Most modern day combative systems focus on four primary fighting ranges. Range One would be the outside striking range, this range utilizes fully extended limbs when punching, kicking or when armed with an impact or edged weapon.

The second range, often referred to as "Range Two" focuses on close range stand up striking such as knees, elbows, headbutts and inside punching.

Range Three is the stand up grappling range. This is the range where two combatants push, throw, grab and strike while holding on to each other. The forth range is ground fighting. This range can be used in combat sports such as in mixed martial arts competitions as well as in the street (dirty grappling).

In the C.U.M.A Tactical Street Defense system, we do train in all four ranges. We call this part of the program the A.R.C (All Range Combat). A class on A.R.C. will focus on what is known as the self defense flow (SDF) check points.

Check point one would be a Range One SDF from the first evasion or block to the take down of the attacker. The second check point would have the first SDF fail and move the attacker into the second range and this point the defender must apply a Range Two SDF until the attacker is down or subdued.

Range Three and four work the same way, each SDF has a successful check point and then a failure. The ultimate goal in A.R.C. training is to start at Range One, proceed to Range Two, Three and Four then fight your way back to Range One. The average A.R.C. SDF drill will contain a minimum of four dynamic combinations before returning the first range.

C.U.M.A (Combined Universal Martial Applications) practitioners are tested on the A.R.C by both armed and unarmed assailants. The risk of obtaining bodily harm defending against an attacker is greatly increased once he is armed with an impact or edged weapon, therefore the training must be dynamic enough to increase the chance of surviving an attack. Students who are tested must demonstrate modified versions of their unarmed sdfs against armed attacks as well as demonstrate how they would apply their SDF once armed themselves.

Ultimately no matter how "realistic" training is, it is still just training and not fighting so it is of vital importance to practice with intent . In the  classroom, we create reality based scenarios and apply levels of contact that equal the level of contact that we wish to receive. Some partners like to push and hit harder than others, some don't. Some students are better strikers, some are better at their ground game.

Students with an all around understanding and capacity to control the dynamic ranges of the A.R.C. generally have a higher success rate against the larger and resisting classmate.

To learn more about C.U.M.A or to set up an A.R.C. training seminar with your group please visit www.tsaiskungfu.net or email sijo@cumaram.com