range is the range in which you can throw, sweep, choke, joint lock, or immobilize your opponent.  This is the range used in Western Wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu and Judo.  90% of all fights end up on the ground, so it is important to learn how to fight on the ground.

Things to do:

1 - Always keep moving

2 - Be prepared for counters

3 - Develop cat-like movements

4 - Make your opponent fight your way

5 - Be aggressive; make your opponent think

Things not to do:

1 - Don't cross your legs

2 - Don't commit your arms too deeply

3 - Don't chase your opponent

4 - Don't rely on one takedown; be ready for other openings.

5 - Don't let your opponent circle you.